IdiomAnimals
Afrikaans
AfrikaansBobbejaan agter die bult
Meaning: To worry about troubles that may never come.
Literally: A baboon behind the hill
Example: “Moenie oor die eksamen volgende jaar bekommer nie; dis 'n bobbejaan agter die bult.” — Don't worry about next year's exam; that's borrowing trouble.
English equivalent: To borrow trouble
Origin: From the saying moenie die bobbejaan agter die bult gaan haal nie, "don't go and fetch the baboon from behind the hill": don't go looking for trouble that has not yet arrived. The baboon behind the hill is a worry that may never come.
Equivalents in other languages
Japanese: 杞憂 (Kiyū) Literally: Worry of Qi - fear that the sky might fall
English: borrow trouble
More Afrikaans idioms
- So skaars soos hoendertande Extremely rare; almost non-existent.
- 'n Halwe eier is beter as 'n leë dop Half a loaf is better than none.
- Nou is die gort gaar Now we're really in trouble.
- Jakkals trou met wolf se vrou A sunshower — rain while the sun shines.
- Hy is van sy trollie af He has lost his mind.
- Koeitjies en kalfies Idle small talk.
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