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그림의 떡 (Geurimui tteok)

Meaning: Something desirable but completely out of reach.

Language: Korean

Literally: A rice cake in a painting

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: A painted tteok looks delicious yet can never be eaten, picturing a tempting but unattainable thing.

More idioms — Food & Drink

  • 김칫국부터 마신다 (gimchitgukbuteo masinda) — To count your chickens before they hatch.
  • 우물에 가 숭늉 찾는다 (Umure ga sungnyung channeunda) — To demand results with absurd impatience.
  • Iets voor zoete koek aannemen — To swallow a story uncritically.
  • Met de gebakken peren zitten — To be stuck with the unpleasant aftermath.
  • Nu är det kokta fläsket stekt — Now we're really in trouble.
  • Czuć do kogoś miętę — To have a crush on someone.

More Korean idioms

  • 등잔 밑이 어둡다 (Deungjan mit-i eodupda) — The answer is overlooked right under your nose.
  • 누워서 떡 먹기 (nuwoseo tteok meokgi) — An extremely easy task.
  • 호박이 넝쿨째 굴러 들어왔다 (Hobagi neongkuljjae gulleo deureowatda) — Unexpected great fortune fell into your lap.
  • 발 벗고 나서다 (bal beotgo naseoda) — To throw yourself into helping wholeheartedly.
  • 눈에 콩깍지가 씌다 (nun-e kongkkakjiga sseuida) — To be blinded by love.
  • 식은 죽 먹기 (Sigeun juk meokgi) — A piece of cake; very easy to do.

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