IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishgo around the houses
Meaning: To take a needlessly long or roundabout way.
Example: “Stop going around the houses and tell me what you want.”
Origin: Walking the long way around a block of houses instead of cutting through. The phrase is chiefly British, common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Japanese: 二階から目薬 (Nikai kara megusuri) Literally: Eye drops from the second floor
Danish: At gå over åen efter vand Literally: To cross the stream to fetch water
More English idioms
- pull a long face To look sad, sulky or disappointed.
- rushed off one's feet Extremely busy.
- it'll all come out in the wash Things will work out in the end.
- the penny drops Someone finally understands something.
- change one's tune To change one's opinion or behavior, usually suddenly.
- call someone every name under the sun To insult someone furiously with every abusive word one can think of.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
- Sensible Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
- Librairie Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
- Constipado Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.
Keep exploring