IdiomDaily Life
Finnish
FinnishHeittää lusikka nurkkaan
Meaning: To die.
Literally: To throw the spoon in the corner
Example: “Vanha pesukone heitti lopulta lusikan nurkkaan.” — The old washing machine finally kicked the bucket.
English equivalent: To kick the bucket
Origin: In old Finnish households each person had their own spoon. Throwing one's spoon into the corner, because one will not eat with it again, is a joking euphemism for dying. No first use is documented.
Equivalents in other languages
German: Den Löffel abgeben Literally: To hand over the spoon- German: über den Jordan gehen Literally: To go over the Jordan
Russian: отбросить копыта (otbrosit' kopyta) Literally: To throw off hooves- Russian: сыграть в ящик (sygrat' v yashchik) Literally: To play in a box
English: kick the bucket
French: Passer l'arme à gauche Literally: To pass the weapon to the left
More Finnish idioms
- Päästä kuin koira veräjästä To escape consequences entirely; to get off scot-free.
- Olla kuin Ellun kanat To live a carefree, comfortable life.
- Vetää lonkalta To improvise; to wing it.
- Mennä metsään To go completely wrong.
- Olla pinna kireällä To be on edge and short-tempered.
- Lyödä rahoiksi To cash in; to profit handsomely.
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- Tu es mon rayon de soleil A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur Utterly charming or adorable.
- Tu as un cœur d'or You are genuinely kind and generous.
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