IdiomFood & Drink
Korean
Korean호박이 넝쿨째 굴러 들어왔다 (Hobagi neongkuljjae gulleo deureowatda)
Meaning: Unexpected great fortune fell into your lap.
Literally: A pumpkin rolled in, vine and all
Example: “복권에 당첨되다니, 호박이 넝쿨째 굴러 들어왔다!” — Winning the lottery? What a stroke of luck!
English equivalent: A stroke of luck
Equivalents in other languages
Japanese: 棚から牡丹餅 (Tana kara botamochi) Literally: A sweet rice cake from the shelf
English: a stroke of luck
Origin: A pumpkin rolling into the house with its whole vine attached brings more pumpkins with it. The traditional saying is used of unexpected good fortune, such as a wonderful new member of the family. No particular story lies behind it.
More Korean idioms
- 발 벗고 나서다 (bal beotgo naseoda) To throw yourself into helping wholeheartedly.
- 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다 (Ttong mudeun gaega gyeo mudeun gae namuranda) Someone with a bigger fault criticizes another person's smaller one.
- 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.
- 우물 안 개구리 (Umul an gaeguri) Someone with a narrow, limited worldview.
- 꿩 먹고 알 먹고 (Kkwong meokgo al meokgo) Getting two benefits from one action.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 (Nanmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deunneunda) Be careful what you say; someone is always listening.
- 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다 (Jara bogo nollan gaseum sotttukkeong bogo nollanda) Once badly frightened, you get scared of anything that looks similar.
- 뚝배기보다 장맛이 좋다 (Ttukbaegiboda jangmasi jota) What's inside matters more than the outside.
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