IdiomFood & Drink
Hungarian
HungarianNem fenékig tejföl
Meaning: It's not all rosy; things aren't as good as they seem.
Literally: It's not sour cream all the way to the bottom
Example: “Vidéken élni szép, de nem fenékig tejföl.” — Living in the country is lovely, but it's no bed of roses.
English equivalent: Bed of roses
Origin: Sour cream (tejföl) is a treat, and a pot that is cream right down to the bottom would be perfect. "It's not sour cream to the bottom" means something has its drawbacks, it is not all good. The phrase is everyday Hungarian with no particular story behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
German: Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof Literally: Life is no pony farm
English: bed of roses
More Hungarian idioms
- Egyik kutya, másik eb Two things are exactly the same; six of one, half a dozen of the other.
- Bagoly mondja verébnek, hogy nagyfejű The pot calling the kettle black.
- Kibújik a szög a zsákból The hidden truth comes out.
- Sok lúd disznót győz There is strength in numbers.
- Lóvá tesz valakit To dupe or make a fool of someone.
- Nem enged a negyvennyolcból To stubbornly refuse to compromise.
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