Olla pinna kireällä
Meaning: To be on edge and short-tempered.
Language: Finnish
Literally: To have the spoke tight
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: A nerve stretched taut to its limit pictures someone ready to snap at the slightest thing.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Être soupe au lait — literally: To be milk soup
More idioms — Body & Senses
- Dělat dlouhý nos — To thumb your nose; to mock.
- Felkopik az álla — To go hungry and be left with nothing.
- آنکھوں کا تارا (Aankhon ka tara) — A dearly cherished person; the apple of one's eye.
- ناک کا بال (nāk kā bāl) — Someone's closest, most trusted confidant.
- Facer das tripas corazón — To summon courage in the face of adversity.
- Ça m'en touche une sans faire bouger l'autre — I couldn't care less; it leaves me utterly indifferent.
More Finnish idioms
- Lyödä rahoiksi — To cash in; to profit handsomely.
- Ei ole kaikki muumit laaksossa — Someone isn't quite all there.
- Maksaa maltaita — To cost a fortune.
- Heittää lusikka nurkkaan — To die.
- Olla pipo kireällä — To be uptight, grumpy or in a foul mood.
- Päästä kuin koira veräjästä — To escape consequences entirely; to get off scot-free.
From our compliments & insults
- Tienes mucho arte — You have natural flair, charm, and creative talent — an effortless quality that can't be…
- Eres todo un personaje — Said with deep affection: you're unforgettable, one of a kind, impossible to replace.
- Sei una forza della natura — You're unstoppable — your energy and drive are bigger than any obstacle.