IdiomAnimals
Latvian
LatvianPūst pīlītes
Meaning: To tell tall tales; to fib.
Literally: To blow little ducks
Example: “Nepūt pīlītes, es zinu, ka tu biji mājās.” — Stop telling tall tales; I know you were at home.
English equivalent: To tell tall tales
Origin: "To blow little ducks": to tell fibs or tall stories. The phrase is colloquial Latvian, and why ducks is not documented; French and German also use ducks (canard, Ente) for a false report, though the link is unproven.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Raconter des salades Literally: To tell salads
Russian: Не вешай лапшу на уши (Ne veshay lapshu na ushi) Literally: Don't hang noodles on my ears
Romanian: A umbla cu cioara vopsită Literally: To go around with a painted crow- Russian: пудрить мозги (pudrit' mozgi) Literally: To powder the brains
English: pull the wool over someone's eyes- French: Jeter de la poudre aux yeux Literally: To throw powder in the eyes
- English: tell tall tales
More Latvian idioms
- Ņemt kāju pār plecu To hurry off at once.
- Kā pliks pa nātrēm In a frantic, painful hurry.
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