IdiomAnimals
Afrikaans
AfrikaansSo skaars soos hoendertande
Meaning: Extremely rare; almost non-existent.
Literally: As scarce as hen's teeth
Example: “Goeie loodgieters is so skaars soos hoendertande.” — Good plumbers are as scarce as hen's teeth.
English equivalent: As scarce as hen's teeth
Origin: Hens have no teeth, so anything as scarce as hen's teeth hardly exists. The phrase comes from English "as scarce as hen's teeth," recorded in America from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: Ogni morte di papa Literally: Every death of a pope
English: Once in a blue moon
Spanish: cada muerte de obispo Literally: Each death of bishop- Spanish: de Pascuas a Ramos Literally: From Easter to Palm Sunday
Portuguese: de vez em nunca Literally: From time to never- English: as scarce as hen's teeth
More Afrikaans idioms
- 'n Halwe eier is beter as 'n leë dop Half a loaf is better than none.
- Nou is die gort gaar Now we're really in trouble.
- Jakkals trou met wolf se vrou A sunshower — rain while the sun shines.
- Hy is van sy trollie af He has lost his mind.
- Koeitjies en kalfies Idle small talk.
- Bobbejaan agter die bult To worry about troubles that may never come.
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