Idioms From Around the World That’ll Have You Laughing (and Wondering What’s Going On) 😂🌍

We all know the classic English idioms: "It's raining cats and dogs," "Hit the hay," and "Buy a lemon." 🍋 But have you ever wondered what idioms in other languages sound like when translated into English? Well, let me tell you—they’re hilarious! 😂

For starters, forget about cats and dogs falling from the sky. If you’re in Lithuania, it could be "raining axes" 🪓 (that’s some serious metal weather). And in other parts of the world, it’s raining "old women," 👵 "fire and brimstone," 🔥 or even "female trolls." 🧝‍♀️ Talk about unpredictable weather!

Some idioms make sense, others leave us scratching our heads 🤔 (and laughing, of course). Let’s take a global tour 🌏:

• Swedish: "Nu ska dina fiskar värmas." 🐟
  Literal translation: "Now your fishes will be warmed."
  Equivalent: "You’re in trouble now." 🦢 (It’s like saying your goose is cooked.)

• Italian: "Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto." 🍖
  Literal translation: "To have one's eyes lined with ham."
  Equivalent: "You can't see what's right in front of you." (No "ham-colored glasses" idiom, Italy!)

• Icelandic: "Að leggja höfuðið í vatn." 💦
  Literal translation: "To lay your head in water."
  Equivalent: "Think before you act." (But, personally, I don’t think putting my head in water will help me make smarter decisions. 🤦‍♂️)

• Arabic: "التكرار يعلم الحمار." 🐴
  Literal translation: "Repetition teaches the donkey."
  Equivalent: "Practice makes perfect—especially for donkeys." (Makes sense, right? 😅)

• German: "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof." 🚉
  Literal translation: "I only understand train station."
  Equivalent: "It’s all Greek to me." 🇬🇷 (Maybe because after the war, soldiers just wanted to go home, and all they cared about was the train station.)

• Norwegian: "Å snakke rett fra leveren." 🏥
  Literal translation: "To speak directly from the liver."
  Equivalent: "To speak bluntly." 💪 (Because apparently, courage comes from the liver.)

• Chinese: "马马虎虎" (mǎ mǎ hū hū). 🐴🐯
  Literal translation: "Horse horse, tiger tiger."
  Equivalent: "Meh, it’s okay." (How did a painter’s mixed-up drawing of a horse and a tiger lead to this? I don’t know, but it’s brilliant. 🎨)

Language is constantly evolving, and it’s hilarious to see how different cultures express the same ideas in their own unique ways. So next time you’re caught in a downpour, forget the cats and dogs. Just say, "It's raining axes!" 🪓 and watch the confusion unfold. 😆