Do You Ever Use Idioms?

[Mark Berkowitz]

In my family, it seems as if most idioms are completely lost (even in translation) with 4 exceptions—i.e., ‘Curiosity Killed the Cat,’ ‘A penny for your thoughts’ (which I’ve translated into ‘A peso for your thoughts’), ‘Blessing in disguise,’ and ‘We’ll cross that bridge when you come to it.’

I’ve tried over and over again to explain (and even translate) other idioms, such as the following but I get blank stares.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Kill two birds with one stone

Can't judge a book by its cover

Hit the nail on the head

The elephant in the room

 

Why do I say these things?

I don’t really know why and I often try to stop myself from using idiomatic speech... but sometimes, it just comes out of my mouth.

[Jack Peterson]

2 hours ago, Mark Berkowitz said:

Why do I say these things?

 I guess they are easy for us in our own way but one that my daughter (18) understands is;

You're as useless as a Chocolate Kettle  Anything else is just wasted. Mark, there are days when I sit and Think and there are days when I just Sit. 

[Mark Berkowitz]

14 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

 I guess they are easy for us in our own way but one that my daughter (18) understands is;

You're as useless as a Chocolate Kettle  Anything else is just wasted. Mark, there are days when I sit and Think and there are days when I just Sit. 

Jack, I don't mean to get political but I really like this visual image.

[Dave Hounddriver]

3 hours ago, Mark Berkowitz said:

In my family, it seems as if most idioms are completely lost (even in translation)

Well I'm going to go up the apples and pears as I'm off to spend a penny and I'll give that some thought as right now I've got sweet Fanny Adams!

Spoiler

https://matadornetwork.com/life/10-british-idioms-americans-wont-understand/

 

[intrepid]

I gave up using them a long time ago except for one that all seem to understand.  "That person is as smart as a pile of rocks". 

[Mark Berkowitz]

 

16 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

Well I'm going to go up the apples and pears as I'm off to spend a penny and I'll give that some thought as right now I've got sweet Fanny Adams!

  Reveal hidden contents

https://matadornetwork.com/life/10-british-idioms-americans-wont-understand/

 

Thanks Dave, although George Bernard Shaw famously said, "England and America are two countries divided by a common language," I now have a better understanding of your idiomatic expressions.

[sonjack2847]

6 hours ago, Mark Berkowitz said:

In my family, it seems as if most idioms are completely lost (even in translation) with 4 exceptions—i.e., ‘Curiosity Killed the Cat,’ ‘A penny for your thoughts’ (which I’ve translated into ‘A peso for your thoughts’), ‘Blessing in disguise,’ and ‘We’ll cross that bridge when you come to it.’

I’ve tried over and over again to explain (and even translate) other idioms, such as the following but I get blank stares.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Kill two birds with one stone

Can't judge a book by its cover

Hit the nail on the head

The elephant in the room

 

Why do I say these things?

I don’t really know why and I often try to stop myself from using idiomatic speech... but sometimes, it just comes out of my mouth.

Sorry a bit off topic but the saying hit the nail on the head comes from Corn street in Bristol where they used to sell corn.When a deal was done they would hit the nail with their fist. They still have the Big nails there and it is a tourist attraction.I don`t have a link but I am sure you people can look for yourselves.

[Mike J]

14 hours ago, Jack Peterson said:

You're as useless as a Chocolate Kettle 

Is that anything like:

Rubber crutch in a polio ward

Screen door in a submarine

Tits on a boar

[scott h]

The best thing about being in an idiom free country is that you can look at someone right in the eye and say "you are not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you?" and get away with it

[mogo51]

Mine is 'useless as tits on a bull', same same but different Mike as they say here.