The Finnish language is rich with delightful agrarian phrases and metaphors that sound completely bonkers when translated to English. Here are some of my favourites: (thread 1/n)
"Take off like a pike from the shore"
(Lähteä kuin hauki rannasta)
To leave/take off very quickly.
2/n
(Lähteä kuin hauki rannasta)
To leave/take off very quickly.
2/n
A variation of the same theme:
"Take off like a goldeneye from a nest box"
(Lähteä kuin telkkä pöntöstä)
3/n
"Take off like a goldeneye from a nest box"
(Lähteä kuin telkkä pöntöstä)
3/n
"Show where the hen pisses from"
(Näyttää, mistä kana pissii)
To show who's boss.
4/n
(Näyttää, mistä kana pissii)
To show who's boss.
4/n
A variation of the same theme:
"To show someone a jaybird's eggs
(Näyttää närhen munat)
5/n
"To show someone a jaybird's eggs
(Näyttää närhen munat)
5/n
"To walk in line like the piglets of a poor house"
(Kulkea jonossa kuin köyhän talon porsaat)
Refers to a small group of people walking in a single file line.
6/n
(Kulkea jonossa kuin köyhän talon porsaat)
Refers to a small group of people walking in a single file line.
6/n
"To stare at sthng like a bull at a new fence"
(Tuijottaa kuin sonni uutta aitaa)
To stare intently or with a stupefied expression.
7/n
(Tuijottaa kuin sonni uutta aitaa)
To stare intently or with a stupefied expression.
7/n
"To get caught on top of a fyke net"
(Jäädä kiinni rysän päältä)
To get caught in the act
7/n
(Jäädä kiinni rysän päältä)
To get caught in the act
7/n
"To sway like a hayman"
(Heiluu kuin heinämies)
To fuss around very actively.
8/n
(Heiluu kuin heinämies)
To fuss around very actively.
8/n
"To improve like a pig its run"
(Parantaa kuin sika juoksuaan)
To show clear and quick improvement
9/n
(Parantaa kuin sika juoksuaan)
To show clear and quick improvement
9/n
"To fly like a headless hen"
(Lentää kuin päätön kana)
To fuss around without apparent logic
10/n
(Lentää kuin päätön kana)
To fuss around without apparent logic
10/n
"To lead someone like a ram in a rope"
(Viedä kuin pässiä narussa)
To manipulate or lead someone on
11/n
(Viedä kuin pässiä narussa)
To manipulate or lead someone on
11/n
"You shouldn't place all your eggs in one basket"
(Ei pidä laittaa kaikkia munia yhteen koriin)
You shouldn't stake too much on one thing
12/n
(Ei pidä laittaa kaikkia munia yhteen koriin)
You shouldn't stake too much on one thing
12/n
"Even the horse kicks out of love"
(Rakkaudesta se hevonenkin potkii)
A supremely annoying thing to say to a girl bullied by boys.
13/n
(Rakkaudesta se hevonenkin potkii)
A supremely annoying thing to say to a girl bullied by boys.
13/n
"Who reaches for a fir will fall on a juniper"
(Joka kuuseen kurkottaa, se katajaan kapsahtaa)
If you aim too high, you will meet a sorry end (a recurring theme in Finnish idioms).
14/n
(Joka kuuseen kurkottaa, se katajaan kapsahtaa)
If you aim too high, you will meet a sorry end (a recurring theme in Finnish idioms).
14/n
"As easy as making hay"
(Helppoa kuin heinänteko)
Refers to something super easy
15/n
(Helppoa kuin heinänteko)
Refers to something super easy
15/n
"Declines like a cow's tail"
(Laskee kuin lehmän häntä)
To show a strong declining trend
16/n
(Laskee kuin lehmän häntä)
To show a strong declining trend
16/n
"Talk to the goat"
(Puhu pukille)
Denotes lack of interest or belief
17/n
(Puhu pukille)
Denotes lack of interest or belief
17/n
I could go on, but you get the picture.
end of thread
end of thread
Oh, one more for the road:
"Let the horse worry, it has a bigger head"
(Anna hevosen surra, sillä on isompi pää)
Said to little kids when they are upset about something. I always found this idea of a horse with a big head strangely comforting.
"Let the horse worry, it has a bigger head"
(Anna hevosen surra, sillä on isompi pää)
Said to little kids when they are upset about something. I always found this idea of a horse with a big head strangely comforting.
