International expressions

Every language has colourful expressions but they can be very difficult for non-native speakers to understand.

Here are some examples; can you match the expression with the meaning?

There are 10 questions and there is a time limit of 90 seconds.

Good luck!

Every language has colourful expressions but they can be very difficult for non-native speakers to understand.

Here are some examples; can you match the expression with the meaning?

There are 10 questions and there is a time limit of 90 seconds.

Good luck!


POLISH: Not my circus, not my monkey

Not my problem

I don't like circuses with animals

You can run but not hide

To love nature


SPANISH: Give pumpkins to someone

To ask to marry someone

To reject someone

To help the poor

To love the colour orange


CROATIAN: Balls of a swan

To love ballet

To be unable to swim

Something that is impossible

To be bad at football


FINNISH: To let a frog out of your mouth

To burp loudly

To be able to jump high

To camp in the forest

To say the wrong thing


CHINESE: To emit smoke from 7 orifices

To be angry

To cause a lot of pollution

To feel sexy

To sweat a lot


FRENCH: To have the cockroach

To need a bath / shower

To be naughty

To be hated by everyone

To feel sad


ITALIAN: A dog in church

To be loud

To be embarrassing

An unwanted guest

An atheist


RUSSIAN: To hang noodles on the ears

To be very hungry

To be jealous

To drive a car slowly

To fool someone


FRENCH: The carrots are cooked

The situation can't be changed

You're very lucky

You're stupid

It's time for bed


GERMAN: Everything has one end, only the sausage has two

To be single / unmarried

To be very hungry

To be pregnant with twins

Everything comes to an end


SPANISH: A lot of noise and no walnuts

To be deaf

All talk, no action

To love baking

A very expensive meal


PORTUGUESE: To be as good as corn

To be stupid

To be afraid

To be attractive / sexy

To be able to run fast


ITALIAN: Not all doughnuts come with a hole

To have more than one wife / husband

To be hungry

Things are not going as well as you'd like

To prefer healthy food


ICELANDIC: The raisin at the end of the hot dog

Something bad

Fruit is healthier than meat

An unexpected surprise at the end of something

To regret getting married


POLISH: Mustard after lunch

To feel ill because of overeating

Don't do it!

The opportunity has passed

Go to the toilet


JAPANESE: My cheeks are falling off

I'm embarrassed as I have no money

I have tooth ache

The food is delicious

I can't stop laughing


FRENCH: When chicken have teeth

It will never happen

Everyone cannot be successful

That's embarrassing!

Don't trick me!


ARABIC: Break a fast with an onion

To receive less than you were expecting

To make someone cry

To prefer a hot breakfast

To have no money


SPANISH: You're very elbow

You're cheap / miserly

You're attractive

You tell lies all the time

You're very tall


FRANCE: To have mustard going up your nose

To feel sexy

To be angry

To move around quickly

To be lost


ITALIAN: To have your eyes lined with ham

Always thinking about food

To be a vegetarian

To be unable to see something obvious

To think something bad is about to happen


ITALIAN: To treat you with fish in your face

To disrespect you

To invite you to dinner

To consider you a very close friend

To congratulate you


GERMAN: An elephant made out of a fly

A greedy person

To make a lot of money from nothing

A big problem made from nothing

To pretend to be better than you are


GERMAN: I think my pig whistles

I don't believe you

You sing very badly

I love animals and nature

I find you very attractive


CHINESE: Drawing a snake with feet

Making something better

Being a perfectionist

Telling a long story with unnecessary information

Saving all your money


PORTUGUESE: To have little monkeys inside your head

To be full of energy / never tired

To love fruit

To have a crazy idea

To hate living in a city


FRENCH: To give your tongue to the cat

To be playful

To be unable to speak clearly

I can’t guess - tell me the answer

To enjoy shopping


ARMENIAN: Stop ironing my head

Stop being so perfect

Stop making me laugh

Stop annoying me

Stop criticising my clothes


CHEYENNE: My tapeworm can almost talk by itself

I feel sick

You talk too much

I am very hungry

To share your food with someone


DUTCH: I'm sweating carrots

I've eaten too much

I'm sunburnt

I'm sweating a lot

I'm very poor


GERMAN: You have tomatoes on your eyes

You're a vegetarian

You look tired

You don't see what everyone else sees

You drive too fast


JAPANESE: To have a wide face

To be intelligent

To have lots of friends

To be rich

To watch too much television


MONGOLIAN: May your moustache grow like brushwood

I hope you will have many children

I hope you will be rich

Bless you (after sneezing)

I hope you will have many wives


POLISH: Don’t feed the donkey sponge cake

Education is very important

Don't give a hungry person a small meal

Don’t give fine treatment to those who don’t deserve it.

Always chase your dreams


SWEDISH: There's no cow on the ice

It's a beautiful, sunny day

Value your friends

Don’t worry / there’s no reason to panic.

To be a bad skier


UKRAINIAN: Work is not a wolf, it doesn’t run into the woods

Never leave a problem for tomorrow

Don't go to bed after an argument

I can do that later

Tomorrow is the weekend