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Multilingual folks: what are some odd idioms in your language(s)? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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What are some (non-English) idioms, and what do they mean (both literally and in context)? Odd ones, your favorite ones - any and all are welcome. :)

For example, in English I might call someone a "good egg," meaning they're a nice person. Or, if it's raining heavily, I might say "it's raining cats and dogs."

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[–] 1 point 2 years ago*

In French, the expression "du coup" (it means something like "therefore" or "so" or "thus") can be used in place of like 10 other expressions.

  • Ainsi
  • Donc
  • Alors
  • Tout à coup
  • Soudainement
  • En conclusion
  • Si je comprends bien
  • De ce fait
  • Ce qui fait que
  • En conséquence
  • Consequémment

But "consequently" and "so" and "in conclusion" can all be replaced by "therefore" in English as well as in French ... if one accepts a lack of nuance and depth.

There are subtle differences in all of them, and for instance switching "suddenly" for "if I understand well" would often confuse the listener.

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