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.”

  • corsicanguppy
    1·
    8 months 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.