User Challenge of November

Hello everyone!

We hope you’re all safe and healthy and you’ve had a spooky Halloween! :jack_o_lantern:

Let’s talk about this month’s user challenge :muscle:
:arrow_right: We would like to know: what is your favorite expression or idiom in the language you are learning?

And can you also use it in context?? :person_fencing:

:traffic_light:
Ready, set, GO!

And if you don’t have a favorite expression yet, you can learn some on our Instagram page :calling: :wink:

Happy November
:maple_leaf: :fallen_leaf: :fire:

7 Likes

" Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof" is my favourite German expression I think, I find the comparison so mocking. Like - what did you expect?

(literal meaning: “Life is no pony farm” - actual meaning: life isn’t easy)

4 Likes

Hätte, hätte, Fahrradkette!” I love the sonority of this German expression.

The equivalent in English would be “shoulda, coulda, woulda” and it means that it is not useful or beneficial to dwell on something that happened in the past and went wrong because it cannot be changed anymore, so forget it, focus on the present and move on!

Great advice! :wink:

2 Likes

Diosca shuj jatun pandata rurarca.
This expression in Quichua could mean:

  • God created a big Panda.
  • God made a big mistake.

I just love this sentence :sweat_smile:

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Ok ok, I must admit, I had to scroll through Chatterbug’s insta account to find an idiom I like.

The first one I found is not the language I am currently learning, but I love chips and salsa so it really caught my eye.

“estar en su salsa”, which literally translates to “to be in one’s salsa”. This one means to find your groove :sunglasses:

The second one I found is a German expression, which is the language I am learning. To be fair I just really loved the image :smiley:

“dies das Ananas”, which literally translates to “this that pineapples”. This just means “this and that”

3 Likes

“Mit jemandem Pferde stehlen können” which means to be able to steal horses with someone!

Years ago, horses were important workhorses, transporting heavy loads, plowing fields and pulling carriages. The penalties for horse theft were therefore harsh. Horse thieves had to be particularly daring and also have to be able to completely rely on possible accomplices - otherwise such a raid would have been far too risky.

Therefore, someone with whom you can “steal horses” with means this person is a particularly trustworthy friend, and is basically up for anything!

4 Likes

Love this @Emsy_Maud! Thanks for sharing :smiley: