I Illustrate Norwegian-To-English Idiom Translations To Show How Weird They Can Be To Non-Native Speakers (16 Pics)

In German it's something similar: Bärendienst (Jemandem einen Bärendienst erweisen.)

man the internet is mossy in some places

Like the English saying, “a snake in the grass.”

Might originally have been wolves (ulver) :) I quite like the idea of suspicious owls though

Most of these are the same in Swedish 🙂❤

Well, this comes from Danish 'Ulver i mosen', which means 'wolves in the marshes/bogs'. Because the Danes have the world's worst diction, it was misinterpreted.

These are great, but the correct translation is "there's owls in the bog"

In Greece, with same meaning, we say "there's a hole in split peas" 🤷🤷

Uh. I think this one is translated wrong. It should be "owls in the bog", but same meaning.

Dumb question: how are owls in moss suspicious? Like, something is hiding in the moss that has attracted owls?

Thanks, Norway. I am now using this.

Ha, pathetic, I read 97 books since June of 2020

But in the US, we say "Florida Man"

My Grandmother always cautioned, "Don't ever get behind a driver wearing a hat. You know he's going to drive slowly."

BOOTIFUL

He's hogging the couch.

In German: das Blaue vom Himmel (the blue from the sky)

[LARGE CORPORATION]? Is that you?

Looks like she's scared sheetless!

equivalent to 'too many cooks spoil the broth', then

American English: pussy-whipped.

In the uk, it's 'tell tale tit', snitch or grass

Really a theme with the stupid cardboard in Norwegian.

So that one guy who always goes “That’s what she said”?