Showing posts with label Kick the bucket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kick the bucket. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Funny Idioms

I saw some funny YouTube videos the other day of this German guy ranting about how American idioms are confusing. I thought I'd share one of the videos with you. But before that, I'm going to share some that definitely would be confusing to someone that didn't speak English well. Here are some of my favs that are hilarious when taken literally:
  • Tie the knot (Why would they tie a knot together? Is that a type of game?)
  • On pins and needles (Who in their right mind would want to be on pins and needles?)
  • To steal someone's thunder (There is no way that someone could possess their own thunder, let alone someone stealing it)
  • Kick the bucket (Why would someone want to kick the bucket?)
  • Flea market (Who'd want to go to a flea market? Disgusting)
  • Graveyard shift (You really work in a graveyard? Creepy)
  • You are what you eat (I'm not a hamburger)
  • Charley horse (if you were standing by someone and they were screaming in agony while clutching their leg, wouldn't it be odd for him to say, "I've got a Charley Horse!")
  • Raining cats and dogs (I don't see any cats or dogs anywhere and it isn't possible for it to rain cats and dogs)
  • Back seat driver (There's no way someone can drive in the back seat)
  • Elvis has left the building ("What?" they'd say. "I thought he was dead)
  • Pulling your leg (Why would you want to pull my leg?)
  • Get up on the wrong side of the bed (Which side of the bed is the right side to get out on?)
  • Hold your horses (What? There are no horses anywhere and if there were, why would I want to hold one?)
  • Let the cat out of the bag (Why would I put a cat in a bag in the first place? That's cruel)
  • Put a sock in it (Why are you talking about a sock, and what am I supposed to put it in?)
  • When pigs fly (Pigs can't fly)
  • Smell something fishy (*sniff sniff* I don't smell any fish)
  • Water under the bridge (Well, duh. Water is under the bridge)
So what are some of your favorite idioms? Do you have a favorite from the list above? Feel free to add your own confusing thought to any of the phrases above?

Writing. Jewels.

Okay, here's the video I promised... Get ready to laugh.