Hello! This is Admin Sun here. Today I’ll introduce some idiomatic expressions! There are a lot of Idioms (관용구) and these are some of the most frequently used expressions.
✎뒷북치다: to hear about a certain thing late and react / make a fuss after the event is already over
Literal translation: to beat a (back/rear) drum (*the literal meaning hardly makes sense, ‘뒷북’ literally would mean ‘back drum’.)
Ex) 나는 늦게 그 농담의 의미를 깨닫고 뒷북을 쳤다. (I understood the joke late and reacted late)
✎말은 쉽다:Easier said than done. / Easy in theory
Literal translation: talking is easy
Ex) 그가 하고자 하는 것은 말은 쉽다. (What he wishes to do is easy in theory)
✎뒤통수치다: to betray someone (usually when they do not expect it)
Literal translation: Hit the back (of someone)
Ex) 나는 그녀가 뒤통수 칠 줄은 몰랐다. (I did not know she would betray me)
✎기가 죽다:to lose one’s confidence or energy, to become depressed or feel inadequate
Literal translation: Losing(dying) Energy
Ex) 나는 선생님의 말에 기가 죽었다. (I lost my confidence at my teacher’s words)
✎꿀 먹은 벙어리:someone who does not/cannot say anything (tongue tied)
Literal translation: a mute who ate honey
Ex) 그는 억울한 상황에 꿀 먹은 벙어리가 되었다. (He became tongue tied at the unfair situation)
✎봐주다: to cut some slack for someone
Literal translation: to see (for someone)
Ex) 너가 처음으로 잘못한 거니까 봐줄게. (I will cut you some slack because this is your first mistake)
✎오리발 내밀다: to lie when someone inquires you about something you did;feigning innocence of a deed
Literal translation: to stick out a duck’s foot
Ex) 그가 범죄를 저질렀음에도 불구하고 오리발을 내밀었다. (Though he committed the crime, he denied it)
✎입을 모으다: Many people having the same opinion and saying the same thing. Voicing the same opinion / agreeing
Literal translation: gathering mouths
Ex) 손님들은 입을 모아 그를 칭찬했다. (All the guests praised him)
✎한눈팔다: to get distracted, not concentrating at the task at hand
Literal translation: selling an eye
Ex) 영희는 한눈팔다 번호를 까먹었다. (Getting distracted, 영희 forgot the number.)
✎수박 겉핥기: to do something superficially / superficial, shallow
Literal translation: Licking the outer of a watermelon
Ex) 그의 지식은 수박 겉핥기에 불구하다. (His knowledge is superficial at best)
✎속을 썩이다: to cause trouble and worry
Literal translation: to make the inside rot
Ex) 그 문제아는 부모의 속을 썩였다. (That problem child caused his parents grief)
✎생각이 짧다: to act/speak without thinking, to act/speak inconsiderately
Literal translation: thought is short
Ex) 내 생각이 짧았던 것에 사과했다. (I apologized for my brash actions)
✎벼락치기: cramming (before a test), hastily preparing
Literal translation: lightning striking
Ex) 나는 벼락치기로 겨우 88점을 받았다. (By cramming I narrowly got an 88(points))
✎모르는 게 약이다: Ignorance is bliss / better off not knowing about something
Literal translation: not knowing is medicine
Ex) 묻지마, 모르는게 약이야. (Don’t ask, it’s better if you don’t know.)
✎말을 돌리다: changing the topic of a conversation, going off topic
Literal translation: Turning talk
Ex) 그는 현실을 부정하고 싶은지 말을 돌렸다. (He changed the topic as if he didn’t want to face reality)
✎말도 안 되다: nonsense, being absurd or impossible
Literal translation: Not even a word / talk
Ex) 나는 당황해서 말도 안 되는 소리를 했다. (I talked nonsense as I was flustered.)
Well that’s it for the idioms! I hope this was of some help :D happy studying and stay safe everyone!
Easter monday = 2. påskedag (literally: second easter day)
Easter sunday = påskedag (literally: easter day)
Egg = æg
Good friday = langfredag
Hare = hare
Maundy thursday = skærtorsdag
Palm sunday = palmesøndag
Spring = forår
Easter traditions in Denmark
Besides the usually egg hunt and eating a lot of chocolate eggs there are a few other easter related traditions in Denmark.
Påskefrokost: Literally means “easter lunch”. It’s a social gathering where you celebrate easter with alcohol and lots of food. Usually celebrated with either your friends, family or co-workers. At a påskefrokost you eat a lot of different dishes. On the table you would usually see eggs, fish, bread, meat balls, dessert with lemon, etc. People will usually drink easter beer which is known as “påskebryg” in Danish.
Gækkebrev: A letter cut into a creative pattern (google it and you’ll see) with a small rhyme written inside. Instead of writing your name at the end of the letter (e.g. “yours sincerely, [name]” or “from [name]”) you replace your name with dots (e.g. “from …….”). It is now up to the receiver to guess who send it! If the receiver guesses who send the letter, the sender owes them an easter egg. If the receiver do not guess it, they owe the sender an easter egg.
If you have any questions or feedback feel free to submit a question/feedback at danishwithemi.tumblr.com/ask and I will answer as soon as possible.
