The Prisma team collected their favourite idioms from Iceland, Northern Germany, Luxembourg, Scotland and Mauritius. These idioms are rarely used in financial translation. Anyway, we still like them a lot and would like to share our favourites with you.

Iceland

Áfram með smjörið.

On with the butter. Meaning – get back to work.

Rúsínan í pylsuendanum.

The raisin at the end of the hot dog. Meaning – the cherry on top.

Blindur er Bóklaus Maður.

Blind is a bookless man. Meaning suggests – those who don’t read are ignorant to the world around them.

Leggja Höfuðið Í Bleyti.

Lay Your Head in Water. Meaning – you need to think about something a bit longer.

Bonus fun fact: When you are lost in an Icelandic forest all you need to do is stand up. (Psssst it’s a joke: There are barely any trees in Iceland and the ones that grow in these so-called “forests” are so young that you can easily see over them).

Luxembourg

Wien Karotten esst, dee kritt schéin Aan.

Eating carrots will get you beautiful eyes.

Duerch d’Fale léieren d’Kanner goen.

Children learn to walk by falling. Meaning – you should not give up when you fail at something but rather stand up and try again.

Do fënnt keng Katz hir Jong méi erem.

No cat will find her kittens. Meaning – it is so messy, that nobody can find anything.

Wien op d’Kiermes geet, dee verléiert seng Plaz.

Whoever goes to the fair, loses his place. Meaning – if you leave your seat, you will lose it.

Deen huet d’Klibbersuen nach an der Täsch.

He still has the money earned from “Klibberen” (a Luxembourgish Easter tradition) in his pocket. Meaning – he does not like to spend his money.

Northern Germany

Besser ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach

A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on your roof (A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush). Meaning – you should be content with what you have.

Nu ma Butter bei die Fische!

Now put the butter to the fish. Meaning – speak clearly!

Wat de Buur nich kennt, dat frett he nich.

What the farmer doesn’t know he will not eat. Meaning – that someone is not open for new ideas.

Schieß den Döspaddel in Wind!

Shoot the idiot into the wind. Meaning – it’s time for a new beginning.

Scotland

Yer aff yer heid

You’re off your head. Meaning – you’re crazy.

Haud yer wheesht

Hold your tongue. Meaning – to be quiet.

Dinnae teach yer Grunny tae suck eggs

Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs. Meaning – do not teach or tell someone how to do something they already know.

Bonus carrot fact: Britain has a similar saying to the one from Luxembourg above: ‘Eating carrots helps you see better at night’. The rumour started in WWII when the Royal Air Force had developed a new Radar technology. To hide their success, a big campaign claimed that they just ate a lot of carrots. Nowadays, the saying is used to get children to eat their vegetables.

Mauritius

Dife dans lanka.

Problems are cropping up.

Ti kouto koup gro ziromon.

A small knife cuts a big pumpkin. Meaning – a small action can have a big consequence.

Prisma translates

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