Idioms are the essence of a language. Knowing and understanding them is a great way to “blend in” with locals and to discover Slovenia.
Interestingly, some expressions are unique, but others have a similar equivalent as well as dissimilarity in French, English and even Chinese (and probably other languages – but I wouldn’t know, so you can tell me about it).
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #001
- Živeti na koruzi – To live in the cornfield
- Šel je po gobe – Went for mushrooms
- Nedeljski vozniki – the Sunday’s drivers
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #002
- Zdrav kot riba v vodi – Healthy like a fish in the water
- Ne vreči puške v koruzo – Don’t throw the gun in the cornfield
- Imeti slovnico v malem prstu – To have the grammar on the little finger
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #003
- Imeti mačka (or tigra) – To have a cat (or a tiger)
- Vse je spavalo po vodi – Everything fell into the water
- Živeti kot ptiček na veji – To live like a bird on a branch
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #004
- Konjiček – Pony
- Imeti krompir – To have a potato
- Tih kot miš – Quiet like a mouse
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #005
- Kaditi kot Turek – To smoke like a Turk
- Brez muje se še čevelj ne obuje – Without effort you can’t put a shoes on
- Biti copata – To be a slipper
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #006
- Odkriti Ameriko – To discover America
- Španska vas – Spanish village
- Narediti se Francoza – To make oneself French
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #007
- Zaradi dreves ne videti gozda – Because of the trees, can’t see the forest
- Rasti kot gobe (po dežju) – To grow like mushrooms (after the rain)
- Govoriti kot dež – To talk like the rain
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #008
- Imeti maslo na glavi – To have butter on the head
- Skakati čez plot – To jump over the fence
- Ugrizniti v kislo jabolko – To bite into a sour apple
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #009
- Beliti si glavo – To whiten your head
- Iz te moke ne bo kruha – This flour will not make bread
- Nositi vodo v Savo – To bring water in Sava
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #010
- Nositi hlače – To wear pants
- Kapo dol – Hat down
- Gledati skozi rožnata očala – To see through rose-colored glasses
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #011
- Sedem debelih krav– Seven fat cows
- Pet krav za en groš – Five cows for one penny
- Delati za tri – To work for three
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #012
- Biti čez les – To be over the wood
- Dobiti krila – To get wings
- Biti molzna krava – To be a milking cow
Understanding Slovenian Idioms #013
- Piti kot goba – To drink like a sponge
- Rdeči petelin – Red rooster
- Biti lanski sneg – To be last year’s snow
Every Day with Slovenian Idioms #001
- Nisem dovolj bogat, da bi poceni kupoval – I am not rich enough that I would buy cheap things
Every Day with Slovenian Idioms #002
- Gledaš kot miška iz moke – You look like a mouse from the flour
- Hahaha stresaš orehe– Hahaha you are shaking nuts
Every Day with Slovenian Idioms #003
- Ponoči je vsaka krava črna – At night, all cows are black
Every Day with Slovenian Idioms #004
- Čez (veliko) lužo – Across the (big) pond
… to be continued.
Anna in Slovenia 