I was telling a story about an embarrassing moment I’d had where I accidentally insulted someone and I said “I totally put my foot in my mouth.” Then I realized, WHAT??
Idioms. Those things are WEIRD. I mean, if you think about it, why would it ever “rain cats and dogs” or “it takes two to tango” refers to placing blame in a situation? How do people come up with this stuff?
As a science fiction writer who DOESN’T write about Earth, I’ve found I CAN’T use these phrases because those things don’t exist. There are no cats and dogs (although there are nikana (which are a type of feline) and itsu birds, but it doesn’t quite work the same.)
What about you? What’s the strangest, oddest, “out of this world” idiom you’ve ever heard?
PS- Extra update: The trailer for Hollow’s Prism: “Aftermath” will be on youtube shortly after the new year!
(*photo courtesy of neoavatara.com)
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My favorite is “Happy as a clam at high tide”, tho it actually makes sense in its own way. Just always draws a stare when I use it. And I always blamed my (sometimes) bad breath on having my foot in my mouth so often!
Oz V
PS Does this mean you are going to include some non-earth idioms in your writing?? Or have you?
I haven’t really thought about adding non-Earth idioms into my writing, but now that it’s been mentioned… hmmm….
The one that’s always seemed odd to me is when someone makes a mistake or goofs up and someone says they ‘screwed the pooch.’ I never understood where that came from or what that was supposed to mean.
“Screwed the pooch”, huh. Yeah, that is a weird one. If that’s a mistake, then it is DEFINITELY a big one! haha!
that cartoon was hilarious! and i think there’s a reason behind most of these types of phrases, but i’ve just never taken the time to look them up. one of my favorites is ‘uglier than a mud fence’, which really isn’t out of this world, but it always tickles my innards when i hear it. i suppose ‘tickles my innards’ might also belong in this category. it’s really kind of goofy when i think about it.
Yeah, the thought of someone literally tickling your innards? Kinda gross. HAHA!