Direct Idiom Translation

I think some of the funniest things for any bilingual person to do is to directly translate idioms from one language into another. So here’s my crude attempt at doing so..

Arabic Idiom: Ra2bti saddadeh (you can rely on me or I got your back)
Direct Translation: My neck is a cork

Arabic Idiom: 3ala rasi (It’s my pleasure)
Direct Translation: On my head

Arabic Idiom: Sa7a (bless you)
Direct Translation: Health

Arabic Idiom: ta3abak ra7a (a courteous way to say “no problem”)
Direct Translation: Your tiredness is comfort [to me]

Arabic Idiom: sho jab la jab (there’s no comparison)
Direct Translation: what brings to bring

Arabic Idiom: Il ird b3en immo ghazal (said to one who believes all that’s associated with him/her is the best)
Direct Translation: A monkey in his mother’s eye is a gazal

Arabic Idiom: mitl il sha3ra min al 3ajeen (said to note how easy something is to do)
Direct Translation: Like a hair out of dough

Arabic Idiom: tehriya bil hana (said to someone who’s showing you a new article of clothing or shoes they just bought)
Direct Translation: wear it out in happiness

Arabic Idiom: Mabrook (congratulations, a more common way of saying the idiom above)
Direct Translation: Blessed

Arabic Idiom: m7ammelni jmeleh (said to someone who did something good to you and keeps reminding you of it)
Direct Translation: Load me a beautiful

Arabic Idiom: Ma bisadi2 il khara gher la yara (said to someone who won’t believe what your saying to them)
Direct Translation: The shit won’t believe until he sees

Well, that’s all I got for now. I’m sure more will cross my mind, and perhaps some will comments with funny ones they thought of.

technorati tags: langauge, arabic, english, idioms, translation, idiom