Idiomatske izraze, izreke i poslovice usvajamo lako i koristimo prirodno kada su deo našeg maternjeg jezika. Kada, međutim, treba da ih upotrebimo na stranom jeziku, skloni smo bukvalnom prevodu što najčešće dovodi do nesporazuma i komičnog efekta. Evo kako se neki od njih zapravo kažu na engleskom:
Ne mešaj babe i žabe. = Don’t mix apples and oranges.
Ko pre devojci, onome devojka. = First come, first served.
Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi. = The early bird catches the worm.
Mudriji si kad ćutiš = He is wise that speaks little.
Tiha voda breg roni = Still waters run deep.
Dok se jednom ne smrkne, drugom ne svane. = One man’s loss is another man’s gain.
Ispeci pa reci. = Look before you leap.
Polako, ali sigurno. = Easy does it.
Preko preče, naokolo bliže. = The longest way round is the shortest way home.
Čovek se uči dok je živ. = Live and learn.
Kako došlo tako i otišlo. = Easy come, easy go.
Što je babi milo to joj se i snilo. = It’s just wishful thinking.
Koga su zmije ujedale, taj se i guštera plaši. = Once bitten, twice shy.
Ko pita, ne skita. = Better to ask the way than go astray.
Koga nema, bez njega se može. = Long absent, soon forgotten.
Zavadi pa vladaj. = Divide and rule.
Svoja kućica, svoja slobodica. = A man’s home is his castle.
Ko čeka, dočeka. = Everything comes to him who waits.
Ruka ruku mije. = One hand washes the other.
Svaka ptica svome jatu leti. = Birds of a feather flock together.
Bolje milom nego silom. = You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Krv nije voda. = Blood is thicker than water.
Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrata. = Speak of the devil.
Bez muke nema nauke. = No pains no gains.
Ko reskira, taj i dobija. = Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Ko se dima ne nadimi, taj se vatre ne nagreja. = He that would have the fruit, must climb the tree.
Nema hleba bez motike. = No sweet without sweat.
Um caruje, snaga klade valja. = Brain is better than brawn.
Kad na vrbi rodi gržđe...= When hell freezes over./ When pigs fly.
Gde mačke nema, miševi kolo vode. = When the cat’s away, mice will play.
Sto babica – kilavo dete. = Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Sve je dobro što se dobro svrši. = All’s well that ends well.
Vuk dlaku menja, ali ćud nikada. = The leopard can never change its spots.
Klin se klinom izbija. = Fight fire with fire.
Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani. = A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Daleko od očiju, daleko od srca. = Out of sight, out of mind.
Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće. = Strike while the iron is hot.
Iver ne pada daleko od klade. = An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Odelo ne čini čoveka. = You can’t judge a book by its cover.
