8 Funny and Weird Sayings from Different Cultures

Proverbs are a way to describe a variety of situations in a short, inventive, and funny way. They are present in virtually every language in the world. And because of this, they don’t always make much sense to individuals who don’t speak the language where these phrases originated.

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Of course, you know that this is the case where a couple conceives before marriage. But do you think that someone who is not so well-versed in Spanish would understand its meaning by reading the saying? Or would they think someone just fed ahead of time? Below, we present a short collection of sayings from various cultures around the world.

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Living Like a Bacon Worm – Germany.

Let’s start with a German saying that sounds disgusting. However, the message behind this phrase means just the opposite. Just imagine, for a moment, that you are a small worm in this immense world. Finding a pile of bacon is probably the closest thing to discovering heaven on Earth.

So, if a person lives like this worm you just imagined, it means that they live surrounded by luxury. We agree that the Germans could have found a nicer way to express themselves, right? Meaning: to live in luxury and opulence.

“A dog in a church”, one of Italy’s popular sayings.

Italy is known for being home to the Vatican within Rome. The place where the Pope of the Catholic Church lives. But what’s a dog to do inside a church? Absolutely nothing, and that’s the point. It’s an Italian saying that no one wants to hear, at least not directed at you. A dog in a church means that a person is an unwelcome guest at a place or event.

It makes a certain amount of sense. After all, no one invites a dog to a church and the only thing the animal would do there is walk around and defecate by the altar. Meaning: an unwelcome guest or, as we say in Mexico, a “colado”.

Pretending you’re English – Serbia.

Apparently, the Serbs don’t like the English very much. At least, that’s what this popular saying makes you think. If a Serbian tells you to act like an Englishman, you’d better get your best performance out of a complete fool. Just pretend that you have no idea what’s going on and that you’re completely innocent of what you’re accused of.

What did the English do to the Serbs to give birth to this saying? Meaning: to act like an imbecile in the face of an accusation.

Giving Pumpkins to Someone – Spain.

When you come across a saying that involves handing random objects to people, it often requires a lot of context. Here’s an example: if you give someone in Spain a pumpkin, you’re essentially denying them all your support. But what do pumpkins have to do with turning your back on people?

The answer to this question requires us to travel back to the origins of the saying, back to Ancient Greece. At the time, pumpkins were considered anti-aphrodisiac by the Greeks. That’s why, if someone gives you a pumpkin, you know you won’t get what you’re looking for. Meaning: rejecting someone.

The dog is propelled by its tail – Kenya.

Have you seen an excited dog? The most obvious sign of this is its pronounced tail wagging. And this saying in Kenya suggests that you also wag your tail to seek happiness. The phrase suggests that one should be motivated to seek that which brings one’s well-being. In Kenya, dogs don’t sit still, they look for anything that makes them wag their tails.

So, be like one of those dogs and get to work on what makes you happy. When you do, you can wag your tail. Meaning: The motivation to do things comes from oneself.

Swedish sayings: There are no cows on the ice.

When a Swede tells you that there are no cows on the ice, it means a good thing. The saying is meant to let you know that there is nothing you need to worry about. It’s a strange phrase, but very easy to deduce. Sweden is a place where it’s cold, so in the past a farmer’s cows could wander on the ice, fall into the water and drown. So when there are no cows on the ice, there’s nothing to worry about. Meaning: worry-free.

Have a wide face – Japan.

If someone tells you that you have a wide face, you’ll probably feel insulted. But, to the Japanese, the same phrase seems like a compliment. In Japan, “having a broad face” means that you are an affable person with many friends. Basically, your face is so wide that everyone has seen it, and people like what they see.

Some suggest that the saying has some sort of relationship with Japanese standards of beauty. Well, there it is considered that wide faces are more attractive. But, until someone from Japan can confirm it, it’s best to tread carefully with that phrase. Meaning: to have a lot of friends.

Let the frog out of your mouth, a saying from Finland.

If you are told in Finland that you let the frog out of your mouth, it means that you are being reckless with your words. Besides, everyone is upset. In a way, the saying makes a lot of sense. Frogs, snakes, and spiders should never come out of your mouth, and neither should inappropriate or hurtful words. But how did the Finns come up with this saying? No one knows. Meaning: Saying something inappropriate at the wrong time.