The official language thread

[Someone]

@tasse-tee

I haven’t heard it very often,

You're breaking my balls!

[Ema]

@Ema

Anyway, “don’t BRAKE my balls” will be my new favorite phrase to say “don’t take the wind out of my sails”

I like to invent harsh versions of common sayings.
We have a beautiful common saying in Italian: gettare il cuore oltre l’ostacolo”.
It literally means “to throw one’s heart beyond the obstacle”.

It means transforming a crisis into a new opportunity by doing something brave and determined.

My ex boss was an unintentional genius in mangling common sayings. Once he said “We have to throw our balls beyond the obstacle”.
I laughed so much I’m no longer be able to say such a phrase in the normal way.

[tasse-tee]

@Ema

We have a beautiful common saying in Italian: gettare il cuore oltre l’ostacolo”.
It literally means “to throw one’s heart beyond the obstacle”.

It means transforming a crisis into a new opportunity by doing something brave and determined.

I really like that! I don’t think we have an equivalent idiom. @PiecesOfKate, can you think of one?

@Ema

"We have to throw our balls beyond the obstacle”

[Someone]

@Ema

I like to invent harsh versions of common sayings.

Aren’t common sayings in Italy more -hm- “rude” or “harsh” in general?

[PiecesOfKate]

@tasse-tee

I really like that! I don’t think we have an equivalent idiom. @PiecesOfKate, can you think of one?

Hm, I feel like we should have one, but none spring to mind.

[Ema]

I don’t know. Any example?

Anyway, I’d say no. There’s plenty of common sayings and idiomatic phrases, and they are usually associated with elderly people, and not rude at all.
Anyway, in the last years the use of bad words has become much more socially accepted, but it has more to do with how people talk than with idiomatic phrases… I can think of only one which is really harsh, I’ll post it in the dedicated thread.

Italian common saying -- in english (for fun)

@Someone This is really harsh and politically uncorrect. I’ll post it since I think it technically is very effective in conveying its meaning, but… I don’t like it, I find it disturbing when I hear it. It can be used to depict somebody who shows carelessness in a situation in which somebody else will suffer for it. An example: you are dining out at a couple’s home. One of the two hosts changes for you a lot of dishes, forks and knives and glasses, much more than needed. You feel embarassed and …

[Someone]

@Ema

I don’t know. Any example?

No, your “balls example” just remembered me of this other thread about gestures and their meanings and I thought that somebody mentioned something there (but I can’t find the thread at the moment …). Thus my question.

[Frenzie]

@tasse-tee

I really like that! I don’t think we have an equivalent idiom. @PiecesOfKate, can you think of one?

You can throw your heart and soul into it to take the challenge head-on. Or something like that.

[PiecesOfKate]

@Frenzie

@tasse-tee

I really like that! I don’t think we have an equivalent idiom. @PiecesOfKate, can you think of one?

You can throw your heart and soul into it to take the challenge head-on. Or something like that.

Yeah, I guess we say ‘I put my heart and soul into it’ but that just means we tried really hard. I can’t think of one that incorporates the ‘transforming of a crisis’ bit.

The closest I can get is when someone says ‘Hey! Turn that frown upside down!’ which usually makes me want to sock them.

[Ema]

Well, the transforming bit is optional. The main aspect is that it is difficult to make the first step. So, don’t give a second thought and throw your heart. The rest of the body will follow. And remember: throwing something is an impulsive act. It only takes a second, and it’s permanent. You can’t go back.

[PiecesOfKate]

@Ema

Well, the transforming bit is optional. The main aspect is that it is difficult to make the first step. So, don’t give a second thought and throw your heart. The rest of the body will follow. And remember: throwing something is an impulsive act. It only takes a second, and it’s permanent. You can’t go back.

Oh, I see.

So a bit like ‘throwing caution to the wind’, maybe. Or ‘grab the bull by the horns’.

I like the Italian one the best though.

[milanfahrnholz]

@PiecesOfKate

The closest I can get is when someone says ‘Hey! Turn that frown upside down!’ which usually makes me want to sock them.

- YouTube

[PiecesOfKate]

That is SO true I’ve had strangers say similar things to me in the street, like ‘cheer up, it might never happen!’ On at least one of those occasions something bad had already happened. Which is why I really don’t get it when people do that!

[milanfahrnholz]

Have you ever been accused of having a resty bitch face? Such a stupid thing, who came up with that?

[PiecesOfKate]

I’ve only heard the ‘resting bitch face’ phrase recently. I’m sure I will be accused of that soon Though I think mine is more of a ‘worrysome’ expression. My mum once said I should put on a big smile all the time. I mean, I don’t want to look insane…

[Someone]

@PiecesOfKate

I mean, I don’t want to look insane…

Why not?

[PiecesOfKate]

I sense a meme coming…

[milanfahrnholz]

I once actually had a girl tell me: “See, if you would smile more you actually don´t look that bad!”

[PiecesOfKate]

@milanfahrnholz

I once actually had a girl tell me: “See, if you would smile more you actually don´t look that bad!”

I looked for a Friends ‘well aren’t you a treat!’ meme but couldn’t find one, boo.

[milanfahrnholz]

@PiecesOfKate

I sense a meme coming…

Thinking of this?