Non-English speakers, have you ever translated an idiom from your language exactly when conversing in English?

Question

I use one Bengali idiom very often, word by word in English. It is "Hear it with your one ear and get it out with the other" it means not to listen to someone, to ignore what someone says or listen yet not just give a damn about it; such as your teacher lecturing you, people fat-shaming you, bitching/gossiping friends, urban legends, internet trolls, and just hearing something not pleasing. By the way, what is its English equivalent? I'd love to know.

Kuraj · Accepted Answer

"Jednym uchom dnu, druhym von."
EN: "One ear in, the other one out."

Many idioms are often borrowed, so when I think of something in my language I just look up if there is an alternative in English.

But sometimes there isn't a good alternative.
For example this ear idiom, in Slovak there is another similar variant that goes like:"it's like throwing peas at the wall"
It means to do something that there is no point in doing, specifically there is no point telling someone something because they are going to ignore you anyway.

AlexEfron · Accepted Answer

Yeah tried it. Sprinkling salt on the wounds - 😆😆 Turns out that there is some idiom which means that... I can't remember it though

hasrett · Accepted Answer

We have that same expression in Croatian. We say 'na jedno uho unutra na drugo van'. But yeah, most surce words can't be literally translated fron Croatian to English.

menina · Accepted Answer

I'm not an English native speaker and I've never tried to do this. But, that saying also exists in my first language.

Justacatlady · Accepted Answer

The phrase you have is: In one ear and out the other. Which is what you have only with many more words

Pink2000 · Accepted Answer

My mama says that all the time. Going in one ear and out the other to describe somebody who isn’t listening

mad_brat · Answer

Actually the Bengali version we have "ek kan die shune arek kan die ber kore deya" is a direct translation of the English one.
Similar idiomatic meaning but not a direct translation, that kind of idiom includes "bojro atuni foska gero" which is "penny wise, pound foolish" in English.

wankiam · Answer

actually in the uk we have a similar thing...'in one ear and out the other' to describe someone who doesn't take any notice

tartaarsaus · Answer

Yes, never works out.

Some examples
- it rains pipe steels
- it is dick black outside
- I don't trust you for a meter
- I fell with the door in the house
- it walks in the soup
- it shall me a sausage be
- there is not a ball on the tv

AlphaGhost · Answer

I tried it many times but they seem to lose their taste and aroma, when translated, I don't now its me or everyone feels this way.

bente2 · Answer

There’s a whole facebook community of idioms translated directly to English. It’s called “make that the cat wise”, which is a dutch phrase you say. It means something like “sure, buddy.” Like, the other person is lying.

TheLorde · Answer

Its close, in English you say "words go in one ear and out of the other"

Pocahontas2000 · Answer

We've got exactly same saying in my country.

Dinnye001 · Answer

Yep. Never works out well.

Non-English speakers, have you ever translated an idiom from your language exactly when conversing in English?

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Non-English speakers, have you ever translated an idiom from your language exactly when conversing in English?

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