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Finnish expressions

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Ritva Tammi
Ritva Tammi

Finnish idioms and expressions with literal English translation + meaning

1 of 5
extremely rarely ani harvoin brand new ihka uusi a Finn through and through perisuomalainen supisuomalainen pitch black pikimusta sysimusta completely empty typ?tyhj? full to the brim t?p?t?ynn? tupaten t?ysi brand spanking new upouusi upiuusi uppouusi complete stranger ventovieras tupituntematon tuiki tuntematon absolutely familiar tupituttu absolutely fastidious tupitarkka the very last vihoviimeinen snow white vitivalkoinen utterly alone yp?yksin dry as dust rutikuiva old as Adam ikivanha
fire engine red flame red tulipunainen golden yellow kullankeltainen bright green myrkynvihre? flat broke rutik?yh? filthy rich ?kyrikas upporikas spick and span putipuhdas of the utmost importance tuikit?rke? soaked through to the bone litim?rk? drenched soaking wet l?pim?rk? likom?rk? stark naked apposen alasti ilkosen alasti wide open apposen auki bloody strange upiouto utterly strange uppo-outo one's very own ikioma eternal joy iki-ilo ratkiriemukas quiet as a mouse hipi hiljaa hiirenhiljaa Shhh¡­
ahtaa kitaansa push one?s mouth wolf down aukoa p??t??n keep opening one¡¯s head speak provocatively (to someone) ajaa kaasu pohjassa drive gas in the bottom drive very fast ajaa nasta laudassa drive pin in the blank drive very fast ajaa tuhatta ja sataa drive thousand and hundred drive very fast antaa kenk?? give shoe lay off ei olla j?niksen sel?ss? not to be riding on a hare not to be in an immediate hurry ei sylke? lasiin not to spit into the glass not to abstain form food or drink ei ymm?rt?? h?yk?sen p?l?yst? not understand (nonsensical) not understand ei ymm?rt?? tuon taivaallista not understand that heavenly not understand haistella ilmaa smell air sound out, try to figure out what¡¯s about to happen heitt?? hanskat tiskiin throw gloves on the desk give up heitt?? pellolle throw to the field lay off heitt?? lusikka nurkkaan throw the spoon into the corner die or give up heitt?? yrj?t throw georges throw up hyppi? nen?lle jump onto nose be forward h?vit? kuin tuhka tuulee disappear as ash into wind disappear without trace juosta kieli vy?n alla run lip under belt be in a great hurry juosta p?? kolmantena jalkana run as head the third leg be in a great hurry kadota kuin maan alle disappear as under the ground disappear without trace kaivaa verta nen?st??n delve blood from one?s nose irritate kerj?t? turpaansa beg for muzzle irritate olla perseet olalla arse(s) on one¡¯s shoulder be really drunk olla ihan puhki be totally through be really tired olla mieli mustana be with black mind be sad olla tuli h?nn?n alla be with fire under tail be nervous or in a hurry nyrpist?? nen??ns? purse one?s nose be supercilious polttaa hihansa burn one`s sleeves flare up literally ¡­ meaning
l?hte? lapasesta slip away form the mitten (woollen glove) go out of control kusta hunajaa pissing honey extremely happy menn? mets??n go into the forest be misguided, go wrong nousta v??r?ll? jalalla get up from bed with the wrong foot be very grumpy first thing in the morning olla persaukinen be open-arsed be without money; broke oppia kantap??n kautta learn bu the way of the heel learn a lesson the hard way olla pihalla kuin lumiukko be out like a snowman not to know anything and be stunned olla vaiheessa be in a phase not to be ready ottaa nokkiinsa take into one?s noses be provoked olis kirveelle t?it? there would be work for an axe something should be corrected, put right olla oma lehm? ojassa have one¡¯s own cow in the ditch having a personal interest or investment in the matter panna tikkua ristiin cross two matches perform even the most minimal effort (Engl. Lift a finger) repi? pelihousunsa rip one?s game pants flare up soittaa suutaan play one¡¯s mouth (as an instrument) boast, speak provocatively tallata varpaille stamp on toes be forward tulla/olla tumput suorina come/be one¡¯s mittens straight not do anything, though one should temmata hatusta pull from hat guess tunnustella maaper?? explore, feel the ground sound out vet?? hihasta pull from sleeve guess viilata linssiin file into a lens cheat viskata kirves kaivoon throw axe into well give up vet?? nen?st? pull nose cheat vet?? herne nen??n pull a pea up one¡¯s nose be provoked vet?? hirsi? pull logs sleep v??nt?? rautalangasta to twist from wire explain with very simple terms ?itins? n?k?inen look like one¡¯s mother not looking good at all seisoa kuin ? aapisen laidalla stand like the letter ? in the corner of the spelling book not having a clue
Sauna on k?yh?n apteekki Sauna is the poor man¡¯s chemist¡¯s Ketut kylpev?t Foxes are bathing = the sun is shining while it¡¯s raining) Sukset saa lipsua, mutta ladulta ei saa poistua You may have slippery skis, but you mustn¡¯t turn off the track Ei makaavan kissan suuhun hiiri tule The mouse doesn¡¯t come into the mouth of a lying cat = you have to work hard Ty?mies on palkkansa ansainnut A working man has earned his pay Ahkeruus on ilomme, laiskuus intohimomme! Diligence is our joy, but laziness is our passion! Ritva Tammi 2014

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Finnish expressions

  • 1. extremely rarely ani harvoin brand new ihka uusi a Finn through and through perisuomalainen supisuomalainen pitch black pikimusta sysimusta completely empty typ?tyhj? full to the brim t?p?t?ynn? tupaten t?ysi brand spanking new upouusi upiuusi uppouusi complete stranger ventovieras tupituntematon tuiki tuntematon absolutely familiar tupituttu absolutely fastidious tupitarkka the very last vihoviimeinen snow white vitivalkoinen utterly alone yp?yksin dry as dust rutikuiva old as Adam ikivanha
  • 2. fire engine red flame red tulipunainen golden yellow kullankeltainen bright green myrkynvihre? flat broke rutik?yh? filthy rich ?kyrikas upporikas spick and span putipuhdas of the utmost importance tuikit?rke? soaked through to the bone litim?rk? drenched soaking wet l?pim?rk? likom?rk? stark naked apposen alasti ilkosen alasti wide open apposen auki bloody strange upiouto utterly strange uppo-outo one's very own ikioma eternal joy iki-ilo ratkiriemukas quiet as a mouse hipi hiljaa hiirenhiljaa Shhh¡­
  • 3. ahtaa kitaansa push one?s mouth wolf down aukoa p??t??n keep opening one¡¯s head speak provocatively (to someone) ajaa kaasu pohjassa drive gas in the bottom drive very fast ajaa nasta laudassa drive pin in the blank drive very fast ajaa tuhatta ja sataa drive thousand and hundred drive very fast antaa kenk?? give shoe lay off ei olla j?niksen sel?ss? not to be riding on a hare not to be in an immediate hurry ei sylke? lasiin not to spit into the glass not to abstain form food or drink ei ymm?rt?? h?yk?sen p?l?yst? not understand (nonsensical) not understand ei ymm?rt?? tuon taivaallista not understand that heavenly not understand haistella ilmaa smell air sound out, try to figure out what¡¯s about to happen heitt?? hanskat tiskiin throw gloves on the desk give up heitt?? pellolle throw to the field lay off heitt?? lusikka nurkkaan throw the spoon into the corner die or give up heitt?? yrj?t throw georges throw up hyppi? nen?lle jump onto nose be forward h?vit? kuin tuhka tuulee disappear as ash into wind disappear without trace juosta kieli vy?n alla run lip under belt be in a great hurry juosta p?? kolmantena jalkana run as head the third leg be in a great hurry kadota kuin maan alle disappear as under the ground disappear without trace kaivaa verta nen?st??n delve blood from one?s nose irritate kerj?t? turpaansa beg for muzzle irritate olla perseet olalla arse(s) on one¡¯s shoulder be really drunk olla ihan puhki be totally through be really tired olla mieli mustana be with black mind be sad olla tuli h?nn?n alla be with fire under tail be nervous or in a hurry nyrpist?? nen??ns? purse one?s nose be supercilious polttaa hihansa burn one`s sleeves flare up literally ¡­ meaning
  • 4. l?hte? lapasesta slip away form the mitten (woollen glove) go out of control kusta hunajaa pissing honey extremely happy menn? mets??n go into the forest be misguided, go wrong nousta v??r?ll? jalalla get up from bed with the wrong foot be very grumpy first thing in the morning olla persaukinen be open-arsed be without money; broke oppia kantap??n kautta learn bu the way of the heel learn a lesson the hard way olla pihalla kuin lumiukko be out like a snowman not to know anything and be stunned olla vaiheessa be in a phase not to be ready ottaa nokkiinsa take into one?s noses be provoked olis kirveelle t?it? there would be work for an axe something should be corrected, put right olla oma lehm? ojassa have one¡¯s own cow in the ditch having a personal interest or investment in the matter panna tikkua ristiin cross two matches perform even the most minimal effort (Engl. Lift a finger) repi? pelihousunsa rip one?s game pants flare up soittaa suutaan play one¡¯s mouth (as an instrument) boast, speak provocatively tallata varpaille stamp on toes be forward tulla/olla tumput suorina come/be one¡¯s mittens straight not do anything, though one should temmata hatusta pull from hat guess tunnustella maaper?? explore, feel the ground sound out vet?? hihasta pull from sleeve guess viilata linssiin file into a lens cheat viskata kirves kaivoon throw axe into well give up vet?? nen?st? pull nose cheat vet?? herne nen??n pull a pea up one¡¯s nose be provoked vet?? hirsi? pull logs sleep v??nt?? rautalangasta to twist from wire explain with very simple terms ?itins? n?k?inen look like one¡¯s mother not looking good at all seisoa kuin ? aapisen laidalla stand like the letter ? in the corner of the spelling book not having a clue
  • 5. Sauna on k?yh?n apteekki Sauna is the poor man¡¯s chemist¡¯s Ketut kylpev?t Foxes are bathing = the sun is shining while it¡¯s raining) Sukset saa lipsua, mutta ladulta ei saa poistua You may have slippery skis, but you mustn¡¯t turn off the track Ei makaavan kissan suuhun hiiri tule The mouse doesn¡¯t come into the mouth of a lying cat = you have to work hard Ty?mies on palkkansa ansainnut A working man has earned his pay Ahkeruus on ilomme, laiskuus intohimomme! Diligence is our joy, but laziness is our passion! Ritva Tammi 2014