This document compares English idioms to their Indonesian equivalents. It provides 21 pairs of English and Indonesian idioms with examples. Some of the idiom pairs included are:
1) "Stick out one's neck" and "Telur di Ujung Tanduk" (egg at the tip of the horn), meaning to take a risky position.
2) "Go to the wall" and "Gulung Tikar" (roll up the mat), meaning to go bankrupt.
3) "Horse of a different color" and "Seperti langit dan Bumi" (like the sky and earth), meaning something is quite different.
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The cimilarity between english idiom and indonesian idiom
2. 1. IN A RISKY pOSITIONSTICK OUT ONES NECK
The members of the committee realized that their
position against expending the student aid program
was an unpopular one, and that they were going out
on limb by voting against the program.
Nevertheless, their position was justified to a certain
extend. Although they knewthat they were placing
themselves in a risky position, they felt that other
budgetary considerations were of greater urgency.
Indonesian people usually describe situation
like this with:
Telur di Ujung Tanduk (eeg in the top of the
horn).
3. 2. BANKROUCHY
TO GO THE WALL
I am a trader, Usually I face my properties for I
sell its. But now I become Bankroupt and I just face
the wall. So, people usually ask me to go the wall,
and Indonesian called me with:
Gulung Tikar (lying on the mat).
4. 3. QUITE DIffERENT
MATTER
HORSE OF DIFFERENT COLOR
Thomas likes to play jokes on his friends, but
he make sure that nobody is hurt by any of his
pranks. A prank that hurts someone is a horse of
different color! Being playful is one thing, but
hurting someone by one,s prank is quite a different
matter.
In Indonesia, for this case people usually say:
Seperti langit dan Bumi (like the sky and earth).
5. 4. BECOME ANGRY
JUMP DOWN SOMEONES THROAT
Thats it, Greg! You had better not come in after
midnight again tonight! I know, dad. You do not to
jump down my throa! tI told you that I had make it
home around 11.00. I do not intend to be late! Well, you
have said that before and in you come at 2:00 in the
morning. You can not blame me getting angry and
scolding you. I have got good reason.
For the case above Indonesian people usually
say:
Makan Hati (eating hearth).
6. 5. CELEBRATE
KICK UP ONES HELL
The prerequisities for admission to the
Theater Arts School are quite demanding, and those
student who were finally accepted had reason to
kick up their heels. It was only natural that those
who made it through the exams and interviews
would want to celebrate the occasion by going out
and having a good time. Different with Indonesian
people. They always imagine the delicious menu in
a fest, so they say:
Makan Besar (have great eating).
7. 6. BECOME VERY ANGRY
HIT THE CEILING
Dons father hit the ceiling when he was
informed that his son had been detained by the police
for disorderly conduct. He became violently angry,
since he had often warnet his son not to keep
company with that group of boys.
May be if any Indonesians looking Dons father
attitude they will had been saying that Dons father
Meminum Kopi Pahit (Drinking caffee without
sugar).
.
8. 7. GO AWAY
GO FLY A KITE
For the past five hours David trying to convince
Becky to go to the art exhibition with him. She had
been refusing all along and finally in desperation she
told him, Go Fly a kite! David didnt like to be told to
go away in such a fo rceful manner. Nevertheless, he
finally stopped trying to get Becky to go to the
exhibition.
Probably if Becky is Indonesian she wiil say:
Angkat Kaki (take up the leg).
9. 8. DIE
KICK THE BUCKET
Its been said that the old man knew of a
buried treasure, but he kicked the bucket before
telling anyone where it was. In the treasure exists,
the old man unfornately took the secret of its
location with him when he died,
Indonesians usually say:
Meninggal Dunia (leave the world).
10. 9. KEEP SOMETHING A
SCREET
KEEP UNDER ONES HAT
Although the contestants were most anxious to
know who won the prizes in the speech contest, the
judges kept the result under their hats. They kept
the results a screet so that the formal announcement
could be made in public at the awards ceremony. It
mean that the judges have been keeping the matter
between them.
In Indonesia people always say:
Hanya untuk Empat Mata (only for four eyes).
11. 10. GIVE UNWILINGLY
CAUGH UP
Say, Jack. Did you finally get that computer that
you wanted so much? Not yet. I needed to raise a
couple of hundred dollars more. Is it going to take you
a while to raise the money?It would have taken
forever, but dad said hed cough up the money I need
since Im going to be using the computer for my school
work. Maybe it was difficult for your dad to give you
the money-but then, he knows that its for good cause.
Yes it may be, so for having computer maybe I can say
in Indonesia that I
Menggantang Asap (tie the smoke).
12. 11. TAKE DECISIVE ACTION
INDIffICULT ACTION
TAKE THE BULL BY THE BULL BY THE HORN
Julia had always felt that she was missing out
on a lot of fun because of her clumsiness on the dance
floor. She had been putting off taking lessons, but she
finally took the bull by the horns and went to a
proffesional studio for help. She was tired of feeling left
cut and acted decisively to corret the situation. For
indonesian people it mean that Julia had been
Mengalahkan macan dengan buasnya (beating
the tiger by it wildy) .
13. 12. CAN NOT TALK
CAT GOT YOU TONGUE?
Come om, George! Tell us What you think about our
little ride down the rapids yesterday.
Well, uh
Was not it exciting?
I uh
Whats the matter? Cat got your tongue?
If you must know, I am keeping quiet because I was
scared out of my wits!
May be, if the queser is Indonesian she will ask
to Goes Are you ..
Sakit Gigi (get toothace)?.
14. 13. REVEAL A SCREET
SPILL THE BEAN
Did you know that Harry was going to take Kathy on a
Caribean cruise?
Yes I did. He was planning on surprising her with the
tickets for their anniversary, but someone spilled
the beans.
In this matter, spilled the bean mean is revealig the
screet, indonesian people usually use idiom as
sentence below:
Mengungkap Tabir (open the cordent).
15. 14. CHAT INFORMALLY
SHOOT THE BREEZE
What are you going to be doing thi s afternoon?
Oh, I do not have anything particular mind.
Why dont you come over to my place? We can
listento some record and shoot the breeze.
that sound OK to me. Ilike to relex listening to music
and visit and chat informallyt, untill my folks get
back from shopping.
In Indones ia, peoples usally use idiom:
Omong Kosong (empty comunication).
16. 15. FELL WONDERFULLFELL LIKE A MILLION
DOLLAERS
I bumpedat into Nick at the barbershop yesterday. He
looked great, but I noticed that he had a slight limp
when he walked .
I guess you didnt know that he had an operation on
his knee.
No, I didnt. Hows he feeling?
He says hes feeling like a million dollars now.
Apparently the pain in his knee is all gone.
from the conversation above we ethat nigh fell so
wonderfull and forgot his pain. In indonesia it mean
that nick was
Lupa Daratan (forgetting the land).
17. 16. UNINTERESTING AND
MEANINGLESS
FOR THE BIRD
They went to a poetry reading, but they got bored and
restless. As far as they were concerned, it was for the
bird! They left during an intermission because they
found the reading totally uninteresting and
meaningless.
For the matter like above Indonesian usually,
indonesian usually say that they were
Mendirikan Benang Basah (standing wet ruin).
18. 17. TRY VERY HARD
BEND OVER BACKWARD
When Betty First started teaching was afraid
that she would have a lot of trouble getting used to
the kids and to the faculty. Her fears turned out to be
unfounded, since everybody bent over backward to
help her. It mean that everyone were
Memeras Keringat (to pressing the sweat).
19. 18. BOAST
TOOT ONES OWN HORN
Nicks last novel was a best seller. He has
no need to toot his own horn about his
raccomplishments. His readers and critics alike
will now become aware of his talent. He wont
have to boast about his skill and success as writer.
It is big probability if nick go to Indonesia, peoples
will call him with
Besar Kepala (big head).
20. 19. INITIATE ACTION
GET THE BALL ROLLING
Look! Youve been talking about repairing the roof for
weeks now. Don,t you think it,s about time to get
the ball rolling?
I know, but I have been busy with other things. I
promise I will get to it this weekend.
The time to start doing it is right now! According to the
weather report its supposed to rain tomorrow.
to get the ball rolling meaning is initiate
action. Indonesian idiom that cimilar with it is
Turun Tangan (falling the hand).
21. 20. EASY , EFFORTLESS
DUCK SOUP
Can you help me look up my new stereo
equipment? Im having quite a bit of trouble with
all these connections.
Sure. Thats duck soup for me.
Well, with all your experience in electronic, I have
no doub that it will be Very easy for you to do. In
indonesia, peoples always say
Menepuk Air Dalam Dulang (expel water from
plate).
22. 21. MONEY CAN INFLUENCE
PEOPLE
We have been waiting for three months to get delivery
on our car, and people who put in their order after us
have already gotten theirs.
Well, money talk. Why do you try giving the dealer a
little something extra to move things along?
Idonesian idiom 100% cimilar in tthis idom,
Indonesian people usually say
Uang Yang Akan Berbicara (money talk).
MONEY TALK