Wild idioms

Mustard after lunch? 10 foreign sayings that make zero sense

Idioms make any language way more colorful, but when you translate them literally, things can get quite goofy. You can’t translate a whole culture, so we’ve gathered some foreign idioms and their literal translation into English. Have some fun reading about it and trying to guess what they actually mean. Are you up for the challenge?

In Germany, if you’ve "tied a bear to someone," you’ve pulled a fast one, like fooled them good. No bears, ropes, or zoos involved. It’s their way of saying you tricked somebody, kind of like slipping a whoopee cushion under their chair, but in a more metaphorical way. It’s unclear how the bear got involved, but you’ve got to admire the imagery.

This one paints quite the picture, right? No way you’ll guess what it means, so here it is: In Norway, if you "swallow some camels," it means you’ve had to compromise on something you’d rather not. We might say "grin and bear it" or "bite the bullet"—they say gulp down a few large desert animals. Frankly, the mental image is enough to make anyone appreciate our American metaphors. Talk about a tough pill to swallow.

The French equivalent of "when pigs fly" is "when chickens have teeth." It’s a way of saying something will never happen. Can’t you just imagine a chicken grinning with a mouthful of molars? Terrifying. But effective anyway!

When a Japanese person says their cheeks are falling off, don’t call the doctor, they’re just loving their meal. Connection not found, but who are we to judge? It’s their way of saying something is so delicious, your face can’t even handle it.

This Icelandic gem describes an unexpected surprise, like a little bonus at the end of something. A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Nope. They’ve got raisins. In a hot dog. It may sound more like a cooking disaster than a feel-good moment, but hey, they mean well.

In Sweden, if someone "slides in on a prawn sandwich," it means they’ve had it easy—no struggle, no stress, just cruising through life on shrimp and bread. It’s a cousin to being "born with a silver spoon." Either way, the person didn’t have to hustle too hard.

In Italy, they say "not all doughnuts come with a hole," when life throws a curveball. It’s a gentle reminder that not everything turns out the way you expect. And hey, a doughnut without a hole is technically more donut. Maybe things aren’t so bad after all!

Poles say "mustard after lunch" when it’s too late to do something, like when the moment has passed. You can think of it like "closing the barn door after the horse is gone." Except in this case, you’re stuck with a hot dog… and no mustard. Tragic, don’t you think?

This Arabic idiom describes a letdown. You’ve waited all day to eat, only to be handed… an onion. A raw deal, literally. It’s like expecting prime rib and getting a saltine. The literal translation is hilarious, but you can’t deny it’s effective, pointed, and a little stinky.

This Dutch idiom doesn’t sound pleasant, but it’s actually a compliment. To "have hair on your teeth" means you’re assertive, bold, and maybe even a little fierce. In other words, not someone to mess with. Dental floss is not included, though.

Working their way to stardom

Can you imagine Jon Bon Jovi as a janitor? These stars had crazy jobs!

Image: Pedro Marroquin

Before the red carpets and million-dollar paychecks, many of the stars we know today were punching clocks at jobs that looked a lot like the ones we or our neighbors had. Even if their names are big today, they started small, and they surely remind us that fame doesn’t come overnight. The road to stardom can be a mop or a tray of food. Let’s see some of these A-listers’ first jobs.

Image: Jay Wennington

Long before he charmed audiences as James Bond, Sean Connery was a milk deliveryman around Edinburgh. He also tried his hand at bricklaying, lifeguarding, and even polishing coffins. That experience with manual labor gave him the determination and physical presence that fit perfectly once Hollywood came calling with a license to kill.

Image: American Green Travel

Tom Cruise may be one of the most bankable action stars today, but his first gig was hauling luggage as a hotel bellhop. Can you imagine him doing that? Carrying bags wasn’t glamorous, but it taught him about hustle and hard work. Not long after, he traded in suitcases for scripts… How fast can fortunes turn, right?

Image: Arlington Research

Before Seinfeld became a TV star, Jerry was hustling in New York City, selling light bulbs over the phone and even hawking fake jewelry on the sidewalks. Those odd jobs gave him endless material for comedy about the absurdity of everyday life, which became the backbone of his stand-up and, eventually, his hit show, Seinfeld.

Image: The Good Funeral Guide

Whoopi’s road to fame wasn’t particularly easy. She once worked as a beautician in a morgue (yes, you read that right!) and also spent time on construction sites as a bricklayer. Imagine the resilience and a sharp edge those experiences gave her, and how much they helped her shine on stage and screen.

Image: Praveen Thirumurugan

When Jim Carrey was a teenager, his family faced tough times, and he took a job cleaning factory floors. Sweeping up was a far cry from the slapstick comedy that later made him famous, but it gave him empathy and a strong work ethic.

Image: Petr Macháček

Before she became Rachel on Friends, Jennifer Aniston was dialing numbers as a telemarketer. Cold calling strangers wasn’t exactly fun, but it gave her persistence and a thick skin. When she landed her breakout role, she turned those early struggles into one of the most beloved TV characters of the ’90s.

Image: Ethan Hoover

You may know her as Queen Elizabeth, but long before playing queens and winning Oscars, Helen Mirren was at an amusement park in Southend, England, working as a promoter. Talking up roller coasters and fun houses must have given her a taste of performance and persuasion. It might not have been regal, but it was her first step toward a royal acting career.

Image: Heidi Fin

Ellen DeGeneres tried out plenty of jobs before comedy stuck. She worked at JCPenney and TGI Fridays, picking up people skills and funny observations along the way. Those early experiences shaped her wit and conversational style, which later made her stand-up and talk show so inviting to audiences.

Image: Jon Tyson

Jon Bon Jovi once worked in a Christmas decoration factory and later as a janitor. Those modest jobs couldn’t hold back his music dreams. Once his band hit the charts, he swapped broomsticks and ornaments for guitars and global fame.

Image: Gold's Gym Nepal

Before slicing through the screen as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman was teaching gym class in England. As a physical education teacher, he spent his days coaching kids in sports and fitness. But he was so much more; it was his natural energy and presence, which later helped him leap from the classroom to Broadway stages and Hollywood blockbusters.