Finnish sayings

Finnish sayings and interesting or funny words. Feel free to send any questions about the Finnish language and culture. Note: this is not my main blog.

[finnish-sayings]

silmänruokaa

Literally: eye food Meaning: something beautiful to look at (like eye candy but without the notion of uselessness)

[finnish-sayings]

näillä näppäimillä

Literally: on these keys (as in a keyboard) Meaning: very soon

[finnish-sayings]

takinkääntäjä

Literally: a coat turner Meaning: a traitor

[finnish-sayings]

sydämensä kyllyydestä

Literally: of one’s heart’s fullness Meaning: as much as you want

[finnish-sayings]

(oikein) olan takaa

Literally: from behind the shoulder Meaning: hard, a lot

Example: lyödä / juhlia / juoda olan takaa

[finnish-sayings]

heti kättelyssä

Literally: already when shaking hands Meaning: right away, first of all

[finnish-sayings]

Joo ei kyllä!

Literally: Yeah no yes! Meaning: No way! Absolutely no!

[finnish-sayings]

lisätä vettä myllyyn

Literally: add water to the mill Meaning: to make a conversation more heated, a situation more complicated etc.

[finnish-sayings]

maalailla piruja seinille

Literally: to paint devils to walls Meaning: to talk about things that could go wrong

Example: En nyt haluaisi maalailla piruja seinille, mutta...

[finnish-sayings]

mennä soitellen sotaan

Literally: to go to war playing (an instrument) Meaning: to go somewhere carefree and unprepared

[finnish-sayings]

valua kuin vesi hanhen selästä

Literally: to trickle down like water from a goose’s back Meaning: to trickle down easily and without leaving a trace

[finnish-sayings]

olla tapetilla

Literally: to be on wallpaper Meaning: to be a very current topic

[finnish-sayings]

joku on painonsa arvosta kultaa

Literally: somebody is their weight’s worth of gold Meaning: very helpful at a difficult moment

[finnish-sayings]

pyöritellä peukaloitaan

Literally: to roll one’s thumbs Meaning: to be idle

[finnish-sayings]

aallonpohja

Literally: a wave bottom Meaning: nadir, the worst phase of something

[finnish-sayings]

mennä vaikka läpi harmaan kiven

Literally: to even go through gray rock Meaning: to do anything (to achieve something)

[finnish-sayings]

päästellä sammakoita suustaan

Literally: to let frogs come out of one’s mouth Meaning: to say accidentally something stupid or inappropriate