In celebration of United Nations English Day on April 23, we’ve compiled a list of English idioms that non-English speakers might find downright strange or hilarious, especially when translated into their native tongue. Languages evolve and idioms are formed with collective meanings through time. These metaphorical expressions usually go against grammar rules and their origins might be unclear or unverified, but they offer us a glimpse into the past as well as the evolution of the language.

As dead as a doornail

Meaning: Quite dead or devoid of life, totally unusable.

Origin: This is an age-old idiom used as early as the 14th century by poets and became a widely used colloquial expression in England by the 16th century. A doornail has a large-stud and is used to add strength to the door. After being repeatedly hit by a hammer, the protruding end is also bent to secure it. Thus, each doornail won’t be removable or reusable either.

Drink like a fish

Meaning: To consume alcoholic drinks excessively.

Origin: Used since the 1600s, this idiom alludes to the way fish obtain oxygen with open mouths and appear like they are constantly drinking water.

To be a party pooper

Meaning: A person who refuses to join the fun or causes the fun to end.

Origin: In the 19th century, “pooped” was a nautical term used by seamen when feeling overwhelmed after unexpected strong waves crashed the ship and washed over them. Eventually, this term changed to mean “tired or exhausted”, hence, a party pooper is someone who exhausts and drains the life out of a celebration.

Knock your socks off

Meaning: To amaze or impress someone; to be taken by surprise.

Origin: In the mid 19th century, this expression meant defeating someone in a fight or beating a person violently until their socks came off. Then in the 1960s, an ad campaign by Pepsi-Cola promoting Mountain Dew popularized the positive meaning of the idiom and encouraged consumers to “get the barefoot feeling” and “knock one’s socks off”.

To have ants in your pants

Meaning: To be restless due to extreme excitement or worry; to be unable to stay still.

Origin: This expression originated from the United States, where “underwear” is known as “pants”, but no logical explanation has ever been found. However, it’s easy to imagine a person who starts fidgeting and wiggling when ants or any insects invade those hidden areas.

Cost an arm and a leg

Meaning: To cost an exorbitant amount of money.

Origin: A similar line, “I’d give my right arm” was used in the early 1600s. After the American Civil War, the government enacted a special pension for soldiers who lost their limbs, so the idiom was linked to the huge compensation for war-related injuries and accidents.

Hold your horses

Meaning: To wait or slow down; to be patient before acting.

Origin: In 19th-century America, horse riding and horse-drawn vehicles were pretty common, so this expression spoke directly to the people who pulled the reins when the four-legged creatures seemed to be rushing or getting impatient.

Mind your own beeswax

Meaning: A more indirect version of “mind your own business”.

Origin: Back in the day, American colonial women stirred wax to make candles. If they didn’t concentrate, they could end up burning themselves. Thus, someone needed to remind them to “mind their own beeswax”.

Go cold turkey

Meaning: To abruptly quit something, without planning or preparation.

Origin: In the 1920s, the expression was tied to quitting addictive substances. There are a few unclarified origins, but one of the more logical ones would be the comparison between a pale and clammy turkey’s carcass and a drug user’s face when experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Spill the beans

Meaning: To reveal secrets.

Origin: According to a popular folk etymology, secret societies in ancient Greece put white beans (which meant “Yes”) or black beans (which meant “No”) into jars to cast votes when deciding on new members. The beans were supposed to be counted in secret, but if someone spilt the jar, then the results would be revealed prematurely.

Do you have any favorite idioms in your native language? Leave a comment and explain their origins.