Idioms in Slovene Language – Overview
Source: OLS
Today, we deal with the colorful world of Slovene idioms, exploring expressions deeply rooted in the country's language and culture. Understanding idioms is not only a fascinating aspect of language learning but also an invaluable tool for navigating daily life and communication in Slovenia. Whether you're on a language journey to master the Slovene language or already immersing yourself in the culture during your mobility in Slovenia, familiarity with idiomatic expressions enriches your linguistic experience and provide a deeper understanding of cultural values, attitudes, and humor.
Slovene:
z glavo skozi zid
English: with your head through a wall
Meaning: To be stubborn or obstinate
Slovene:
zob za zob
English: tooth for a tooth
Meaning: To seek revenge or retaliate
Slovene:
vreči puško v koruzo
English: To throw the rifle into the cornfield
Meaning: To give up or surrender
Slovene:
Voda na mlin nekomu
English: Water to someone's mill
Meaning: Something that benefits someone's cause or agenda
Slovene:
Kot volk dlake menja
English: Like a wolf changes fur
Meaning: To behave inconsistently or unpredictably
Slovene:
Nositi srce na dlani
English: To carry your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To openly display your emotions or feelings
Slovene:
Metati polena pod noge
English: To throw logs under someone's feet
Meaning: To sabotage or obstruct someone's efforts
Slovene:
Kot strela iz jasnega
English: Like a lightning bolt from clear sky
Meaning: To happen suddenly and unexpectedly
Slovene:
Držati jezik za zobmi
English: To hold your tongue behind your teeth
Meaning: To keep quiet or refrain from speaking
Slovene:
Postaviti stvari na glavo
English: To turn things upside down.
Meaning: To disrupt or radically change a situation.
Slovene:
Mačji kašelj
English: Cat's cough
Meaning: something that is not important
Slovene:
Kot riba v vodi
English: Like a fish in water
Meaning: To feel very comfortable and at ease in a particular situation
Slovene:
Moker kot miš
English: Wet as a mouse
Meaning: Completely soaked or drenched
Slovene:
Biti na konju
English: To be on the horse
Meaning: To be in a favorable or advantageous position
Slovene:
Rdeč kot kuhan rak
English: Red as a cooked crayfish
Meaning: To be very embarrassed or blushing intensely
Slovene:
Počasen kot polž
English: Slow as a snail
Meaning: Moving or progressing very slowly
Slovene:
Osel gre samo enkrat na led
English: A donkey only goes on the ice once
Meaning: One should learn from their mistakes and not repeat them
Slovene:
Ponoči je vsaka krava črna
English: Every cow is black at night
Meaning: In the darkness, everything appears the same or equal
Slovene:
Dolg kot ponedeljek
English: Long as a Monday
Meaning: Seemingly endless or very lengthy
Slovene:
Podarjenemu konju se ne gleda v zobe
English: Don't look a gifted horse in the mouth
Meaning: Do not criticize something that has been given to you for free
Slovene:
Imeti dolge prste
English: To have long fingers
Meaning: To be prone to stealing
Slovene:
Vodo v morje nositi
English: To carry water into the sea
Meaning: To do something pointless, to waste effort
Slovene:
Jabolko ne pade daleč od drevesa
English: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in character or behavior
Slovene:
Rana ura – zlata ura
English: Early hour - golden hour
Meaning: Implying that early starts are
beneficial
Slovene:
V tretje gre rado
English: The third time's the charm
Meaning: After two failed attempts, the third one is likely to succeed
Slovene:
Za dežjem vedno posije sonce
English: After rain, the sun always shines
Meaning: Difficult times will eventually be followed by better times
Slovene:
Vsaka šola nekaj stane
English: Every school costs something
Meaning: Gaining experience requires overcoming difficulties and obstacles,
expressing that one must learn something from a mistake so it is not repeated
Slovene:
Ta človek je odprta knjiga
English: This person is an open book
Meaning: Someone who is easy to understand or predict, as their thoughts and
feelings are readily apparent
Slovene:
Požirati knjige
English: To swallow books
Meaning: To read avidly or voraciously
Slovene:
Kupiti mačka v žaklju
English: To buy a cat in a sack
Meaning: To purchase something without inspecting it first, often resulting in
disappointment or regret
Slovene:
Kot po maslu
English: Like through butter
Meaning: To proceed effortlessly or smoothly, without any obstacles
Slovene:
Živeti kot ptiček na veji
English: To live like a bird on a branch
Meaning: To live carefree or without worries
Slovene:
Jasno kot beli dan
English: Clear as white day
Meaning: Extremely clear or obvious, leaving no room for doubt or confusion
Slovene:
Rdeča nit
English: Red thread
Meaning: The main theme or recurring element in a story, conversation, or
situation
Slovene:
Priti na zeleno vejo
English: To come onto the green branch
Meaning: To improve one's situation or fortunes, often financially
Slovene:
Modra kri
English: Blue blood
Meaning: To be of noble or aristocratic birth, often used figuratively to refer
to someone from a privileged background
Slovene:
Nekomu povzročati sive lase
English: To cause gray hairs to someone
Meaning: To cause someone stress, worry, or anxiety
Slovene:
Prižgati zeleno luč
English: To light the green light
Meaning: To give approval or permission for something to proceed
Slovene:
Gledati skozi rožnata očala
English: To look through rose-colored glasses
Meaning: To see things in an overly optimistic or idealistic way, ignoring any
negative aspects
Slovene:
Za vsako figo
English: For every fig
Meaning: For any trivial reason, often used to express annoyance or frustration
at unnecessary actions or decisions
Which Slovene idiom is your favorite and why? Can you please share with us any experience where you or someone else used an idiom with you?
Have fun and
practice Slovene with OLS! / Zabavajte se in vadite slovenščino z OLS!
Alenka, OLS Community Manager – Slovene
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Source: OLS