Peculiar Sayings in Finnish with animals
Welcome to the world of weird sayings and folk wisdom in Finnish! Here I have gathered some sayings that have an animal topic. This will be part one from a two-part blog article. So, let’s dive in!
Cow: Oma lehmä ojassa 
The literal meaning of this sentence is to “have your own cow in the ditch”. It is used when you offer a service or give help but then say you have your own cow in the ditch. This means that although you are doing a service or giving an opinion that sides with the other person's opinion, you are doing it because you are also getting an advantage from the situation. The expression may have been born in a rural environment and tells about the fact that in times of need, everyone would rather save their own cow than, say, the neighbor's cow.
Cat: Nostaa kissa pöydälle 
The saying "put/lift the cat on the table" usually means bringing up something that has been kept quiet or is awkward. The origin of this idiom is unclear. However, here are some possible explanations. For example, in Finland, the cat has traditionally been an important animal that has kept houses free of rodents. The cat was usually an independent and somewhat mysterious animal, but nevertheless a hard-working animal in the household. When we "put the cat on the table", it means giving value to something that would not normally be considered, like a difficult topic. In literal terms, in Finnish, it means something that was kept quiet or difficult is brought up openly to a conversation.
Bear: Perseelle ammuttu karhu 
“A bear shot in the butt” is a description for an extremely angry individual. At the end of the last century, bear hunting by wrestling was replaced by firearms. Since the gun was a new invention and the hit accuracy was not always the best possible, we soon got to know what a bear shot in the butt is like. Today's saying describes for example a person who has been awakened in the middle of their best sleep, an angry employee who has just been fired by the company, or a reindeer herder arrested for poaching. Or your parents might be like bears shot in the butt, when you crashed their car when you just got your license!
Hazel grouse: Parempi pyy pivossa kuin kaksi oksalla 
The word pivo means palm, grapple or handful. It belongs to the oldest original, i.e. unborrowed, words in the Finnish language. It has equivalents, in the Finnish languages of the Baltic Sea, and in the Samoyedic languages, where the word also means palm. So “it's better to have a hazel grouse in your palm than sitting on a tree branch”. Because at least then you have something on your hand, rather than admiring it from a distance. So, if you only have one euro in your hand for example, it's better than having two euros laying around on the street, because then they are not yours!
The word pivo is also used in Finland as a measure of linen, meaning a handful of ginned or processed flax.
Viper: Olla käärmeissään 
The literal meaning to be “in one's snakes” means that someone is annoyed or angry. Even though I have spent a hefty amount of time online and tried to look for where this saying comes from, I haven't been able to find the origins. The only thing I came across with was that in the Bible the snake was mentioned to be the most deceitful of animals. Maybe this has influenced the saying, as language often forms from the combination of cultural and religious aspects and beliefs.
Fly: Kaksi kärpästä yhdellä iskulla 
If you are double lucky or manage to accomplish two tasks at the same time, you can say you “got two flies with one swat”. I believe the English equivalent for this is to “kill two birds with one stone”. The idea is understandable, two useful results are achieved through one action. This idea probably originated in many different cultures independently because it describes efficiency and skill, which are valued everywhere.
Moomins: Ei ole kaikki muumit laaksossa
Although Moomins are not considered animals, this lovely saying, linked to our national treasury of the Moomins, just had to be included. It means “to not have all Moomins in the valley”. Moomins here symbolize rational thoughts or stability of mind. Rather than directly saying something, maybe harsher, if you talk about Moomins, it is a less insulting way of questioning whether everything is alright with someone. After all, Moomin valley is a beloved place for Moomins, where they all have fun and live a pleasant life. Usually everyone loves Moomins and can sympathize with the characters.
So, do you have all your Moomins in the valley today? Let’s discuss! What did you think about these sayings? Is there something similar in your language? Maybe they do not mention animals, but achieve the same expression in a different way? Let's compare our languages!
This should be fun!
Minna, OLS Community Manager – Finnish