Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and found yourself completely lost in translation? The language barrier can be tough, but sometimes the real challenge is understanding the local slang. Here are some of the most hilarious and bewildering colloquialisms from around the world.
In Australia, they have a saying that goes "fair dinkum". This phrase means "truthful" or "genuine", but honestly, it just sounds like something a cartoon character would say.
If you're in the UK and someone tells you to "bog off", they're politely telling you to go away. The British have a talent for making even the most insulting phrases sound charming.
Over in India, you might hear someone use the phrase "timepass". This basically means killing time, but it sounds like a strategy for a board game.
In Scotland, they refer to money as "spondoolies". It's fun to say, but it makes no sense. Who decided that a stack of cash should be compared to a type of baked good?
In Jamaica, they have the phrase "likkle more". This means "see you later", but it sounds like the name of a trendy coffee shop.
In France, they have the expression "avoir le cafard". This roughly translates to "having the cockroach", which is a metaphor for feeling down in the dumps. We're not sure if this phrase is supposed to make us feel better or worse about being sad.
In South Africa, they use the term "just now" to mean "in a little bit". But if you're not from there, you might assume that something is about to happen imminently and end up waiting around for hours.
Finally, we have the Canadian slang "two-four". This refers to a case of beer that contains 24 bottles. Why not just call it a case of beer like everyone else?
There you have it, folks. Some of the wackiest, weirdest, and most wonderful local slang from around the world. Now if you'll excuse us, we need to figure out what the heck a "fair dinkum" is supposed to be.
