In one of our many office discussions recently, I described someone as being a bit thick. As with some of our English phrases (although very few – our employees are very, very clever), I needed to give a bit of an explanation for our non-native English speakers – that the phrase is a shortening of thick as two short planks – ie a bit stupid. And of course we have many other phrases, such as the lights are on, but nobody’s home; not the sharpest knife in the drawer; a sandwich short of a picnic etc etc.
So what descriptive, amusing or downright bizarre phrases are used elsewhere in the world?
I am reliably informed that in Hungary, the phrase is sötét mint az éjszaka or he/she is as dark as night. The Cantonese phrase 牛皮燈籠 點不明 (nghàuhpèih dānglùhng dím bātmìhng) translates as as unclear as a leather lantern whilst the French, apparently, might describe someone as (un peu) blonde or (a bit) blonde – but that’s just rude… :)
What are your favourites?
Thanks to http://www.omniglot.com/language/idioms/crazy.php and my colleagues!