WWSCS? (What Would Sheldon Cooper say?)

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

More specifically Metaphors.

I was talking to my husband whose native language is Portuguese. English is actually his third language. It occured to me that I use far too many metaphors and sayings. They may not make sense to a non-native speakers or at least not have quite the same meaning.

So my request is for the community to present a typical metaphor we use eevery day, then translate it's meaning in a very direct way.

For example:

"Blood is thicker than water" - Family connections are stronger than friends and acquaintances. (Note that it's the meaning of the metaphor and not necessarily true)

"Kill two birds with one stone" - Sometimes one action can accomplish multiple goals.

Etc. Whatcha got, Paizo Community?

[Celestial Healer]

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" - It is better to go for the certain outcome than to forego it in favor of speculation.

"Play it by ear" (Actually refers to improvised music genres such as jazz) - We will forego making a plan and decide what to do as we go along. This one really confused a Japanese friend of mine.

"Touch base" (Baseball metaphor) - To briefly discuss something.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

Thanks Celestial. I thought this would be a more popular thread, but I appreciate your contribution.

[Doodlebug Anklebiter]

"A fish rots from the head down".

From the Bible, I think, and, it turns out, not true at all BUT:

If the rank-and-file are rotten, so probably are the leadership.

[Doodlebug Anklebiter]

I liked it when Sheldon told Penny that when he was correcting her mistakes "I'm not putting you down, I'm bringing you up. You should know, I do it for you more than anybody."

Hee hee!

[Samnell]

Doodlebug Anklebiter wrote:

I liked it when Sheldon told Penny that when he was correcting her mistakes "I'm not putting you down, I'm bringing you up. You should know, I do it for you more than anybody."

Hee hee!

I've actually said more or less that to people before, entirely in earnest.

[Turin the Mad]

"Kick the tires and light the fires." - check the aircraft and ignite the jet engines.

[Celestial Healer]

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." - Children take after their parents. Usually pejorative.

[Reckless]

"The early bird gets the worm."- an early start leads to a more successful venture

"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."- do not exaggerate something to make it seem more important than it is.

[Chubbs McGee]

"A fool and his money are easily parted." - A foolish person can lose his money easily.

"It's a toss-Up." - The result is unclear and can go either way.

"The boy who cried wolf." - To raise a false alarm.

"Idle hands are the Devil's tools." - You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.

"If it's not one thing, it's another." - When one thing goes wrong, then another, and then another...

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

"One does not cry because one is stupid. One cries because one is sad. For example, I cry because other people are stupid and it makes me sad." ~ Sheldon cooper