Obviously, we use them more in casual conversations. I've also noticed that I personally use proverbs and sayings more when I'm speaking with my immediate family members: grandparents, mom and dad, my sister. I'm not sure why but for me using proverbs is a very intimate way of speaking. Because sayings are so idiosyncratic, regional, specific... when somebody gets your reference, that creates a sense of true understanding and belonging between the two of you. So so special.
I'm always trying to teach Kyle my favorite expressions and I thought it would be fun to start sharing some of these brief lessons with you too.
The other day I taught him "падат като круши", i.e. "dropping like pears". It is one of my favorite Bulgarian proverbs. It basically means "to fall hard". It's not the same as "dropping like flies". It's more literal than that. Kyle and I heard it while watching the Barcelona-Valencia soccer game. The Bulgarian commentator felt a lot of sympathy for the Valencia team. Towards the end of the second half when it was already obvious that Barcelona was winning the game, he tz-tz-tzuck-ed for a while, then said Valencia are were dropping like pears. Which they totally were.
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Photo by Matthew Veenker
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7 comments:
I love learning new bulgarian proverbs and 'sayings'. This one is cute :)
oh Petya this is one of my favorite subjects - BG expressions v.s. American expressions. They are so hilariously different. I still sneak in literal translations of BG expressios when i talk to John just for the laughs. Think for example of: "Hvani edinia, udari drugia" ili "Ostavil si rucete"
Kyle and I both like to use literal translations of Bulgarian proverbs! They are so CONCRETE and descriptive. I think I'm going to start posting regularly on this subject. I get the giggles just imagining a conversation where it would be appropriate to say that someone did such a bad job, they left their hands in it! ;)
I love this! Obviously it's very close to the Russian "Padat kak' grushi" but we don't have the same kind of phrase in Russian...or do we? I'll have to investigate. More please :)
I always love "da mine mejdu kapkite".
Taking notes! This is fun!
Bulgarians are very observant! :)
Haha, I like it! :)
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