Unit 11: Euphemisms & clichés

four-letter words

swear words

effing and blinding

swearing

pardon my French

apologies for swearing

powder my nose

use the lavatory

spend a penny

use the loo

answer the call of nature

urinate

in her birthday suit / in the altogether

naked

a bit on the side

a fling/ an affair

got a bun in the oven

she’s pregnant

my number was up

I was about to die

breath my last

die

was not long for this world

going to die soon

be six feet under

be dead

There are plenty more fish in the sea / pebbles on the beach.

Er zijn genoeg andere vissen in de zee / kiezels op het strand.

Look on the bright side.

Kijk naar de zonnige/kant van de zaak.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

When you know what happens next, it’s easy to say what you or other should have done.

Enough is as good as a feast.

You shouldn’t have more of something than you need

Ignorance is bliss.

You may be happier not knowing all the facts about a situation

Get your skates on!

informal; Hurry up!

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Ik geloof het pas als ik het zie.

Mum’s the word.

informal; said when you tell someone a secret and don’t want them to tell anyone else; Mondje dicht

Good riddance!

informal; I’m happy smth/someone has gone

So far, so good

Tot nu toe gaat alles goed.