I know I'm childish and do pointless things. But I wouldn't make it through the days, weeks, months and years any other way.
Of course there are things that must be done right away, properly and without fooling around. But then there are things that can be done any way I please, and I have chosen this way of life. Relaxed fooling around here and there. When it doesn't matter. A little bit of this, a little bit of that because that's what I want to do right now. Not stressing about minor things and not explaining why I want to do what I want to do.
There's a saying in Finland for that kind of attitude. ”Asialliset hommat suoritetaan, muuten ollaan kun Ellun kanat.” The word for word translation for it goes: "Decent jobs are done, otherwise we are like Ellu's chickens." Which sounds a bit... odd and might require some explaining.
The saying comes from famous Finnish book called The Unknown Soldier written by Väinö Linna. (Tuntematon sotilas). Ellun kanat (Ellu's chickens) with its associates organized a contest in 2012 for a proper translation to the phrase that has Ellu's chickens in it.
There were three categories and the winners were:
Belles-lettres category – Most precise and descriptive translation:
”When duty calls, we react, when bunk calls, we relax.” – Petri Linja-aho
Humour category – Funniest translation:
”We work our way to Tipperary. Offroad we thirst for Bloody Mary.” – Jouni Hynynen
School category – For all Finnish primary school 5. grades:
”We take care of our duties and the rest of the time we are as lazy as Garfield.” – Pihlajisto school 5b-class, teacher Jaana-Maija Pohjala
What's the best phrase you've stumbled on that makes no sense when translated to English literally?
Or even better, sounds creepy or totally weird if translated word for word. Now's your change, show me what weird things your language has and please, don't bother to explain, let me guess what the saying actually means. This should be fun... :)
I'll start:
"Joka kuuseen kurkottaa se katajaan kapsahtaa."
"The one that reaches to a spruce, falls in to a juniper."
"Rumat ne ryysyillä komeilee."
"Ugly ones flaunt with rags."
...couldn't remember any really good ones, so now it's easy for you to top this. :)
Come ooooooooooon!!!!