English phrases which are lost on Thais

**William** · 22-03-2007, 05:43 AM

Yesterday I had cause to tell a Thai they had "pissed on the chips". The phrase went completely over the head of the Thai and I got the blank stare, which is partly what I was aiming for (didn't want them to fully understand how angry I was).

I've also said to a Thai "why would I have a dog and bark myself". Translated into Thai that's actually fairly rude.

Have you ever had cause to use an English [language] phrase that's completely lost on your Thai counter-part?

**mad_dog** · 22-03-2007, 05:55 AM

I tried "you can take the girl out of the council house, but not the council house out of the girl" on my X g/f" (subsituting banok for council house)

**William** · 22-03-2007, 05:58 AM

^it's early, but I think that should read: you can take the girl out of the council house, but not the council house out of the girl - right?

**William** · 22-03-2007, 06:01 AM

I was in HK shopping with a group of Thais who asked my opinion on some silk shirts. "Coal to Newcastle" was my response

I once met a salesman here trying to sell us something and I commented to the missus thathe could sell ice to an eskimo (sp)

**blackgang** · 22-03-2007, 07:35 AM

"pissed on the chips".

Missed me too with that one.
Even tho I have spoken English since birth, well a few days after to be exact, but most of the sayings you use are local and mean nothing to people from different parts of the world or even the same country.

**mad_dog** · 22-03-2007, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by William

^it's early, but I think that should read: you can take the girl out of the council house, but not the council house out of the girl - right?

yep... i'm in england and am on cheap cocaine and Foster's .... I tried to change it but it might still be wrong... I'll have a look tomorrow ...

**slimboyfat** · 22-03-2007, 08:37 AM

i agree with blackgang.

you really can't expect Johnny Foreigner to understand funny expressions and sayings.

Many years ago my wife asked me to be careful about something. I said 'don't worry - careful is my middle name'

A couple of weeks later she saw my passport and asked me why they hadnt included the 'Careful' in my name

**Rigger** · 22-03-2007, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by mad_dog

Foster's

You need help MD

**William** · 22-03-2007, 09:09 AM

^I think you'll find that anyone drinking Foster's is beyond help and needs to move directly on to the alki thread

**El Gibbon** · 22-03-2007, 09:21 AM

I particularly like when I tell a Thai; "your dumber than a box of rocks", and I get that sickly gracious smile in return.

E. G.

**Thetyim** · 22-03-2007, 09:30 AM

There's a flip side to this.

Someone asked once what we were having for dinner
"ki moo, kii maa" was the quick answer which I thought very rude as it means "pig shit, dog shit"

Apparently it means "Nothing special,just the same old everyday stuff"

**Boon Mee** · 22-03-2007, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by William

Yesterday I had cause to tell a Thai they had "pissed on the chips".

Well, I've never heard the expression either.
Why would someone urinate on the French Fries?

**William** · 22-03-2007, 09:55 AM

it's hardly my fault that Americans cannot speak correctly.

An explanation:

"Pissed on the chips" = Screwed that one up

source: Irish English phrases

**cali kid** · 22-03-2007, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by William

it's hardly my fault that Americans cannot speak correctly. An explanation: "Pissed on the chips" = Screwed that one up

I have never heard that one before but it is easy to understand the expression.

Chips are good, if you piss on them they arent good any more, they get soggy.

Therefore "pissing on the chips" is screwing things up.

I love using phrases that my gf doesnt understand to communicate with friends, but it usually only comes in handy when we are talking about other ladies across the room or what not.

**mrsquirrel** · 22-03-2007, 11:13 AM

Try this joke.

A horse walks into a bar and orders a drink. The barman turns to the horse and says "why the long face"

They just can't get it.

**Marmite the Dog** · 22-03-2007, 11:37 AM

I honestly don't think Thais (or Americans for that matter) get most of what we go on about. As long as they can sit there with a smile on their face...

**El Gibbon** · 22-03-2007, 11:58 AM

^I should red you for that ,,, pomy bstd

E. G.

**Frankenstein** · 22-03-2007, 12:04 PM

I find this doesn't work at the lao dong bar, dont know why though:

"Propositions are truth-functions of elementary propositions. (An elementary proposition is a truth-function of itself.)"

**Marmite the Dog** · 22-03-2007, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by El Gibbon

^I should red you for that ,,, pomy bstd

E. G.

Ahh, you must be an Aussie today...

I'm not sure which is worse - Aussie or Seppo

**Lily** · 22-03-2007, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I'm not sure which is worse - Aussie

Jealousy is a curse, Marmers.

**RandomChances** · 22-03-2007, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lily

Jealousy is a curse, Marmers.

Yes but it pales into insignificance when you consider he's English as well

**Marmite the Dog** · 22-03-2007, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by RandomChances

Originally Posted by Lily

Jealousy is a curse, Marmers.

Yes but it pales into insignificance when you consider he's English as well

**Scooter** · 22-03-2007, 02:15 PM

Why would I need or want your handycraftweavedhilltribestitchedbeadedricehat?

**blackgang** · 22-03-2007, 02:29 PM

it's hardly my fault that Americans cannot speak correctly.

An explanation:

"Pissed on the chips" = Screwed that one up

source: Irish English phrases

WHAT, chips are french fries?? and you say that Americans can not speak correctly.
Fak, any fool knows that chips are those thin, round slices of potato that are fried crispy and come in a FRITO-LAYS bag and you dip them in sour cream/onion dip while drinking beer and watching NFL.

**William** · 22-03-2007, 02:31 PM

^actually, I always thought "chips" were something you got given in a Las Vegas casino

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