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We all use phrases to express our emotions and feelings. These are known as idioms – an expression with a figurative meaning that differs from its literal meaning. Sometimes they don’t appear to make any sense at all and this is because they have evolved to mean different things.

We’ve previously looked at some of the strangest English phrases – where they came from and what they mean. But these quirks of speech exist in many different languages. Here, we take a closer look at some common phrases and you’ll see that translating your favorite sayings into English can produce some amusing results.

Not my circus, not my monkey

This idiom, “nie mój cyrk, nie moje malpy”, is used by Polish speakers to state that something is not their responsibility or “not my problem”.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Tell it to the hand.”��

Not all doughnuts come with a hole

This English translation of the Italian phrase “non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco”, is a reminder that things do not always turn out the way we expect. A “ciambelle” is a round cake that is popular as a treat in Italy.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “You win some, you lose some.”

The raisin at the end of a hot dog

This Icelandic saying, “rúsínan í pylsuendanum”, acknowledges that it’s not usual to find a raisin at the end of a hot dog – so sometimes you might find an unexpected surprise at the end of something.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Out of the blue.”

I’m not hanging noodles on your ears

This Russian saying, “вешать лапшу на уши”, means you’re not trying to fool someone, emphasising that what you’re saying is true – even if it appears to be a surprise.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “I’m not pulling your leg.”��

As clear as dumpling broth

A sarcastic saying from Germany, “klar wie Kloßbrühe”, means that something is not at all clear – because dumpling soup is not at all clear or easy to see through.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Clear as mud.”��

Pay the duck

This Portuguese phrase, “pagar o pato”, is used when someone takes the blame for something they didn’t do.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Be the fall guy.”

Give pumpkins to someone

We’re not sure why giving pumpkins to someone became such a bad thing in Spanish-speaking countries, but this idiom, “Dar calabazas a alguien”, means that you reject someone.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Show them the door.”��

To let a frog out of your mouth

This Finnish saying, “päästää sammakko suusta”, is uttered when someone accidentally says something they shouldn’t have. There’s an animal-related English phrase that is similar, but it involves cats...

An English phrase with a similar meaning: “To let the cat out the bag.”

Not the yellow from the egg

The German idiom “nicht das Gelbe vom Ei” literally translates to "not the yellow from the egg," and it is used to express that something is not particularly good. This phrase often implies that while something may be acceptable, it falls short of being excellent or ideal.

An English phrase with a similar meaning: “It's less than perfect.”

Leonor Corradi, MA is an experienced teacher of English and teacher trainer. As such, Leonor has��conducted workshops and delivered talks on best-practice teaching to ensure that learning really happens. The Global Scale of English has become a unique resource that clearly addresses the relationship between teaching and learning.

Are you an experienced teacher looking for a tool to boost your teaching effectiveness? Or perhaps you're a novice educator seeking new methods for teaching English. Whatever the case may be, the '' course is your ultimate guide to mastering teaching with the Global Scale of English (GSE).

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin.

This quote encapsulates the crux of the 'Teaching with the GSE' course. A comprehensive professional development program designed to bridge the gap between teaching and learning.

Many teachers are familiar with various scales, particularly the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). However, few may have delved deeply into its intricacies, as its connection to everyday teaching might seem somewhat remote. Each level of the CEFR provides a snapshot of learners' capabilities, while teachers are responsible for crafting the narrative that illustrates how students progress from one level to another. In this metaphor, the Global Scale of English (GSE) serves as a valuable script that educators can utilize to facilitate their students' progress.

About the 'Teaching with the GSE' course

The 'Teaching with the GSE' course offers educators a treasure trove of tools to assist learners in their language learning journey. Here is a sneak peek of what you can expect from the course.

The GSE and the CEFR

The course starts with an insightful introduction to the GSE and the GSE Toolkit. By the end of this section, you'll understand the relationship and distinctions between the GSE and CEFR.

Learning Objectives

The training course addresses the role of learning objectives in teaching and learning. It also helps teachers taking the course set learning objectives. They will, in turn, help their learners set their own learning objectives. Setting language learning objectives often results in students being much more involved and motivated to learn and make progress.

The GSE Toolkit

The GSE Toolkit is an incredible resource for teachers, learners, department heads and coordinators. The course shows how user-friendly it is and how it helps users personalize their own goals and monitor them.

Course materials alignment to GSE

The GSE is a general scale in that it is not course-based and can be used with materials of all sorts. However, those materials aligned to the GSE offer different resources that can help teachers in different areas: planning, teaching, assessing, monitoring learners progress, among others.

Improving your professional development and student's classroom experience

Teachers worldwide have already started using the GSE. This course will help them see how to use it for more effective teaching, lesson planning, assessment, and curriculum design. They will become aware of how many great, unforgettable experiences they can create together with their learners.

Accents are a fascinating aspect of language that can reveal a lot about a person's background and experiences. For language learners, accents often become a central focus, sometimes to the detriment of more important language skills. In this post, we’ll explore what accents are, why people have them, and why intelligibility is more important than mastering an accent.