What? You haven't heard that phrase before? You've probably heard it and just haven't used it because it's a hard one to explain. Basically, it means that one only thinks of the witty retort as you're descending the staircase away from the situation.
No, I didn't make that up, I promise! I had actually heard it before, and was thrilled to find it on a list of the most untranslatable words on the planet. Also on the list are:
- a Tshiluba word for a person who is ready to forgive any transgression a first time and then to tolerate it for a second time, but never for a third time;
- a Greek word for infusing your life with passion, creativity or love;
- and a Japanese phrase that when translated literally means "a meal eaten sideways" but that the Japanese use to express the stress associated with learning a new language.
Amazing, eh? I wonder what English words (or more specifically, Americanisms) just don't make it into other languages in that same vein?
No comments:
Post a Comment