Project Description
We all love using clichés in our native language. Using these clichés in Hebrew will surely impress your Israeli colleagues.
1. לִקְפֹּץ מֵעַל הַפֻּפִּיק
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“Don’t bite more than you can chew” – in other words, don’t go over your limits.
Direct Translation: to jump above your belly button
Transliteration: leek-fotz meh-al hah-poo-peek
.
2. לְכָל סִיר יֵשׁ מְכַסָּה
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This cliché is for anyone wondering when they’ll their “perfect” match.
Direct Translation: every pot has its lid
Transliteration: leh-kol seer yesh meech-seh
.
3. יוֹשֵׁב לִי עַל הָרֹאשׁ
.
.
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You know the feeling when someone just won’t leave you alone?
Direct Translation: sitting on my head
Transliteration: yoh-shev lee al hah-rosh
.
4. שְׁטֻיּוֹת בְּמִיץ עַגְבָנִיּוֹת
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This one’s perfect for when you just want to yell “bu!!-$#it.”
Direct Translation: nonsense in tomato juice
Transliteration: shtoo-yot beh-meetz ag-vah-nee-yot
.
5. הַכָּל דְּבַשׁ
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When you’re feeling down, don’t forget life is sweet.
Direct Translation: It’s all honey.
Transliteration: hah-kol dvash
.
6. הָעִקָּר הַבְּרִיאוּת
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.
At least you have your health!
Direct Translation: most importantly, your health
Transliteration: hah-kol dvash
.
7. פָּרָה פָּרָה
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.
Slowly slowly, don’t get ahead of yourself.
Direct Translation: cow, cow
Transliteration: par-ah par-ah
.
8. אִם כְּבָר אָז כְּבָר
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If you’re already this deep in something, just go for it.
Direct Translation: if already, then already
Transliteration: eem kvar ahz kvar
.
9. דַּקָּה תִּשְׁעִים
.
.
A cliché for doing anything last minute. It’s so popular that even last-minute flights have been nicknamed Daka 90.
Direct Translation: 90th minute
Transliteration: dah-kah tee-sheem
.
10. חֲבָל עַל הַזְּמַן
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The literal translation may sound bad, but it really means something was so good, it’s a shame its over.
Direct Translation: shame on the time
Transliteration: chah-val al hah-zman
.
11. עַל הַפָּנִים
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Keep this popular cliché in mind, and be sure to pull it out next time you see something awful.
Direct Translation: on the face
Transliteration: al hah-pah-neem
.
12. מֵת/הָ עָלֶיךָ
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May sound bad, but this is actually a term of affection.
Direct Translation: dying on you
Transliteration: met (male) / meh-tah (female), ah-leh-kha (male) / ah-lie-eech (female)
.
13. קָטָן עָלֶיךָ
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Pull this out when giving someone encouragement. Basically, it means you’re bigger than your problems.
Direct Translation: small on you
Transliteration: kah-tan ah-leh-kha (male) / ah-lie-eech (female)
