Lebanon is undoubtedly a unique country as different cultures, religions, and traditions mixed together have brought forth a number of sayings only Lebanese residents use regularly but not for what they literally mean.
If we stop to think about their real meaning, we might probably stop using them in the usual context we’ve been using them.
To make it somehow clear how absurd they could be, here are some translated in English:
#1 “Mekhed Mawkaf”
This Lebanese saying literally translates to “He took a parking lot”, but what it really means is addressing someone as taking a strong stand against a particular subject.
#2 “Rooh Balet El Baher”
“Go tile the ocean.” Yes, you read that right. Yet Lebanese used this saying to say “get lost.”
#3 “Fekhar ykassir ba3do”
Translated to “let the pottery break itself”, this saying encourages the idea of letting people deal with their own mess.
#4 “Kil Hades Elo Hadis”
“Every incident has its own conversation”, usually said to someone dealing with multiple issues at the same time, in an effort to advise them to take it one thing at a time.
#5 “Aayish Bel Khasse”
“You are living in a lettuce”, a phrase that means to say “you live in your own bubble.”
#6 “Tak Hanak”
“Cracking jaws” or in other words “talking nonsense.”
#7 “Felij la t3alij”
“Paralyze to cure.” Basically, a hopeless case.
#8 “Hamel El Selloum Bel Aared”
“Carrying the ladder horizontally”, which is used by the Lebanese to say to someone that he/she is dramatizing or overthinking a situation or an issue.
#9 “Omrak Ma Terjaa”
“For your entire age, don’t come back”, this phrase is used way too much during arguments by Lebanese individuals who don’t actually mean it.
#10 “Bayed Tanajer”
“You’re whitening the pots.” There’s really no polite way to say this phrase, as it’s normally used to encourage someone to suck up.
