From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
List of idioms in the Estonian language :
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eluvaimu sisse puhuma
to bring back to life
blow in (to sm) the spirit of life
erand kinnitab reeglit
Exception that proves the rule
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hauas teist külge keerama
to turn around in one's grave
häda ajab härja kaevu
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isa nikkuma õpetama
when a child teaches something very commonly understood to someone older and more experienced
to teach one's father how to fuck
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jalga laskma
To go away / flee
To shoot one's leg
jalgratast leiutama
reinvent the bicycle
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kaksk[ümm]end neli seitse
Always; at all times. From 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week.
twenty-four seven
karuteene
favor, which brings negative consequences
bear's favor
kivi kotti!
good luck!
Stone into the bag!
koer poiss
Dog boy
kui hundist räägid
to call a bad omen
when talking of about wolf
kuum kartul
In the common political usage 'kuum kartul' (hot potato ) represents an issue which is controversial and generally avoided. In a business setting it sometimes refers to a project or responsibility that no one wants to assume, usually because the probability of failure is high. From a children's game in which an object which represents (or actually is) a hot potato is passed around a circle of players while music plays (or time is kept). The loser - the one left holding the 'potato' when the music stops (or time is up) - is eliminated, until only one person is left. A variation (when using an actual very hot potato) is to eliminate anyone who drops the potato
hot potato
kuut kõssi võtma
to take six shoos
käbi ei kuku kännust kaugele
A child exhibits the same way as his/her parents.
the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree
käega lööma
to give up
Beat by hand
käib peale nagu uni
unavoidable, persuasive and diligent
insists like sleepiness
küsija suu pihta lööma
punish in any way the person for asking the question
hit on the mouth of the person who asks
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Meaning
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lakke sittuma
shit on the ceiling
lesta tõmbama
to leave
to pull the flounder
libedal jääl kõndima
to walk on thin ice
to walk on slippery ice
luukere kapis
A personal secret that one would not like to reveal for fear of embarrassment, as it usually reflects badly on the person having the secret.
skeleton in the closet
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must lammas
An ostracized or ill-fitting member of a family or group.
black sheep
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nael kummi!
Similar to "Break a leg" for actors. "Have a good drive."
Get a nail in your tire!
nokk kinni, saba lahti
This is from a story where a bird perches on a roof and notices that its tail has gotten caught on something. It pulls and yanks, and finally manages to free itself, but falls forward and gets its beak stuck instead. When it pulls its beak free, the tail becomes stuck once again. The nouns can be reversed, too (saba kinni, nokk lahti)
The beak gets stuck as the tail comes free
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oleks nagu vaimu näinud
To describe someone with a pale/shocked/scared expression
It's like you've seen a ghost.
ots otsaga kokku tulema
to make ends meet
the act of having 2 tips come together
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parimat valjut osta soovima
to want to buy the best loud
peenike kui piitsavars
as thin as the stalk of a whip
pekki saagima
to saw the lard
peost suhu elama
live from hand to mouth
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rongist maha jääma
being late to act
miss the train
rusikas silmaauku
To describe a perfect fit, things matching or going well together.
Like a fist into an eye socket
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sajab nagu oavarrest
raining like from the bean stalk
situ ruttu, karu tuleb!
shit fast, the bear is coming!
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viies ratas vankri all
you are redundant / not welcome. Third wheel.
the fifth wheel under the wagon
võta või jäta
Accept or reject unconditionally.
take it or leave it
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õnnest lakke hüppama
Jump to the ceiling out of happiness.
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