Here are 10 of my favourite saying in Finnish. I like these ones because they are not used in the same way in English - some of these sound just ridiculous when you translate them into English (lifting the cat on the table, sleeping INTO a bomb, ...), but you will hear these all the time in Finnish.
1. homma hanskassa - job is in hand, under control
Mulla on homma hanskassa! - I have it under control!
2. Nostetaan kissa pöydälle. - Something like, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or let’s talk about the real issue here. (lit: Let’s lift the cat onto the table.)
Kokouksessa hän päätti nostaa kissan pöydälle, ja sanoi, että hänen mielestään projektin aikataulu oli mahdotonta. - During the meeting he decided to "lift the cat onto the table" and said that in his opinion the project's timetable was impossible.
3. nukkua pommiin - to sleep in (lit: to sleep into a bomb)
Minä nukuin pommiin ja saavuin myöhässä kokoukseen. - I overslept and arrived late to the meeting.
4. helppo nakki - easy sausage (easy task or job)
Tämä tehtävä oli helppo nakki! - This task was a piece of cake! (lit: This task was a easy sausage.)
5. Sormi suuhun - Finger into mouth (i.e. what you do when you are confused)
Antilla meni sormi suuhun. - Antti didn’t know what to do. (lit: Antti put his finger in his mouth).
6. Joukossa tyhmyys tiivistyy. - In a group stupidity condenses. (i.e. in a group stupidity is exacerbated or made worse).
Miksei kukaan sanonut jotain kun tulipalo alkoi? ... No joukossa tyhmyys tiivistyy.
Why didn't anyone say something when the fire started? ... Well stupidity condenses in a group.
7. Suksi suolle! - Go away! (lit: Ski into the swamp)
8. Nähdä vaivaa - to make an effort, to put in effort (lit: to SEE effort) [I hear a lot of Finns saying, I have seen effort when they speak in English]
Hän on nähnyt niin paljon vaivaa - olen varma, että juhlat menee hyvin. - He has 'seen' so much effort - I am sure the party will go well.
9. Omakehu haisee. - Self praise smells. (This is such a Finnish saying, because they don't like "self congratulation" or "pride" very much.)
Miksi Suomessa ei saa kehua itseään? No omakehu haisee....
Why can't people in Finland ever just praise themselves? Well self praise smells...
10. Pokka pettää - poker face betrays
Pokka petti, ja hän tiesi, että minä valehtelin. - Poker face betrayed me and he knew, that I was lying.
Ei olla korkeampaa matematiikkaa - It's not advanced maths.
This is the Finnish version of "It's not rocket science"
Jättää toivomisen varaa. - To leave a lot to be desired.
Hänen toiminta tässä tilanteessa jätti toivomisen varaa. - His behaviour in this situation left much to be desired.
Lähteä lapasesta - to get out of hand, to get out of control
Literally: to leave from the glove.
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