REACTING TO WEIRD FINNISH IDIOMS AND SAYINGS | Part 3 

"One mustn't stay lying in the fire" is actually from a classic Finnish war novel and refers to finishing a charge instead of lying down in fear in the middle of gunfire.

Many of your guesses were actually very close. Some of the explanations in the book sound odd to me, even as a Finn

People also tend to combine the "Olla hukassa" and "Homma hanskassa" sayings to "Homma hanskassa, hanskat hukassa" which pretty much means that people thinks they know what they're doing, but in reality have no clue about it. (Or something similar, it is actually very hard to think what finnish sayings mean in english 😂)

"Olla hukassa" seems more like just a normal sentence. Not really a saying or idiom. I'd say a more accurate translation would be "To be lost".

What I'm learning from this, is that a translation of this book isn't good, there were at least 3 where you were right on the meaning, but the english explanation of the saying was wrong.

I have heard "Itku pitkästä ilosta" more in sense of you are as a kid having fun and disregarding how much "fun" toy can take or animal etc. And when you have had too much fun too roughly forgetting the world and the thing you are having fun with snaps or breaks. Dog bites or toy breaks and child gets hurt/upset. another would be example jumping on bed and falling down and hurting yourself.

"Ei voi kauhalla pyytää, kun on lusikalla annettu" means that you can't expect much (a ladleful) from a stupid person (who only has been given a spoonful). It's basically when you expect something from someone and they do something stupid instead or can't do something that's supposed to be a simple thing.

"Hätä ei ole tämän näköinen" is basicly "Don't panic, we got this!"

Dave still hasn't looked up the saying "Eihän tästä tule lasta eikä paskaa" which is ironically the first thing that comes to mind as i'm watching these videos.

This is really interesting to watch as an Estonian since some of the sayings are the same in direct translation and meaning as in Estonian. The saying "itku pitkästä ilosta" in Estonian is "pill tuleb pika ilu peale". However, "ilu" only means "fun" in that saying, otherwise it means "beauty" in Estonian. This means that the saying probably has very old roots and that in the Estonian language the word "ilu" got a different meaning after that.

Itku pitkästä ilosta. - Well, I have 3 girls and when they play together it almost always ends up with one of them getting hurt and ending up crying. So cry from long fun.

Who made this book!? These translations will make any Finn lose their cool.

Have you already come across "Näytä sille mistä kana pissii"? which is in english word-to-word "Show them where the chicken pees". Its basically is just a weird version of "Show them who's boss." I think its hilarious.

There is more to the "itku pitkästä ilosta" one: "Itku pitkästä ilosta, pieru kauan nauramisesta", "Cry from long fun, fart from a long laugh". You will suffer if you have too much fun.

Often after saying the saying "there are many methods, said grandma while wiping the table with a cat", we Finns say "vaihtelu virkistää, sanoi kissa kun mummolla pöytää pyyhki", which means "variety is the spice of life, said the cat while wiping the table with the grandma"

I really like " 'vaihtelu virkistää' sano kissa ku mummolla pöytää pyyhki" which means " 'change is refreshing' said the cat while wiping a table with the grandma" Also itku pitkästä ilosta is a really common saying, at least in my family. I feel like it says something about us as people, especially if you also look at sayings like oma kehu haisee (self-compliments stink) and kel onni on se onnen kätkeköön (who has joy/happiness/luck must hide it)

Mate, your job is weird. 😂

One of my favorites is "kuin juosten kustu" any similar in English.

I thought "vääntää rautalangasta" (to bend it from iron wire) is an universal saying :D I use it all the time!

Väännetäänkö rautalangasta, vai pitääkö hakea ratakiskoa?

Itku pitkästä ilosta is like THE saying that describes Finns the most. Always be on a lookout if things are going too well, you just can't be happy and content to your life. At least envy your neighbour's new bucket he got from staying in line for hourse during a store opening party.

When your kid runs around the house ignoring your commands to calm down and then falls down and cries, you can say "itku pitkästä ilosta". Or whenever you have a hangover.

I always translated "Vahinko ei tule kello kaulassa" as "an accident doesn't come with a clock around it's neck". Would mean the same, I guess I just always thought of it being like, the clock counting down until the accident would happen. ...but the bell makes more sense because, y'know, bells make noise. That's why people tie bells to their cats, right?

Lol that "Olla Hukassa" is really weird that they chose to go for the HUKKA = Wolf, instead of what I would assume most people think it, as "Being lost". "Being lost" is definitely what I would say "Olla hukassa" translates to, this one's being waaay to literal for some reaosn.

That Don't stay lying in the fire makes perfectly sense. The explanation wasn't very smart - it was kinda true, but didn't explain there's a risk involved. It means 'You have to advance, choose any direction, but don't stay still (staying passive is more damaging).'

😄 That grandma wiping the table with her cat made me laugh. My poor dog, she's sleeping leaning on my lap and I was trying not to wake her up while shaking with silent laughter 😊 Excellent illustrations in the book aswell.

Lol I was often told "Itku pitkästä ilosta" as a kid. But I have always thought it meant more like "If you're having so much fun it makes you careless, something bad will happen." For example when you're having a play swordfight with your cousin, your mom looks at what you guys are doing and says "itku pitkästä ilosta", you go "yea yea whatever" and your cousin ends up smacking you on the fingers or in the face with a stick 5 minutes later.

It's probably supposed to be "in The Lord's wallet", Lord in this instance referring to God.

"Konstit on monet sanoi mummo kun kissalla pöytää pyyhki" I think you nailed it. If i should explain that saying i would refer to that same saying "There are more than one ways to skin a cat"

Olla hukassa, can also mean that you have no clue about something, It's used in schools a lot

i never heard saying "Aika Aikansa Kutakin".....usually i've heard "Aikansa Kutakin" and i usually use this too..... its "everything has it's end"

My mother used to say "itku pitkästä ilosta" (cry from long fun) to me and my brothers alot when we were kids. Usually our fun ended in accident, for example falling from a swing.

I think "olla Herran kukkarossa" translation is wrong, or the translation is ok but the meaning doesn't come across quite right. The lord in this idiom means the God not just any lord. It should mean something along the lines of you being close to the God so your life is in good hands.

"itku pitkästä ilosta" is usually said when a childrens game/play eventually results in someone crying imo

A thing I've experienced, that helped alot of non native people with finnish prononounciation: Keep a monotone tone. Talk like nothing matters, especially since you're Brittish and have a "singing" rhythm to your speaking. Yes I know it sounds sad but that's just the case. Love your vids Dave, keep it up!

I think you were quite right, on that "elää kuin pellossa". That "born in the barn" sound like it has similar meaning or it fit same kind of thinks.

Fire in this case, relates gunfire. Charge! Keep moving!

My dad sometimes says ”Aikansa kutakin, sanoi pässi kun päätä leikattiin” which basically means the same thing as in 3:57. But it translates to something like everything lasts for it’s while, said a ram when it’s head got cut off.

That's actually a thing too. When a kid starts crying after a day out/in an amusement park/anywhere where they liked being, the usual answer I've at least heard is "Aww, did you have too much fun today?" Generally said by the parents, but with love in their voice ofc. That's at least what my parents and all their friends have done while raising us =P

I think "olla hukassa, to be missing or lost" comes from early ages when people, mostly children got missing and it was quite often that they had been eaten by wolves

I heard a longer version in my childhood for "itku pitkästä ilosta" that explains the saying right away: "Itku pitkästä ilosta. Pieru kauan nauramisesta." Having too much fun for a looong time brings you down (to cry) and same goes to laughing a loong time - you'll fart after laughing too much. ;)

To be honest I think this book does extraordinaly bad job explaining the sayings, perhaps the writers didn’t quite understand them either. Your hunch was quite often fairly close.

"Itku pitkästä ilosta" can be continued with "pieru turhan naurannasta" which roughly translates to "a fart from unnecessary laughing". It kinda means the same thing as the first part, so it's often left out. I think it could be a bit of a humorous take on Kalevala poem form, in which one verse line is always 8 syllables long (like both sentences of this idiom are), and in Kalevala the same thing is often said twice in a two successive verse lines, but in different words.

Olla herran kukkarossa is literally to be in The Lord's wallet as in the God's wallet. It makes much more sense like that.

Some finnish sayings: (Jokin on) kive alla (eng. (Something is) under a stone) = something is very hard to find Elää kiven alla (eng. to live under a stone) = to not keep updated about new things, to know nothing about new things Parempi virsta väärään, kuin vaaksa varaa (eng. Better mail wrong (way) than inch to danger) = Better to do something the long way than the dangerous way Herran huomaan (eng. To lord's (god's) protection/hands)= To give up (in case you are not able to do anything about something) [can also be used to say someone died (pass away), then usually siirtyi herran huomaan] Huipulla tuulee (eng. Wind blows at the top) = it's hard to stay the best Vetää viimeinen henkäys (eng. To take the last breath) = to die Olla kuoleman kielissä (eng. be on the tongues of death) = to be almost dead Vanha kettu (eng. Old fox) = someone who's best days are over, but who hast still tricks up his sleeve Minkä nuorena oppii, sen vanhana taitaa = what you learn young, you are skilled in old age

That stop laying in the fire is imo more like "Get up, stop it. You got this"

can't wait the next part... best series with learning the finnish progress!

These videos are super entertaining to watch especially as a finn

"Kusta hunajaa" = "to piss honey" = to do somethin real nice (more often used sarcasticly)

...and "kuin terven juontia" is quite right with "hard pil to swallow".

You were actually doing better than you thought the transcriptions were bit off. But nice and chill video again thanks Dave.

Your style on making video is very pleasant. Great to hear a foreigner learn Finnish.keep up

Ei saa jäädä tuleen makaamaan is more like..don't stay in a bad situation/relationship/place if you realise it's bad. It's similar to Ei kannata jäädä uppoavaan laivaan = there's no use to stay on a sinking ship.

Hey I really like the series, keep it up! I would love to see you try to translate or guess the sayings in English first though before reading it from the book. Would be awesome to see how many you get right :p

I would love to see Kat making a reaction video to one of these, and scoring you before you score yourself. :D

It's always exciting to compare different cultures - I really enjoyed it. Actually we are in the same shoes I am living for 2 years in Helsinki too. Anyway when I tried my fresh-learnt sayings on my finnish girlfriend - she couldn't stop laughing. It was great fun - thanks to you!

My most used of these are probably "siinä ei kauaa nokka tuhise", "seistä tumput suorina", "vääntää rautalangasta" and "kuin kaksi marjaa". All of them are definetely familiar for most Finns. It's so funny to hear your guesses 😁

Itku pitkästä ilosta like..hangover :D

"Niin metsä vastaa kuin sinne huudetaan": You reap what you sow... but where crops grow slowly, the echo from a forrest returns instantly. If you treat someone badly, they will return in kind.

Good job, Dave! 👌😁

I use "Siinä ei kauan nokka tuhise" pretty often! My dad used to say that all the time.

I love hearing your takes because they actually make almost more sense than the originals, haha. It's funny to realize just how odd our sayings are...

That "olla hukassa" is very smart because it mean two thigs. 1. Being missing. 2. In Wolf.

I didn't know 50% of those and the only ones I actually use and say out loud are "vääntää rautalangasta" and "olla hukassa" :D This was an interesting video as always! It would also be interesting to see how you would react to Finnish dialects and if they would be understandable at all

These videos are really funny :D the thing about idioms is you can't always translate them perfectly.. applies to all languages.

I like you a lot! Never realized that our every day sayings are so strange" :)

Nice video! Nice to watch You and Cat! Keep up good work! =)

The author of that book has intentionally made things harder. For example "Vahinko ei tule kello kaulassa" was translated as "An accident doesn't come with a bell in its neck" whereas I'd say a better and more descriptive translation would be "An accident doesn't come if you wear the bell on your neck". Then again that's the whole idea of that book to make things funny and weird, so I don't blame the author. Just saying that the the task of trying to guess these as a non-native Finnish speaker is harder than it should be.

Respect to you cuz u have patiense to learn Finnish!!

“Lähti kuin hauki rannasta / Left like a pike from the shore” “Lähti kuin nappi paidasta / Left like a button from a shirt” “Lähti kuin kuppa Töölöstä / Left like syphilis from Töölö” Very hasty exit. Similar to “Ilman jarruja helvettiin / To hell without braking”. Which can also be taken like “to hell in a hand basket”-idiom in English.

"Olla kiven sisässä" (to be inside a rock) means "to be in prison".

2:33 Yeah, I agree that's a little misleading. I means more like "you should get out of a bad situation even if you don't realize it yet".

i'm finnish and it's embarrassing to admit that i haven't even got half of these right. I heard similar words but in different order, very confusing.

"Hyvä kello kauas kuuluu , paha paljon kauemmas" reminded me of one of my favourite jokes which explains it perfectly (language warning). "You see that dock out there? Built it myself, hand crafted each piece, and it's the best dock in town! But do they call me "McGregor the dock builder"? No! And you see that bridge over there? I built that, took me two months, through rain, sleet and scoarching weather, but do they call me "McGregor the bridge builder"? No! And you see that pier over there, I built that, best pier in the county! But do they call me "McGregor the pier builder"? No! But you fuck one sheep..." (Version stolen from redditor ianmccoy)

Hey! Thanks for watching! If you would like the book, I recommend picking one up for yourselves (available at all good bookshops, I guess!)! I don't show every single page in these videos (just the ones I have a good guess for) so there's plenty of mystery left and you can also play this game yourselves with your foreign friends! If you do DEFINITELY let me know on Instagram (@dave.cad)

So fun video!

"Itku pitkästä ilosta, pieru kauan naurattaa" 😃 My granny used to say this all the time.

hukassa/hukka is something i use very often in finnish and swedish respectively, its a so called finlandism (something only used in finland, not in sweden), im sure cat has used that when shes spoken swedish alot

"Mikä laulaen tulee, se viheltäen menee" is actually old song by Irwin Goodman who was really popular back In the day.

You really are the best❤️

”Itku pitkästä ilosta” in my family was like when I had fun with my sister for whole evening and then got tired and cried

You were just right about that living in the barn thing. Elää kuin pellossa is just that, the books translation was weird....

DO YOU KNOW that the Grandma idiom continues? It has a second part!! And it's EVEN BETTER

Oh and there seems to be a lot of opinions what the "itku pitkästä ilosta" means, and I think it´s about the fact that not everything can always be fun, in life there´s usually tougher times too and not just sunshine. :)

How about this one: "Vaihtelu virkistää," sanoi kissa, kun mummolla pöytää pyyhki. It means that the cat is wiping the table with a granny and saying that it is refreshing other way round 😂😂

"Itku pikastä ilosta" was suprising for me .. Estonian version would "pill tuleb pika ilu peale" which litteral would be "cry (or musical instrument) comes after a long beauty"😃

Hey Dave you should react to some Finnish dialects! They are interesting and some are quite funny too.

Good work Davie, taste test next?

I actually use plenty of those sayings in my daily life. A couple of them were quite outdated/weird, but it does fit for ocasion, like nucklefist on someones eye.

As a Finn myself, I haven't ever heard the ladleful one before. My guess was that 'don't be greedy'

12:36 I wish they have the second part of that in somewhere in there 😅 it goes like homma hanskassa ja hanska hukassa 😂😂 translation is that the business is in the glove and the glove is missing/lost. Basically you say that you will do/try that, but hint you might fail/don’t promise to succeed. Usually said as a joke but I think it still has somewhat meaning in the situation. At least you have said before that you are not 100% sure even the thing you suppose to do is easy. So you say like I’ll do it but be ready for any surprises/mistakes 😅

as said many times under this comment. Don't stay laying under the fire.(of opponents gunfire) Good job!

I believe the "Herran kukkaro" was translated erroneously in the book to "*a* lord", where it actually should be "*The* Lord" - meaning God. To be in the Lord's (God's) purse implies you're in his favour, and so things go your way. I also think it the saying also has the connotation of not having to worry about anything bad happening to you.

For me, I've always seen "Itku pitkästä ilosta" as more of "All good things must come to an end", but more sinister. I've thought it's a way of saying that even though everything is great now you should still be prepared for things to start sucking again. Even if it's a bit grim I do think it's a wise lesson in life.

Just a couple off the top of my head. Hänellä ei ole puhtaita jauhoja pussissaan = they don't have clean flour in their bag --> someone is up to something bad or is hiding something. Ei ole koiraa karvoihin katsominen = there's no looking into a dog's fur --> don't judge a book by its cover. Tällä punaisella sekunnilla = on this red second --> right now. Sano minun sanoneen = say that I've said it --> mark my words. Ei mennyt ihan kuten Strömsössä = didn't pan out quite like in Strömsö --> that didn't turn out as expected. There are still a ton more but I'm too tired to think of any more right now lol

It would have been better if those translations were covered as well, so you could take for example 4 points by guessing only by reading it in Finnish.

2:57 You should always answer: "No, I was born in a hospital with automatic doors"

there was already a comment about this. But "ei saa jäädä tuleen makaamaan. " One mustnt stay lying in the fire, means gunfire, not actual fire. So you shouldnt stay lying in the gunfire, but you must try to go on. Cause lying in gunfire will get you killed in war. So it just means to move on, to carry on, to try and make the next step.

"When things aren´t as bad as it seems" made me do the same face as Dave

"Ei saa jäädä tulee makaamaan" - Lehto (näyttelijä/skådespelare Åke Lindman) WW II well known classic finnish war story aka 'Tuntematon sotilas' the 'Unknown soldier' - Väinö Linna en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuntematon_sotilas fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuntematon_sotilas_(t%C3%A4smennyssivu) The actual from front-line by my father ...