DESISPEAK

READY TO FACE THE MUSIC?

Some American phrases are puzzling to the rest of the world. Image credit: PEDRAM NORMOHAMADIAN on Unsplash.

The folks at i’m a puzzle examined more than 1,000 Google search terms to determine which American phrases are the most puzzling to the rest of the world.

Think “no use crying over spilled milk” or “the devil is in the details.”

The most confusing American phrases worldwide are over the moon, devil’s advocate, bucket list, pain in the neck, and no pain no gain. Followed by playing with fire, piece of cake, white elephant, couch potato and dog days of summer.

Canadians were #12 on the list for googling these phrases the most. “White Elephant,” the holiday gift swap game, was the 8th most confusing American phrase, and the top search in both Canada and the US. To think most of us associate a “white elephant with a cumbersome, expensive possession that is useless or difficult to maintain!

The top searches in Bangladesh and India: Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Pakistan: Beats around the bush.

Sri Lanka: Over the moon.

One of the most confusing phrases across the globe is “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” It was the top searched phrase in Bolivia, the Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and Yemen.

The Czech Republic and Switzerland don’t understand what “monkey business” means. Belarus, Romania, and Ukraine all searched for the same phrase: “paint the town red.”

And here’s one that will make you smile. France wanted to know what the phrase “Pardon my French” actually means! Often used after people swear in America, the French do not use it as such. 

Even English-speaking countries have trouble breaking down some American phrases. The most misunderstood American phrase in the UK (and England specifically) is cold feet. And Scotland needs to know what “down the hatch” entails.

Ready to face the music? Check out the fun study to see what other phrases the world is trying to figure out at im-a-puzzle.com.