Left Pinky Nose Picking
When you think about left pinky nose picking, the obvious image that comes to mind is of a man with a scruffy beard and a beer-belly sitting on his couch picking his nose with his left pinky finger. That would make sense but actually, how the expression originated is from an experience I had quite a few years ago. So let's go back to the beginning.
About some 20 odd years ago, I was studying at a college where there were quite a few international students. As you know, when you have many students from abroad, you'll have a mix of different ethnic groups and cultures. Nothing wrong with that! One of the groups that I used to hang around with where a bunch of young fellows from Asia.
There was one native expression they use to say all the time to one another. Since I didn't know the language, I can't quite remember what part of Asia exactly, but suffice to say that they were constantly using the expression, so obviously I became curious. As I said earlier, I don't remember what language nor the exact native expression, but in the end, I finally got what it meant, something that would literally translate into 'left pinky nose picking'. Interesting wouldn't you say?
The native expression actually means something to the effect of stop messing around, a common expression the natives use to say to one another to settle down and quit fooling around. But once translated into English the meaning is totally different as we can see. It would be another word, a 'faux ami' also commonly known as a false friend.
To tell you the truth, I had forgotten about it completely until the other day I was reading a message on the internet and I read something that was talking about the pinky finger. That's how the whole thing came back to mind and I had a good chuckle.
I am sure most of us have some weird, interesting story about one thing or another but in my opinion, the ones about languages and cultures and getting lost in translation are about the best ones around.
Things such as a 'bras' in french meaning 'an arm' has a totally different meaning in english. When you think of a bra in english you don't quite visualize an arm do you? Well, there are other meaning for it such as a cover for the front bumper of a car, but that's another story.
Well, I found something quite interesting the other day, a list of wonderful words with no English equivalent...I found it in getpocket. Fascinating!
Check this one out 'Backpfeifengesicht' (German): A face badly in need of a fist.
How about this one 'Iktsuarpok' (Inuit): You know that feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house and you keep going outside to see if they’re there yet? This is the word for it.
This one is my favorite 'Mencolek' (Indonesian): You know that old trick where you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them? The Indonesians have a word for it.
This one is funny as hell 'Vybafnout' (Czech): A word tailor-made for annoying older brothers, it means to jump out and say boo.
This one is a classic 'L’esprit de l’escalier' (French): Literally, stairwell wit, a too-late retort thought of only after departure.
I am sure that left pinky nose picking should be among this wonderful list...
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