Idiomatic Expressions
Through the abundance of human and non-human languages spoken in the Pallathantic and elsewhere run many common sayings, aphorisms, maxims, expressions, interjections, and idioms.
compare: http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/cat/
By Alphabetical Order
- A
- Amrulon decrees
compare: Act of God
- As brooding as Isfalath, as dour as Isfalath
very sober-faced
- As old as the dwarves
Very old. Compare "Since the dwarves came out of their holes."
- As old as St. Emhard
Very old. St. Emhard lived over one hundred and twenty years. See above expression
- A human is the heartbeat of a god.
Mortals are short-lived, gods immortal.
- A rich priest and his gold are one.
Some people or institutions are very stingy.
- “As the rivers flow from dawn to dusk.", “As the rivers flow from dawn to dusk, so…”
In the West, there are several major rivers that from from east to west. This parallels the path of the sun which is born in the east and dies in the west. This idiom, therefore, is used to preface a statement the speaker vouches as true. It is also used to preface oaths. Major Rivers: Rhaunve, Tayhoyre, Ibrew, Thybdis, Leh-Shelekhumbis, Esdekhel
- Alas Indolise (Asbardian)
I regret your loss. This expression can also be used to express one's own loss. Taken from a fictional account about the life of Princess Indolise of Bryndyd who died tragically.
- Alleyway Minstrel
Someone secretly in the pay of another
- Approach the mensary (Lucacian)
to appear before the Noble Senate of Aurice; to stand before an authority to give a report or accounting
- As ugly as an Uglyami.
Very ugly and threatening. Quite a monster.
- B
- Beneath the moons on a starlit night
When circumstances are perfect; "the moons" refers to Starmoon and Sunmoon shining together in the same part of the sky and 'starlit night' means a clear, night-time sky.
- "Betuziba doesn't roll out of bed for less than twenty silver."
said to indicate that the prices for even basic services are very pricey. Said of the courtesan Betuziba.
- Between a dragon and her brood
In a very dangerous situation
- Beyond the Lagoon (Lucacian)
Beyond the Pale; beyond the great lagoon of Aurice; outside the range of conventional society
- Beware the Dragon. (Thracian)
Can mean the obvious warning. But is thought to refer to Thracian heraldic cadency where the 'dragon' is the second son. Thus, it is an exhortation to the legitimate power to beware someone close at hand who could overthrow and replace the legitimate power. Rhungast Bijäl who slew and usurped his older brother's throne is a prime example. The saying also has currency in noble houses where the younger son (sometimes the second) is raised as the house wizard.
Someone who worships Chaos
physician; physicans bear a red staff
- Borgissa in a bottle
There's more to this situation or person than it appears to be; opening it up could prove overwhelming
- Borrow the dead
to summon and enlist the services of the undead; to animate the dead; originates from an old Neptultchi idiom
- Bring me a pipe of gold.
said when you want the real deal, the authentic item, not a fake or a weak attempt. Refers to a Pytharnian Fable where the queen says "Bring me a pipe of gold."
- Busker to the gods
someone who succeeds well at an otherwise lowly profession
- C
- cart of golden fleeglesilk
a very rare and valuable commodity or a very rare and valuable situation
literally, "fish and chips." very common fare, nothing special
- Cheap as frantlebeans
very cheap
- Circus of Trolls
A disorganized, bumbling mess of people; the trolls are considered ungraceful and crude. For example: These caterers are superb. The last caterers were nothing more than a circus of trolls.
- D
- The dawn is bursting out. The day is breaking forth. The god is mounting up. (Arathracian)
An ancient saying attributed to the Yophentheans and other sunworshipers, said at sunrise.
- A dragonbone from Ddwbha (Gonfalese)
Not the real deal, a fraud, a fake. Refers to a formerly oft repeated story about a visiting diplomat.
- Damn the Yophentheans!
Disregard or contempt for the established authority, said when one does or wishes to disregard or show contempt for the established authority.
- Dance for the wizard, to dance for the wizard
be very circumspect and careful about what one says to avoid offense or anger; be agreeable. Contrast "I haven't come to dance for the wizard." I won't mince words.
- Dance of Lord Kualotha
The last act or scene of the show. "It's the dance of Lord Kualotha" means the show is about over. Compare "It's not over till the fat lady sings." You could say "It's not over till Lord Kualotha dances."
- Dawning Lands (Yophenthean)
an expression used during the Yophenthean Empire to mean any state or prince not subject to the Yophenthean Empire, but near its frontier.
a market trader, usually in the employ of a corpus merx or merchant prince
an official who makes a record of a transaction between deftcantors
- Dine with Orkybanth
to be dead
someone in great haste
- Dragonmount Cant in the crossroads
means to speak language or secrets inappropriately in public or a place outside of what is appropriate; used sometimes to describe use of highly technical language to non-specialists who don't understand it
- Dragonrib Fence
something improvised or make-shift
- Dragon-tongued
foul-mouthed, employing profanities. Explanation: dragons are known for breathing fire which is hot and burning like obscenity.
- Dressed in Eriu's teardrops, dressed in teardrops
someone or something, possibly ugly or horrible, presented with a very beautiful exterior; derived from the legend about the Conception of Threy
- Drinking his happy kegs
He is drunk or fast becoming drunk.
- Dripping tapers for Kualotha
casually worshiping chaos gods in private, having sympathies to chaos gods or worship. Explanation: In household shrines, a worshiper would light a candle and let the wax drop at the base of the image of the familial divinity whose attention or favor he wished to garner. After the rout of Kualotha, some Trevirites continued to drip tapers for Kualotha who was still much beloved for his benevolence.
- Drive the gontha in the dell (euphemism)
to have sexual intercourse
- E
- Eleven dukes, eleven daughters.
Everything matches perfectly; everything is accounted for. The First Kalikán Empire once controlled eleven duchies and the eleven daughters are meant to be the brides of the dukes.
- F
- Faithful as a skyman.
Not very faithful to one’s loves. Explanation: The skymen of old were like sailors, having different girl friends in different places of the earth.
- For duke and destiny, Not for duke and destiny.
Compare, “For king and country.” Or the more often used, “Not for king and country.”
- Find a wyvern's nest
to stumble upon a very bad situation. Compare: open a can of worms
- G
- Geddamish to me (international)
It’s Greek to me.
- Giant with a giant hat
important or powerful persons usually have big problems
- Give a dwarf his námi
to cater to someone's particular or peculiar liking
- God is in him (Incarnandist)
Interjected to describe a living person, usually by an Incarnandist of a fellow Incarnandist. For example: “Sebekhath, God is in her, is meditating on infinity.”
- Gold in the seams and stitches
to be very wealthy; to have gold in the seams and stitches
- Gold is a dwarf's best friend.
This expression's primary meaning needs no explanation and may also be exclaimed when one finds his favorite person or thing, even if it is not gold.
- Golden idol in a waygod's shrine
someone of high rank or wealth in a rather common or plain situation; someone or something really out of place
- H
- He is in God (Incarnandist)
Interjected to describe a dead person or a person not yet born. For example: “Gidhoniel, he is in God, slew wicked Prince Ulcanov.”
- Heart-strong
Courageous, confident
- Hum for Kwand and Khandi
Keep your lips sealed. Kwand and Khandi (Khandiwa) were ancient Kalaman gods who were worshiped with humming rather than spoken prayers.
- I
- Imridsul wretch
someone surrounded by wealth or opportunity that is inaccessible to him; Compare: water water everywhere, but not a drop to spare; refers to the slaves in ancient times who harvested and processed the costly imridsul dye.
- In Aiak on a dead horse
very unable to provide assistance; far away
- In Skiánthra's shade (Arathracian)
under the protection or aegis of the gods, especially Arathracian gods
- In the year of the gods (international)
Refers to the dating of the Isxinthion Reckoning.
- J
- K
- Keep the sixteenth month (Arathracian)
The speaker is telling his audience to keep the sixteenth month. This means the speaker is acknowledging himself to be self-serving in one's devotion or religious practice, be unwilling to sacrifice one's core comforts; to be compromised with secular practices. Explanation: The Arathracian calendar has sixteen months, while the common calendar has fifteen. By "keeping" the sixteenth month, you are observing the secular year rather than the sacred year.
An unknown person who assassinates someone widely unwanted; compare vigilante
- Kissed by Threy's blade
poisoned. Explanation: Threy or especially the thieves and cutthroats thought to worship him use poisoned blades.
- L
- Last dragon knight on the skyness
someone who will fight desperately to the death. Compare 'caged animal.'
- Let coddled hatchlings nest
Leave well enough alone.
- Light shines brightest in the dark
In a complete absence of something wanted, the smallest amount becomes greatly desired. compare: Absence makes the heart grow fond.
- Like Kéwbachorn on equinox (Medibgóëse)
done with supreme skill and success. Explanation: This idiom has reference to Kéwbachorn the Magnificent when he performed a magical sacrifice to the gods in a tight pinch with perfect success.
- Love the god; love the goddess.
If you support one member of the partnership, you are obliged to support the other. This saying refers to how the worshiper of a god must be respectful to the god's consort. It is sometimes reversed, 'Love the goddess, love the god.'
- Love surrounds you
Use: My love surrounds you. Her love surrounds you. To love someone powerfully with great and sincere feeling
- Lover of Bones
necromancer
- M
- March through the Marshes of Baihu
To go through great effort to get somewhere or to accomplish something; to look horrible as a result of it. For example: You look like you marched through the Marshes of Baihu.
- Mimbbuke Vendor
small shops and business, small business; a mimbbuke is a common word in Pytharnia for halfling
- Metropop (Aurician Slang)
Metropolitan Lord; Aurician Senator
- N
- Not for Dasironessa's thousand kisses
Used to express unwillingness to do something, regardless of the reward; sometimes used in the positive
- Not worth the fight is a battle uncelebrated in song. (Medibgóëse)
A Medibgóëse Saying; without fame or renown, it's not worth it. If nobody knows you did it, why do it?
- O
- Ogre's bed
very uncomfortable
- Orc's Wedding
a very savage situation or place
- P
- Pandancing in Amyrn
Used more often than not as an exclamation about something very unexpected. NOTE: In Amyrn, people say "Pandancing in Isxinthios."
- Pass out of this realm
Denotation: said of wizards to use magic to exit this realm and enter another; Connotation: to vanish into thin air
- Pay the monkey the ransom, to pay the monkey the ransom, to pay the ransom to the monkey (Thracian)
To have shopped at the wrong place, to have been swindled, to have bought a cheap imitation. Reference to a story from the Jaggudorns about a mischievous monkey.
- Pleader (Aurician)
trial lawyer, attorney
- Pour a guest-goblet on the ground. (Medibgóëse)
To insult one's host or benefactor unforgivably
- Pray at the house altar
To be most faithful to one's own family. Compare: Blood is thicker than water.
- Prayer for Saint Meihu
Said of someone who is irreligious but becomes devout in a tight pinch out concern for himself rather than true reverence
An exclamation originally cried in war when antiphlogistics disable dwarvenfire to alert one's fellow combatants. Eventually, it was used as an exclamation of shock or disappointment when an action or resource formally effective presently becomes exhausted or ineffective, regardless of the circumstance. Also used when something doesn't work as desired, especially by titancrafters. Considered mildly vulgar.
- Put a demon to bed, put a demon to sleep
to satisfy even the most difficult person
- Q
- R
- Ram the gates of Trevirs
Ready to take something by storm, about to do something very great or important. Explanation: This idiom has reference to the Twelfth Isbajath.
- Ratfolk at a wedding
inept or ignorant persons in a setting where they are bound to do something wrong or inappropriate
- Read one's Primes and Orals
To study a matter zealously, usually by reading; often said of wizardry students; has reference to the Book of Primes and Orals
- Rhio makes merry
The occasion is festive and joyous, often said at festivities where wine is served.
- Ride the breeze
To go with the flow, to take matters well even if less than perfect
- Ruby Highway
Use: to take the Ruby Highway. The portaging journey from Elmundel to Ruby Gates, frequented by merchants; the slow but sure route to wealth
- S
- Satyr in a wine cellar
someone going hog wild in a situation; someone doing something to excess
- Save your prayers for Saint Salmakhamer (rude)
tell someone who cares; used when you don't want to hear what someone is saying or is about to say
- Say father
to authenticate; originally meant to act in the capacity of a fathersayer.
- Send to Orclanx
to kill
- Silent as a temple halfling
very quiet; Compare: Quiet as a church mouse.
- Silver-hearted
able to gain insight from the spirit world
- Since the dwarves came out of their holes.
For a very long time; compare as old as the dwarves. Dwarves often but not always consider this unflattering.
- Sing to Nesbiria's delight
to meet the standard, to satisfy the expectation. In some languages, a different goddess is used in the expression.
- Six eggs and a sonnet
a complete package; everything reasonably expected
- Sorceress in a peasant's coif
Someone who is much more formidable than she appears. Compare: a wolf in sheep's clothing.
- Sound the dragonhorn (Thracian)
to raise the alarm, usually for a legitimate purpose. Contrast 'Cry wolf.'
- Sprattle your jib (Lucacian)
To make haste; originates from slang used by gibgibsew riders.
- Stick out like a gontha in the grass.
Something readily obvious to observe. A gontha looks like a giraffe.
- The Sibyl sealed her lips or The goddess won't say
Said when you don't want to tell what you know or name your source. Compare 'A little bird told me.'
- Swat of a wand
in a split second, very quickly. Compare: blink of an eye. Has reference to wizard's use of a wand.
- Swear by a pig, a cockerel, and an ass
to insist that one is telling the truth. Refers to an ancient ritual performed before the gods, involving the sacrifice of a pig, a rooster, and a donkey.
- Swear by a pig's ass.
A pun on the older statement to swear by a pig, a cockerel, and an ass; not telling the truth, mocking the truth; jokingly lying
- Sweeten your zuftee (Aurician)
to please someone
- T
- There’s more than one brothel between Thrace and Thrain.
You’re not the only merchant. I can go elsewhere.
- Threy blows his pipe, Threy is blowing his pipe.
A problem, disaster, or debacle is afoot. This is a very ancient saying, at least 3,000 years old.
- Thronarchy (Aurician slang)
Noble Senate of Aurice; somewhat disparaging, has reference to the high thrones on which the Senators convene on the mensary
- Thus judges Orkybanth.
It is an irreversible misfortune. Orkybanth is the judge of the dead.
- To Bralla on a golden bay
To run after an unlikely opportunity on a whim. Bralla is the goddess of sunmoon.
- Trinkets in the strongbox
insane; to have something worthless in a safe, therefore, to be crazy; to have trinkets in the strongbox means to be insane; compare 'bats in the belfry'
- Troll-dung, Troll-shit vulgar
compare horse manure, bullshit
- Troll-witted, Troll-wit
very stupid, lacking in common sense, considered offensive
- U
- Under the law-lock
Denotative Meaning: The status of a subdued gibgibsew under the power of folk magic and conditioning to serve a human master. Connotative Meaning: Any person under the full control of or subservient to another. For example: You may think Smiahorn is the man of the house, but he's under his wife's law-lock.
- V
- The very hairs of Zorzorra.
Alludes to a legend about a dragon named Zorzorra. Dragons have scales, not hair. Said when you find something you’re looking for. Compare ‘Eureka.’
- W
- Wand at the throat
be under an immediate and severe danger; be under stress
- Wash at middisk, He washes at middisk.
Moderns believe that the Yophentheans took their holy baths at noon. So anyone who washes at middisk (noon) is stuffily conservative.
- Wear the ffwrsva
to wear the cap of a wizard which under Pytharnian law may only be worn in public by licensed wizards, therefore to be a wizard
- What moves Medibgö?
I don’t know. It is a mystery.” The unknown cause of the floating skynesses and the reason they follow regular, concentric orbits remains a mystery. Thus, the saying, ‘What moves Medibgö?’, expresses one’s ignorance about a matter, usually a mysterious matter.
- When Arathrax rides in from the west
Said of something that could never happen. Arathrax, who drives the chariot of the sun, rises in the east. Compare: When hell freezes over.
- When elves dance in Bambnaskügchawr
Said of something that could never happen. Compare: When hell freezes over. Bambnaskügchawr was a magical skyness destroyed during the Isbajutha. Compare: When I dance in Bambnaskügchawr
- When I dance in Bambnaskügchawr
Said of something that could never happen. Compare: When hell freezes over. Bambnaskügchawr was a magical skyness destroyed during the Isbajutha.
- Whistle on the burrows (euphemism)
to practice necromancy
- Who will say ‘father’ for the fathersayer?
How do you authenticate the authorities? A fathersayer is a diviner who reports the true father of a child.
- Wide as the Shadew River
very wide
- Wring the blade
To worship Chaos
- Z
- Zamaclë in summer
someone or something that is perfectly content or delightful
By Subject
- Age
- As old as the dwarves
Very old. Compare "Since the dwarves came out of their holes."
- As old as St. Emhard
Very old. St. Emhard lived over one hundred and twenty years. See above expression
- A human is the heartbeat of a god.
Mortals are short-lived, gods immortal.
- Since the dwarves came out of their holes.
For a very long time; compare as old as the dwarves. Dwarves often but not always consider this unflattering.
- Authentication
- Say father
to authenticate; originally meant to act in the capacity of a fathersayer.
- Who will say ‘father’ for the fathersayer?
How do you authenticate the authorities? A fathersayer is a diviner who reports the true father of a child.
- Chaos Worship
- Bladewringer
Someone who worships Chaos
- Dripping tapers for Kualotha
casually worshiping chaos gods in private, having sympathies to chaos gods or worship. Explanation: In household shrines, a worshiper would light a candle and let the wax drop at the base of the image of the familial divinity whose attention or favor he wished to garner. After the rout of Kualotha, some Trevirites continued to drip tapers for Kualotha who was still much beloved for his benevolence.
- Wring the blade
To worship Chaos
- Danger
- Between a dragon and her brood
In a very dangerous situation
- Find a wyvern's nest
to stumble upon a very bad situation. Compare: open a can of worms
- Death
- Dine with Orkybanth
to be dead
- Kissed by Threy's blade
poisoned. Explanation: Threy or especially the thieves and cutthroats thought to worship him use poisoned blades.
- Send to Orclanx
to kill
- Deceptive Appearance
- Dressed in Eriu's teardrops, dressed in teardrops
someone or something, possibly ugly or horrible, presented with a very beautiful exterior; derived from the legend about the Conception of Threy
- Expectation
- Amrulon decrees
compare: Act of God
- Borgissa in a bottle
There's more to this situation or person than it appears to be; opening it up could prove overwhelming
- Dressed in Eriu's teardrops, dressed in teardrops
someone or something, possibly ugly or horrible, presented with a very beautiful exterior; derived from the legend about the Conception of Threy
- Golden idol in a waygod's shrine
someone of high rank or wealth in a rather common or plain situation; someone or something really out of place
- Pandancing in Amyrn
Used more often than not as an exclamation about something very unexpected. NOTE: In Amyrn, people say "Pandancing in Isxinthios."
- When Arathrax rides in from the west
Said of something that could never happen. Arathrax, who drives the chariot of the sun, rises in the east. Compare: When hell freezes over.
- When elves dance in Bambnaskügchawr
Said of something that could never happen. Compare: When hell freezes over. Bambnaskügchawr was a magical skyness destroyed during the Isbajutha. Compare: When I dance in Bambnaskügchawr
- When I dance in Bambnaskügchawr
Said of something that could never happen. Compare: When hell freezes over. Bambnaskügchawr was a magical skyness destroyed during the Isbajutha.
- Sorceress in a peasant's coif
Someone who is much more formidable than she appears. Compare: a wolf in sheep's clothing.
- Fraudulence
- Bring me a pipe of gold.
said when you want the real deal, the authentic item, not a fake or a weak attempt. Refers to a Pytharnian Fable where the queen says "Bring me a pipe of gold."
- A dragonbone from Ddwbha (Gonfalese)
Not the real deal, a fraud, a fake. Refers to a formerly oft repeated story about a visiting diplomat.
someone in great haste
- Sprattle your jib (Lucacian)
To make haste; originates from slang used by gibgibsew riders.
- Inebriation
- Drinking his happy kegs
He is drunk or fast becoming drunk.
- Rhio makes merry
The occasion is festive and joyous, often said at festivities where wine is served.
- Satyr in a wine cellar
someone going hog wild in a situation; someone doing something to excess
- Necromancy
- Borrow the dead
to summon and enlist the services of the undead; to animate the dead; originates from an old Neptultchi idiom
- Lover of Bones
necromancer
- Whistle on the burrows (euphemism)
to practice necromancy
- Oaths
- “As the rivers flow from dawn to dusk.", “As the rivers flow from dawn to dusk, so…”
In the West, there are several major rivers that from from east to west. This parallels the path of the sun which is born in the east and dies in the west. This idiom, therefore, is used to preface a statement the speaker vouches as true. It is also used to preface oaths. Major Rivers: Rhaunve, Tayhoyre, Ibrew, Thybdis, Leh-Shelekhumbis, Esdekhel
- Swear by a pig, a cockerel, and an ass
to insist that one is telling the truth. Refers to an ancient ritual performed before the gods, involving the sacrifice of a pig, a rooster, and a donkey.
- Please Another
- Give a dwarf his námi
to cater to someone's particular or peculiar liking
- Put a demon to bed, put a demon to sleep
to satisfy even the most difficult person
- Sing to Nesbiria's delight
to meet the standard, to satisfy the expectation. In some languages, a different goddess is used in the expression.
- Sweeten your zuftee (Aurician)
to please someone
- Profanity
- Dragon-tongued
foul-mouthed, employing profanities. Explanation: dragons are known for breathing fire which is hot and burning like obscenity.
- Troll-dung, Troll-shit vulgar
compare horse manure, bullshit
- Profession
- Bloodstaver
physician; physicans bear a red staff
a market trader, usually in the employ of a corpus merx or merchant prince
an official who makes a record of a transaction between deftcantors
someone in great haste
- Pleader (Aurician)
trial lawyer, attorney
- Regret
- Alas Indolise (Asbardian)
I regret your loss. This expression can also be used to express one's own loss. Taken from a fictional account about the life of Princess Indolise of Bryndyd who died tragically.
- Thus judges Orkybanth.
It is an irreversible misfortune. Orkybanth is the judge of the dead.
- Tribulation
- March through the Marshes of Baihu
To go through great effort to get somewhere or to accomplish something; to look horrible as a result of it. For example: You look like you marched through the Marshes of Baihu.
- Yophenthean
- Damn the Yophentheans!
Disregard or contempt for the established authority, said when one does or wishes to disregard or show contempt for the established authority.
- The dawn is bursting out. The day is breaking forth. The god is mounting up. (Arathracian)
An ancient saying attributed to the Yophentheans and other sunworshipers, said at sunrise.
- Dawning Lands (Yophenthean)
an expression used during the Yophenthean Empire to mean any state or prince not subject to the Yophenthean Empire
- Keep the sixteenth month (Arathracian)
The speaker is telling his audience to keep the sixteenth month. This means the speaker is acknowledging himself to be self-serving in one's devotion or religious practice, be unwilling to sacrifice one's core comforts; to be compromised with secular practices. Explanation: The Arathracian calendar has sixteen months, while the common calendar has fifteen. By "keeping" the sixteenth month, you are observing the secular year rather than the sacred year.
Sayings
- If you choose to tell lies, you had better believe them.
See Also
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