English Idioms

[Trigger]

Hi @all!

I'm German and I'd like to know the meaning of the following English idioms:

Sleeping Satellite,

Satellite (of love),

The look of love,

The book of love,

Paint a rumour.

Thank you very much!

Yours Klaus

[SheykAbdullah]

Hi @all!

Sleeping Satellite,

Satellite (of love),

The look of love,

The book of love,

Paint a rumour.


Just out of curiosity, did you get these from songs? Because, though admittedly they may not be idioms in dialects of English I am familiar with, they seem to be metaphors and poetic images more than idioms. For example, the Look of Love (maybe from the Dusty Springfield song?) is just that, the look that one lover gives another. The book of love is a poetic/songwriter's convention that says that there are 'rules to love' and that they can be found somewhere. The others seem like they would have similiar explanations, but maybe I am wrong and I have just never heard these before.

[beer good]

They are indeed song titles.
Sleeping Satellite - Tasmin Archer
Satellite of Love - Lou Reed
The look of love & The book of love - lots of songs with these titles
Paint a rumour - Eurythmics

I guess one good way to understand what they mean would be to listen to the songs. "Satellite of Love" - the only one of these I know by heart - is pretty self-explanatory, for instance. And The Magnetic Fields' "The Book Of Love" is too good not to post:

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing
But I
I love it when you read to me
And you
You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb
But I
I love it when you sing to me
And you
You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know
But I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings

[IrishCanadian]

Idioms of language dialects are really interesting.
I was luckey enought to visit family in Scotland recently and being used to Canadian speach it was a very entertainin visit.
cannae = cannot
ta = thanks
cheers = thanks
skiver = lazy or abrupt person (I didn't hear this one in relation to me haha)
my favorite idiom of the dialect (if you want to call it a dialect) is "aye" ... which means, i think, anything you want it to mean. I had a great visit.
Any other fun language uses that you might know as local norms?

[kilted exile]

I was luckey enought to visit family in Scotland recently and being used to Canadian speach it was a very entertainin visit.
cannae = cannot
ta = thanks
cheers = thanks
skiver = lazy or abrupt person (I didn't hear this one in relation to me haha)
my favorite idiom of the dialect (if you want to call it a dialect) is "aye"

Nae a dialect? ach yer talkin oot a yer bahookie ya wee nyaff! min' u ahm jist a skeely eyed weegie fae the sooside o Glesga, whiddy a know 'bout dialects like? onythin mair than ginger, pokey hats, gettin' bladdered on Bucky, and gawn tae Sauchiehall street at night tryin tae get a lumber I dinnae ken hee-haw 'bout like. :lol:

[ClaesGefvenberg]

:lol: LMAO. Good Grief, Kilted, that really sounds like our new boss (fortunately, I think he is moderating his lingo a bit to give us a chance to keep up). I do not think he is from Glasgow, but still... :thumbs_up

So, how long has it been since you last saw the south side of Glasgow? :nod:

/Claes

[Bandini]

I am fond of the English idiom pertaining to those who are beyond hope:

"You can't polish a turd."

and the lovely Cockney warning not to meddle with nasty people:

"You play with feathers, you get yer bam tickled"

[IrishCanadian]

Kilted, makes me feel like I was back in Scotland again. The first day I was in Glasgow a guy came up to me ands said very loudly and clearly: "Daafdsaaenrrrackaaae" or something like that. But it was very clear I assure you.