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| eluvaimu sisse puhuma
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to bring back to life
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blow in (to sm) the spirit of life
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| erand kinnitab reeglit
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Exception that proves the rule
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| hauas teist külge keerama
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to turn around in one's grave
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| häda ajab härja kaevu
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| isa nikkuma õpetama
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when a child teaches something very commonly understood to someone older and more experienced
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to teach one's father how to fuck
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| jalga laskma
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To go away / flee
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To shoot one's leg
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| jalgratast leiutama
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reinvent the bicycle
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| kaksk[ümm]end neli seitse
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Always; at all times. From 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week.
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twenty-four seven
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| karuteene
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favor, which brings negative consequences
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bear's favor
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| kivi kotti!
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good luck!
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Stone into the bag!
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| koer poiss
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Dog boy
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| kui hundist räägid
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to call a bad omen
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when talking of about wolf
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| kuum kartul
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In the common political usage 'kuum kartul' (hot potato) represents an issue which is controversial and generally avoided. In a business setting it sometimes refers to a project or responsibility that no one wants to assume, usually because the probability of failure is high. From a children's game in which an object which represents (or actually is) a hot potato is passed around a circle of players while music plays (or time is kept). The loser - the one left holding the 'potato' when the music stops (or time is up) - is eliminated, until only one person is left. A variation (when using an actual very hot potato) is to eliminate anyone who drops the potato
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hot potato
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| kuut kõssi võtma
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to take six shoos
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| käbi ei kuku kännust kaugele
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A child exhibits the same way as his/her parents.
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the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree
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| käega lööma
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to give up
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Beat by hand
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| käib peale nagu uni
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unavoidable, persuasive and diligent
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insists like sleepiness
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| küsija suu pihta lööma
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punish in any way the person for asking the question
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hit on the mouth of the person who asks
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| lakke sittuma
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shit on the ceiling
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| lesta tõmbama
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to leave
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to pull the flounder
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| libedal jääl kõndima
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to walk on thin ice
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to walk on slippery ice
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| luukere kapis
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A personal secret that one would not like to reveal for fear of embarrassment, as it usually reflects badly on the person having the secret.
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skeleton in the closet
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| must lammas
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An ostracized or ill-fitting member of a family or group.
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black sheep
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| nael kummi!
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Similar to "Break a leg" for actors. "Have a good drive."
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Get a nail in your tire!
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| nokk kinni, saba lahti
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This is from a story where a bird perches on a roof and notices that its tail has gotten caught on something. It pulls and yanks, and finally manages to free itself, but falls forward and gets its beak stuck instead. When it pulls its beak free, the tail becomes stuck once again. The nouns can be reversed, too (saba kinni, nokk lahti)
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The beak gets stuck as the tail comes free
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| oleks nagu vaimu näinud
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To describe someone with a pale/shocked/scared expression
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It's like you've seen a ghost.
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| ots otsaga kokku tulema
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to make ends meet
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the act of having 2 tips come together
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| parimat valjut osta soovima
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to want to buy the best loud
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| peenike kui piitsavars
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as thin as the stalk of a whip
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| pekki saagima
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to saw the lard
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| peost suhu elama
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live from hand to mouth
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| rongist maha jääma
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being late to act
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miss the train
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| rusikas silmaauku
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To describe a perfect fit, things matching or going well together.
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Like a fist into an eye socket
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| sajab nagu oavarrest
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raining like from the bean stalk
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| situ ruttu, karu tuleb!
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shit fast, the bear is coming!
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| viies ratas vankri all
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you are redundant / not welcome. Third wheel.
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the fifth wheel under the wagon
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| võta või jäta
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Accept or reject unconditionally.
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take it or leave it
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| õnnest lakke hüppama
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Jump to the ceiling out of happiness.
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