El Nadal és una època de l’any que sempre tenim present, per això mateix, hi ha nombroses expressions en anglès o dites populars que fan referència tant al Nadal com als regals, a la nostra família i amics i a tot el que té a veure amb les festes.
A continuació, descobreix els nostres Christmas idioms! I submergeix-te en les expressions en anglès que faran que el teu Nadal sigui una mica més especial:
- Be no angel
Meaning: sometimes behave badly.
Example: He’s no angel but we can’t blame him for everything!
- Christmas comes but once a year
Meaning: used as an excuse for over indulgence, whether on food or on gifts, on the basis that it doesn’t happen often.
Example: Too much eating and drinking I know – but Christmas comes but once a year!
- Christmas came early (this year)
Meaning: When you receive some unexpected good news or good fortune, you can describe it as Christmas coming early.
Example: We won! I can’t believe it! Christmas has really come early this year!
- Deck the halls
Meaning: decking (or decorating) one’s hall with branches from a holly tree is an old tradition; the popular carol of the same name began as a Welsh tune dating back to the 16th century.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Meaning: don’t be ungrateful when you receive a present, even if it’s not exactly what you wanted.
Example: It’s looks a bit cheap but I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Good things come in small packages
Meaning: the size of a gift doesn’t determine what’s inside; in the same way, a small person may have a big heart.
Example: Remember. The best things always come in small packages!
- It’s the thought that counts
Meaning: it’s the kindness behind an act that matters, however imperfect or insignificant it may be.
Example: Not another scarf! Ho hum, it’s the thought that counts I suppose!
- Kiss under the mistletoe
Meaning: If you are lucky enough to kiss somebody under the mistletoe, you will be happy and in love for the rest of the year.
Example: I’m sure we’ve had a great year because we kissed under the mistletoe at Christmas!
- Leave food out for Santa
Meaning: Santa Claus comes down the chimney of everybody’s house on Christmas Eve.
Example: Don’t forget to leave some food out for Father Christmas and his reindeer – you know, mince pies, a glass of sherry, and a few carrots.
- Pull Christmas Crackers
Meaning: Christmas dinner is all about family being together and having fun. We “pull Christmas crackers” which have small gifts inside and funny jokes! Traditionally, though, the jokes are normally very bad!
Example: We start Christmas dinner by pulling a Christmas cracker next to each plate on the table.
- Sing Christmas Carols and go Carol Singing:
Meaning: Carol singing (or Carolling) is singing carols in the street or public places.
Example: Carol singing is one of the Great Britain’s oldest customs, going back to the Middle Ages when beggars, seeking food, money, or drink, would wander the streets singing holiday songs.
- The more the merrier
Meaning: the more people or things there are, the better a given situation will be.
Example: I said he could bring his family to our Christmas dinner. The more the merrier!
- Trim the Christmas tree
Meaning: nothing to do with cutting, this is an old reference to decorating a pine tree with ornaments, lights and other glittery bits.
Example: Look online for some amazing ways to trim your Christmas tree.
- Wish upon a star
Meaning: At Christmas, we often ‘Wish Upon A Star’ and hope that the next year, will be a good year, because the star can answer our wishes.
Example: We always wish upon a star at the top of our Christmas tree.
Dominar aquestes expressions nadalenques en anglès et servirà d’eina clau si passes el Nadal parlant en anglès. Bones festes!