Idioms
Fixed expressions with a figurative meaning
to put our heads together
다 같이 머리를 맞대고 방법을 찾아봐요.— Let's all put our heads together and find a way.
우리끼리 머리 맞대면 답이 나올 거야.— If we put our heads together, we'll find an answer.
a superficial, surface-level treatment
시간이 없어서 수박 겉핥기로 봤어요.— I didn't have time, so I only skimmed it.
수박 겉핥기 식으로 배우면 남는 게 없어.— If you learn it superficially, nothing sticks.
to sweat it out; to have a rough time of it
질문이 쏟아져서 진땀을 뺐어요.— Questions poured in and I broke into a sweat.
면접에서 진땀 좀 뺐지.— I had a rough time at the interview.
to be completely drained
회의가 길어져서 진이 다 빠졌어요.— The meeting dragged on and drained me completely.
애들 보느라 진이 빠졌다.— Watching the kids drained all my energy.
to work oneself to the bone
뼈 빠지게 일했는데 남는 게 없어요.— I worked myself to the bone and have nothing to show.
한 달을 뼈 빠지게 일했다.— I worked flat out for a whole month.
to tighten one's belt financially
집 사려고 허리띠를 졸라매고 있어요.— I'm tightening my belt to buy a place.
한동안 허리띠 졸라매고 살아야겠다.— I'll have to live frugally for a while.
you'll get nothing out of it (a warning)
이번에도 늦으면 국물도 없어요.— If you're late again, you'll get nothing.
한 번만 더 그러면 국물도 없다.— Do that one more time and you get nothing.
to do something habitually, as often as eating
그 사람은 거짓말을 밥 먹듯 해요.— He lies as easily as he breathes.
야근을 밥 먹듯 하니 몸이 남아나겠니?— You work overtime constantly — how will your body hold up?
for a couple to be blissfully in love
신혼이라 깨가 쏟아져요.— We're newlyweds, so everything is blissful.
둘이 깨 쏟아지는 거 보기 좋더라.— It's nice seeing the two of them so happy.
to be blinded by love
그때는 콩깍지가 씌어서 다 좋아 보였어요.— Back then I was blinded by love, so everything looked good.
콩깍지 벗겨지면 그때 얘기해.— Talk to me when the rose-tinted glasses come off.
for two people to fall for each other
둘이 눈이 맞아서 사귄대요.— The two of them hit it off and started dating.
같이 일하다가 눈이 맞았대.— They fell for each other while working together.
to cheat on a partner
바람을 피운 게 들통났대요.— I heard his affair got found out.
바람피우면 바로 끝이야.— If you cheat, it's over immediately.
to reject; to turn down flat
기획안이 퇴짜를 맞았어요.— My proposal got rejected.
고백했다가 퇴짜 놓였어.— I confessed and got turned down.
for one person to spoil things for everyone
한 사람이 팀 분위기를 다 흐려 놨어요.— One person ruined the whole team's mood.
괜히 물 흐리지 말고 규칙 좀 지켜.— Don't spoil it for everyone — follow the rules.
to hit a wall; to be stuck at an obstacle
예산 문제로 벽에 부딪혔어요.— We hit a wall over the budget.
연습하다가 벽에 부딪힌 기분이야.— I feel like I've hit a wall in my practice.
to be at a loss; not to know which way to turn
말이 자꾸 바뀌어서 갈피를 못 잡겠어요.— The story keeps changing, so I'm at a loss.
뭐부터 해야 할지 갈피를 못 잡겠다.— I can't figure out what to do first.
to get the hang of something
이제 일이 어떻게 돌아가는지 감을 잡았어요.— I've got a sense now of how things work here.
며칠 해 보니까 감이 좀 잡히더라.— After a few days I started to get the hang of it.
to make something final and non-negotiable
다시는 없다고 못을 박아 두었어요.— I made it clear it won't happen again.
안 된다고 못 박았으니 더는 말 안 나올 거야.— I said no in no uncertain terms, so it's settled.
to beat around the bush; to take one's time getting to it
뜸 들이지 마시고 편하게 말씀하세요.— Don't beat around the bush — just say it.
한참 뜸 들이더니 결국 안 간대.— After all that hemming and hawing, he says he won't go.
to laugh one's head off
어제 그 영상 보고 배꼽 빠지게 웃었어요.— I laughed my head off at that video yesterday.
진짜 배꼽 빠지는 줄 알았다.— I thought I'd split my sides laughing.