Idiom Category: Nationality or ethnicity, Page 1

An Englishman's home is his castle

(UK) This means that what happens in a person's home or  private life is their business and should not be subject to outside interference.

Chinese walls

Chinese walls are regulatory information barriers that aim to stop the flow of information that could be misused, especially in financial corporations.

Chinese whispers

(UK) When a story is told from person to person, especially if it is gossip or scandal, it inevitably gets distorted and exaggerated. This process is called Chinese whispers.

Double Dutch

(UK) If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.

Dutch auction

If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is accepted by everyone.

Dutch courage

Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.

Dutch treat

If something like a meal is a Dutch treat, then each person pays their own share of the bill.

Dutch uncle

A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.

Dutch wife

A Dutch wife is a long pillow or a hot water bottle.

For England

(UK) A person who talks for England, talks a lot- if you do something for England, you do it a lot or to the limit.

French leave

To take French leave is to leave a gathering without saying goodbye or without permission.

French letter

A French letter is a condom.

Go Dutch

If you go Dutch in a restaurant, you pay equal shares for the meal.

Good Samaritan

A good Samaritan is a persoon wh helps others in need.

Greek to me

If you don't understand something, it's all Greek to you.

If you'll pardon my French

(UK) This idiom is used as a way of apologising for swearing.

Indian file

If people walk in Indian file, they walk in a line one behind the other.

Indian giver

An Indian giver gives something, then tries to take it back.

Indian summer

If there is a period of warmer weather in late autumn, it is an Indian summer.

Like Chinese arithmetic

If something is complicated and hard to understand, it's like Chinese arithmetic.

Mexican standoff

When there is a deadlock in strategy and neither side can do anything that will ensure victory, it's a Mexican standoff.

More holes than Swiss cheese

If something has more holes than a Swiss cheese, it is incomplete,and lacks many parts.

Perfidious Albion

England is known to some as perfidious Albion, implying that it is not trustworthy in its dealings with foreigners.

Scotch Mist

The phrase 'Scotch mist' is used humorously to refer to something that is hard to find or doesn't exist - something imagined.

Slow boat to China

This idiom is used to describe something that is very slow and takes a long time.

Spanish practices

Unauthorized working methods that benefit those who follow them are Spanish practices.

Stars and stripes

The stars and stripes is the American flag.

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians

When there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians, there are two many managers and not enough workers to work efficiently.

WUF

WUF = Where You From?

Young Turk

A Young Turk is a young person who is rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team or organisation.

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