Wearing a cat on your head? Flies up your nose? Interesting animal idioms found worldwide

“Right then, mate. I’ll meet you at the marsh just after sparrow-fart.”

Or sparrowfarts, depending on whether the marsh is in Australia or the United Kingdom.

Either way, it’s a common English idiom meaning very early in the morning — an hour or more before daybreak — that’s been around since the early 19th century.

There are lots of suggestions as to the origin of the off-color phrase, but it’s also odd from a biological standpoint since sparrows are not particularly early risers and birds, at least small ones, aren’t flatulent.

But there’s something about human nature that loves an idiom, a phrase from which the actual meaning you’d never guess from the words themselves, and therefore a real problem for non-native speakers trying to get the hang of a new language.

Try explaining to your 80-year-old aunt visiting from Bourg-en-Bresse, France, why you’re “happy as a clam” to see her again. On the other hand, she just might respond with:

“T’es comme une poule qui a trouvé un couteau. Comment une palourde peut-elle être heureuse ?” You’re like a chicken who’s found a knife! (meaning you’re all confused) How can a clam be happy?

Animal-related idioms have unique meanings worldwide

Animal-related idioms are the best; here’s a few more.

Sweden: Slide in on a shrimp sandwich (Att glida in på en räkmacka). A reference to someone who got their money without having to work for it, rather like our “born with a silver spoon” in one’s mouth. In olden days, only the rich could afford shrimp.

Japan: To wear a cat on one’s head (Neko o kaburu). This one describes someone who puts on an appearance of friendliness and virtue while hiding their darker personality. Purring sweetly, but with concealed claws.

China: Crouching tiger, hidden dragon (卧虎藏龙, wò hǔ cáng lóng). More than the title of the famous book and movie, this common idiom refers to someone with an undiscovered talent.

Puerto Rico: Like a crocodile in a wallet factory (Ser como cocodrilo en fábrica de carteras). To be very nervous, like a crocodile where they might make wallets and boots out of your hide.

France: To give a rabbit (Poser un lapin). Poor guy, she gave him a rabbit at the café. She stood him up for their date at the restaurant.

Iceland: There are so many wonders in a cow’s head (Það eru margar undur í höfuðkúpu). Commonly heard when something virtually impossible happens; when the world shows you just how whack it can be.

When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers

Eastern Africa, Swahili: When two elephants fight, it is the grass (reeds) that suffers (Ndovu wawili wakisongana, ziumiazo ni nyika), When powerful leaders quarrel, it is inevitably the innocent and weak who end up being hurt.

South Africa, Afrikaans: The jackal is marrying the wolf’s wife (Jakkals trou met wolf se vrou). This is what to say when it’s raining and the sun is shining at the same time.

Germany: Like a watered poodle (Wie ein begossener Pudel). As sad and disheartened as a wet poodle.

Italy: If a friend wishes you, “In bocca al lupo” (in the mouth of the wolf) for good luck, your correct response would be, “Crepi,” may the wolf die. Just to seal in any good fortune.

Poland: To have flies up your nose (Mieć muchy w nosie) is to be really, really irritated about something.

Ukraine: To show you where the crayfish is wintering (Показати де раки зимують). To teach you a lesson, and not as in a classroom. More like, “I’ll teach you to… !” Not friendly.

Hungary: Why are you giving drinks to the mice? (Miért itatod az egereket?). What you’d say to a crying child.

Slovenia: To go whistling to the crab (Iti rakom žvižgat). To die, similar to the American idiom "to kick the bucket."

Greece: To do the duck (κάνει τη πάπια – káni ti pápia). To keep quiet so as to not be blamed for something.

The actual origins of many idioms are often obscure. Consider, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” Many sources aver that it stems from domestic animals of medieval peasants living in the rafters beneath thatched roofs. During heavy rains, a leaky roof would send the animals down.

Anthropologists think this is unlikely. For one thing, thatched roofs of the day were largely waterproof. Other theories include a modification of the Greek cata doxa, (contrary to expectations) or of the Old English term, catadupe (waterfall or cataract).

The first recorded use of the phrase was in a 1651 poem by Henry Vaughan, who referred to a roof that was secure against “dogs and cats rained in shower.” Perhaps it was Jonathan Swift’s 1710 poem, "City Shower," describing how heavy rains left dead animals in the streets of London that led folks to adopt the phrase.

Or maybe that’s just a cock and bull story.

Ken Baker is a retired professor of biology and environmental studies. If you have a natural history topic you would like Dr. Baker to consider for an upcoming column, email your idea to fre-newsdesk@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Interesting animal idioms found worldwide: Ken Baker column