coolangatta

Have you any favourite stories regarding misunderstanding or bad translation between English and another language or vice versa?
Also any misunderstanding of anything that's been read by you or said to you in English or other language.

I once heard a very attractive Japanese security woman ask me 'Do you have a wife?'. I said 'no' pushing out my chest and feeling I've made a good impression. Only to be brought down to earth when she asked her male colleague to search me incase I had a Knife.

My favourite since I've been in Japan is; while watching football with English commentary, Japanese people heard the words - it's in the 'back of the net' as....... 'it's in, 'baka dan-eh' (in Japanese meaning 'it's in, idiot isn't he!'). Commonly thought to be criticism of the goalkeeper.

GazTheHat

Have them everyday.

The beauty of being married to a scandinavian and having a bi-lingual 3 year old.

skoobidude

Oh.. I was hoping you meant the film with Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray.
Brilliant film

Bye....

NotoriousREV

Apart from the opening scene, no it isn't. It's pretentious and very boring drivel. It's certainly no Ghostbusters 2.

Spoon

Only a couple of weeks ago I told a Yank he was dear (expensive) and he said "Yeh I'm fond of you too" Now that required explaining to him there and then!!