Idiom translator

For people studying other languages, there is a new site which translates idioms, www.idiomizer.com/idioms/.  I find that reviewing the literal translations of idioms in other languages curls the mind.

I entered, “You can’t have it both ways” and got the following responses:

Meaning in English: you cannot achieve inherently contradictory goals
 

Chinese:  魚和熊掌不可兼得
Literal translation in English:

you cannot get both the fish and the bear’s paw (served as a delicacy)

German:

Man kann nicht auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen

Literal translation in English:

You can’t dance at two weddings

I could have specified other languages as well.

This is a new site and might have some bugs — it invites commentary from readers, so will undoubtedly develop over time.  It could be very useful.

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