[Korean Culture & Language] Shrinking, Popping out
Hello, this is Uptempo!
The expression ‘something costs an arm and a leg’ is used when something is very expensive. ‘One is giving the cold shoulder’ means to ‘treat someone in an unpleasant manner, usually by ignoring or mocking them. When we are overjoyed to see someone or something, we say ‘A sight for sore eyes’.
Many idioms are related to body parts.
Photo by Jane Almon on Unsplash
In Korea, when you have waited for someone or something for a long time and you finally saw them, you say “눈이 빠지도록 기다렸다 (waited for someone or something for too long that one’s eye(s) almost popped out)”. “목이 빠지겠다 (One’s neck is about to pop out)” also has the same meaning as ‘눈이 빠지겠다’.
눈 means eye(s)
빠지다 means to pop out
기다리다 means wait
Ex) 왜 이제서야 왔어. 눈이 빠지는 줄 알았잖아!
- Why did you get here so late? My eyes almost popped out waiting for you!
- Why did you get here so late? My neck almost popped out waiting for you!
When one sees others who have been sick or stressed for a long time and they seem to have lost their weight, you say ‘얼굴이 반쪽이 되었다 (one’s face has shrunk to half of its original size)’. Even though it’s considered impolite and inappropriate in most Western countries to make negative comments about someone’s appearance, it is considered normal and is really to indicate that they genuinely care and worry about the other.
Ex) 에고 ㅠㅠ 일주일동안 아프더니 얼굴이 반쪽이 되었네. 좀 괜찮아?
Oh no, your face has shrunk to half of its original size after being sick for a week. Are you feeling any better now?
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