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Tower of Babel

Make your bed, lie in it

In front | PANORAMA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Why the Germans have to eat their soup and the Poles have to drink the beer they brew - weekly selection of common proverbs across Europe

by Anke Wagner-Wolff // 06/08/08

PANORAMA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Little boy’s room

Toilet, lavatory, restroom: what do you call the 'loo' in your language?

by Amandine Agic // 28/07/08

MULTIMEDIA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Kick the bucket

'Stow your feet' in Spanish, 'throw away the spoon' in German or 'break the pipe' in French - European expressions on 'dying' in the office pre-holidays

by Philippe-Alexandre Saulnier // 23/07/08

PANORAMA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Napoleon's Chinese whispers

How western Europeans use the word 'China' to express being stressed, arrogant or insignificant

by Aurélien BORDET // 15/07/08

PANORAMA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Vodka off a duck's back

Linguistic play of the week: how vodka, malt and whiskey become the French 'water of life' or Italian 'lukewarm water'

by Katharina Kloss // 09/07/08

PANORAMA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Holy summer of '63

Be it the word for ‘dead leaves’ in German, holiness or simple Latin - how European use of the word 'holiday' has evolved

by Katharina Kloss // 02/07/08

PANORAMA
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Bikini body

You can be as hungry as a wolf, pig or blind dog in Europe

by Anke Wagner-Wolff // 25/06/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Shakespeare in football


by Martin Schneider // 06/06/08

FEATURE
(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Too many bank holiday Mondays

by Philippe-Alexandre Saulnier // 23/05/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Skirt chaser

by Katharina Kloss // 30/04/08

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