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Hebrew with a taste of fruits!
התפוח לא נופל רחוק מהעץ
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree (HaTapuach Lo Nofel Rachok meHaEtz) – when a child resembles their parents in their character traits (for example, when a child does exactly the same embarrassing things as their father)
שווה כקליפת השום
Worth as much as a garlic peel (Shaveh keKlipat haShum) – something rather unreliable (like the resolution: tomorrow I’m starting a diet)
מרוב עצים לא רואים את היער
Can’t see the forest for the trees (meRov Etzim Lo Ro’im et haYa’ar) – too many details make it difficult to see the overall picture (I understood every word on the form, but what does it mean?)
אגוז קשה לפיצוח
A tough nut to crack (Egoz Kasheh lePitzuach) – a person whose nature is hard to figure out, or a difficult problem to solve (is there such a thing in Israel?)
דבר אל העצים ואל האבנים
Talk to the trees and to the stones (Daber el haEtzim ve’el haAvanim) – talk to someone without them listening to you (like explaining to a teenager why they need to clean their room)
לא דובים ולא יער
No bears and no forest (Lo Dubim ve’lo Ya’ar) – something completely fabricated without a shred of truth (“Thank you for calling, we’ll get back to you right away”)
כסף לא צומח על העצים
Money doesn’t grow on trees (Kesef lo Tzome’ach al haEtzim) – money isn’t obtained easily (if you do find a tree like that, tell us!)
הדובדבן שבקצפת
The cherry atop the whipped cream (HaDuvdevan sheBaKatzefet) – the best part of all the good things (you learned Hebrew, found a job – and understood a joke!)
ישן כמו בול עץ
Sleeping like a log (Yashen k’mo Bul Etz) – sleeping very soundly (the whole house woke up from his alarm clock and only he is snoring)
להפוך את הלימון ללימונדה
Turn the lemon into lemonade (LaHafoch et haLimon leLimonada)– turn difficulties and challenges into something positive (an Israeli specialty!)
So next time someone tells you “the cherry atop the whipped cream,” you’ll know it’s not a dessert recipe!
And may you have a “sweet as strawberry life” !ושיהיו לכם חיים תותים (Chayim Tutim) (sweet and pleasant)!
Interested in learning more about plants in Hebrew? Visit the Academy of the Hebrew Language website