Indonesian or English Expressions?

It is no surprise that a humongous amount of Indonesian language has entered my ears and my eyes--and my brain--considering the fact that I have spent most of my life in this wide-stretching, equator-passed country. Surprisingly, there are a huge number of Indonesian expressions that are strikingly similar to or even exactly the same as English ones if translated, sometimes with the help of thinking figuratively. I have compiled a 'mini' list of these expressions and hopefully it will quench your language thirst, expand your linguistic knowledge, or even just kill your time in a nice fashion. Cheers!

Note:
• The Indonesian expressions display a range of formality levels.
• I believe there are many, many more of such expressions out there. So if you know any, please poke me, and I will add yours to the list. Huge thanks to those who have contributed to helping me build up the expression bank!

1. a bitter pill to swallow – menelan pil pahit
• For Chelsea, losing to Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow.
• Chelsea menelan pil pahit dengan kalah dari Manchester United.
2. backstab – menusuk dari belakang
• Several days ago I found out that Lousia had backstabbed me. I thought she was a good friend!
• Beberapa hari lalu saya menemukan bahwa Louisa menusuk saya dari belakang. Saya pikir dia seorang teman yang baik!
3. black and white – hitam dan putih
• It is very difficult to make a decision since it is not a black and white issue.
• Sangat sulit untuk mengambil keputusan karena ini bukan isu hitam dan putih.
4. crocodile tears – air mata buaya
• Don't believe Martin. He is a playboy. Those are just crocodile tears.
• Jangan percaya Martin. Dia itu playboy. Itu cuma air mata buaya.
5. empty vessels make the most noise – tong kosong nyaring bunyinya
• That gubernatorial candidate speaks the most but actually he is the least skilled of all. Empty vessels make the most noise.
• Calon gubernur itu paling banyak berbicara tetapi sebenarnya dia yang paling tidak mampu dari semuanya. Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.
6. experience is the best teacher – pengalaman adalah guru terbaik
• The internship at that oil and gas company has been very meaningful to me. I really believe experience is the best teacher.
• Magang di perusahaan minyak dan gas itu sangat berarti bagiku. Aku sungguh percaya pengalaman adalah guru terbaik.
7. get out of bed on the wrong side/get out of the wrong side of bed – salah bangun tidur
• Clark must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed. He has been grumbling all day.
• Clark pasti salah bangun tidur. Dia ngomel-ngomel seharian.
8. give someone an inch (and they'll take a mile/yard) – dikasih hati minta jantung
• I don't want to help Frederick anymore. Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
• Saya tidak mau membantu Frederick lagi. Dikasih hati minta jantung.
9. golden opportunity – kesempatan emas
• It is a golden opportunity to become a famous person. You must accept the job offer.
• Ini adalah sebuah kesempatan emas untuk menjadi orang terkenal. Kamu harus menerima tawaran pekerjaan itu.
10. guinea pig/lab rat – kelinci percobaan
• No, I don't want to be a guinea pig! What if I die after taking those pills?
• Tidak, saya tidak mau menjadi seekor kelinci percobaan!. Bagaimana jika saya mati setelah mengonsumsi pil-pil itu?
11. green – hijau
• Are you sure you will assign this huge task to Britney? She is still green.
• Apakah Anda yakin Anda akan memberikan tugas besar ini ke Britney? Dia masih hijau.
12. half-heartedly – (dengan) setengah hati
• Eric's work results are always bad because he does his job half-heartedly.
• Hasi kerja Eric selalu buruk karena dia melakukan pekerjaannya setengah hati.
13. have a sense of humor – punya selera humor
• My uncle has a great sense of humor. It is always fun to talk with him!
• Paman saya mempunyai selera humor yang tinggi. Berbicara dengan dia selalu menyenangkan!
14. have the last laugh – ketawa terakhir
• I accept the defeat, but I will have the last laugh.
• Gua terima kekalahan ini, tapi gua yang akanketawa terakhir.
15. hidden agenda – agenda terselubung/tersembunyi
• Tracy is visiting her house too? Hm... He must have a hidden agenda.
• Tracy mengunjungi rumahnya juga? Hm... Dia pasti ada sebuah agenda terselubung/tersembunyi.
16. in black and white – hitam di atas putih
• You must insist this agreement be in black and white.
• Kamu harus bersikukuh perjanjian ini harus hitam di atas putih.
17. lightning fast – secepat kilat
• Maria can run 8 meters per second. She is really lightning fast.
• Maria bisa berlari 8 meter per detik. Dia benar-benar secepat kilat.
18. like a broken record – kayak tip pecah
• Your brother sounds like a broken record. He is always talking about the same things.
• Kakak laki-lakimu kayak tip pecah. Dia selalu ngomong hal yang sama.
19. like talking to a brick wall – kayak ngomong sama tembok
• I've asked her to go to school many times, but it's like talking to a brick wall. Basically she won't do that.
• Gua udah berkali-kali minta dia pergi ke sekolah, tapi itu kayak ngomong sama tembok. Pada dasarnya dia ga mau.
20. lose face – kehilangan muka
• The sex scandal made the singer lose face.
• Skandal sex tersebut membuat sang penyanyi kehilangan muka.
21. make yourself at home – anggap saja rumah sendiri
• Please sit down and enjoy the snacks. Make yourself at home.
• Silakan duduk dan nikmati makanan ringannya. Anggap saja rumah sendiri.
22. money laundering – pencucian uang
• Those men in white are accused of money laundering.
• Pria berpakaian putih itu dituduh melakukan pencucian uang.
23. oil and water don't mix – bagai air dengan minyak
• Stephanie and Aldo always have quarrels when they are together. Oil and water don't mix.
• Stephanie dan Aldo selalu berseteru jika sedang bersama-sama. Mereka bagai air dengan minyak.
24. opportunity only knocks once – kesempatan cuma datang sekali
• You should accept that job offer. Opportunity only knocks once.
• Kamu harus mengambil tawaran pekerjaan itu. Kesempatan cuma datang sekali.
25. over my dead body – langkahin dulu mayat gue
• You want to use my car? Over my dead body!
• Loe mau make mobil gue? Langkahin dulu mayat gue!
26. play with fire – bermain dengan api
• You want to sell drugs? Don't play with fire!
• Kamu mau jual narkoba? Jangan bermain dengan api deh!
27. save face – menyelamatkan muka
• He tried to save face by making a public apology.
• Dia berusaha menyelamatkan muka dengan meminta maaf kepada publik.
28. silence is golden – diam adalah emas
• Taylor was punched by Annie because he gave her criticisms. Silence is golden.
• Taylor dipukul oleh Annie karena dia memberi kritikan. Diam adalah emas.
29. sleep with – tidur dengan
• The mayor was arrested because he had slept with his mistress.
• Walikota itu ditangkap karena ia telah tidur dengan selingkuhannya.
30. someone’s eyes are bigger than their stomach/belly – seseorang lapar mata
• Timmy gave most of his huge meal to his mom. His eyes are bigger than his belly.
• Timmy memberikan sebagian besar makanannya yang sangat banyak kepada ibunya. Dia lapar mata.
31. spoon-feed – cekokin
• Let him work by himself. Don't spoon-feed him.
• Biarin dia kerja sendirian. Jangan cekokin dia.
32. still water runs deep – air beriak tanda tak dalam (Note: Most of the elements of these two expressions are antithetical, but the whole phrases convey exactly the same meaning.)
• Don't judge a person by how loud they are. Still water runs deep.
• Jangan menilai orang dari berapa banyak mereka berbicara. Air beriak tanda tak dalam.
33. take my hat off (to) – angkat topi (untuk)
• Our sales have increased by 25% in the last three months. I take my hat off to you!
• Penjualan kita telah meningkat sebesar 25% dalam waktu tiga bulan terakhir. Saya angkat topi untuk kamu!
34. take part (in) – ambil bagian (dalam)
• My neighbor is taking part in a charity event next Sunday.
• Tetangga saya akan ambil bagian dalam acara amal Minggu depan.
35. the apple doesn't fall far from its tree – buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya
• Like his father, Andrew is enthusiastic about table tennis. The apple doesn't fall far from its tree.
• Seperti ayahnnya, Andrew antusias terhadap ping-pong. Buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya.
36. the grass is always greener on the other side – rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau
• My little sister always thinks other girls are a lot luckier than her. The grass is always greener on the other side.
• Adik perempuan saya selalu berpikir gadis-gadis lain jauh lebih beruntung daripada dia. Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau.
37. there's no smoke without fire – tak ada asap tanpa api
• He said he is not guilty, but there's no smoke without fire.
• Dia bilang dia tidak bersalah, tetapi tak ada asap tanpa api.
38. throw in the towel – lempar handuk
• The badminton players thought they couldn't' win the match, so they threw in the towel.
• Pemain-pemain bulutangkis itu berpikir mereka tidak dapat memenangkan pertandingan tersebut, jadi mereka melempar handuk.
39. turn over a new leaf – membuka lembaran baru
• Sonya has turned over a new leaf; she has stopped being a drug abuser.
• Sonya telah membuka lembaran baru; dia telah berhenti menjadi penyalahguna obat.
40. two-faced – bermuka dua
• Never believe Vanness. He is a two-faced liar.
• Jangan pernah percaya Vanness. Dia pembohong bermuka dua.
41. when in Rome, do as the Romans do – di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung (Note: the English expression uses a specific example, while the Indonesian one uses generalization.)
• You can't wear that kind of clothes in this country. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
• Kamu tidak boleh memakai pakaian seperti itu di negara ini. Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung.
42. wholeheartedly – (dengan) sepenuh hati
• One of the keys to success is working wholeheartedly.
• Salah satu kunci kesuksesan adalah bekerja dengan sepenuh hati.
43. with a heavy heart – dengan hati yang berat/dengan berberat hati
• With a heavy heart, George said goodbye to all of us.
• Dengan hati yang berat, George mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada kita semua. 
44. with all your heart – dengan sepenuh hati(mu)
• Klinsman sang Ge Qian with all his heart.
• Klinsman menyanyikan Ge Qian dengan sepenuh hatinya.

Last updated: October 19, 2024