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Contrastive Analysis of Cross-Cultural Metaphors

Researched and Compiled by Leon 2003

The best book I've ever read about metaphors:

 

Metaphor Jargon:

Tenor = The subject of the metaphor (i.e., "a" in:  "a" is "b")

Vehicle = The subject compliment of the metaphor (i.e., "b" in:  "a" is "b")

Ground = The culturally understood commonality between the tenor and the vehicle

[Lakoff & Johnson, 1980]

 

About This Page

This page contains a list of Vehicles and Grounds from various cultures and languages.  I don't mention any tenors.

An Example:
Language:  US-English
Sentence:  John is a teddy bear.
Tenor:  John
Vehicle:  Teddy Bear
Ground:  cuddly; loveable person or thing

 

 

Foreword

Hello, Reader:

I have taken the liberty of including similes where the 'ground' is not explicit.  Some examples of explicit-ground similes in English are: "as busy as a bee", "as wise as an owl", "as cunning as a fox".  Some examples of inexplicit-ground similes in English are:

[One] came out smelling like a rose.

It could mean smelling good or having a good result; and the latter would be correct.

[One] works like the Devil.

It could mean working wickedness or working hard; and the latter would be correct.

[One] eats like a bird.

It could mean eating worms or eating little; and the latter would be correct.

Unless one is a native speaker, one may not know the meaning of similes where the 'ground' is not explicit.  So, I've thought it worthwhile to include 'groundless' similes here.

RE: Accuracy: I have tried to report exactly what was communicated to me.  There are a few instances where I have changed to wording and/or may have abbreviated explanations while attempting to maintain the same message.  If anyone feels that I have reported something incorrectly, or would like to emend a message, by all means contact me.

RE: Blanks: There are many blanks.  The reason is because this is a work in progress.  I am constantly adding and updating the list.  I'm not asking for help, but if anyone has the motivation to fill in the blanks and send this back, I would be much obliged.

RE: Method: I sent questionnaires by electronic mail. To native speakers of the respective cultures represented here.  I personally wrote the Korean metaphors and similes, but to make sure that I had gotten it all correct, I had conducted face-to-face interviews with several Koreans after completing the questionnaire.  The Korean list is (I believe) very accurate and up-to-date.  I did not have the opportunity to interview any others face to face, but the sources are (I believe) reliable.

RE: Abbreviations:  US = United States of America, UK = The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, AU = Australia, CA = Canada, DU = Dutch (Holland), RU = Russian, KO = Korean, and JA = Japanese. 

RE: Acknowledgements: Thanks to all the people who contributed to this report:

If you wish your name to appear here, please let me know.

 

 

The List Begins Here:

 

VEGETABLE METAPHORS:

 

Vehicle:  plant (n.)

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: comatose person

RU ground:

KO ground: comatose person

JA ground:

SP ground:  comatose person  

 

Vehicle:  vegetable

US ground: comatose person (not nice); (sometimes) quadriplegic (not nice)

UK ground: same (not politically correct term)

AU ground: same

CA ground: same;  "vegitate" (to act like a vegetable, i.e., no physical movement and little brain activity) [also "to veg".  I imagine all English (L1) countries are the same]

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  same

 

Vehicle:  lettuce

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: prob. none

CA ground: (maybe) money (but not sure)

DU ground: "lettuce bowl" = mouth

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  cabbage

US ground: none, but a few years ago, there were some cabbage patch dolls, and the baby dolls came from, or were born in a cabbage patch.  This is very interesting to me, because of the Dutch and Russian metaphors for cabbage patch.

UK ground: none

AU ground: 

CA ground: none

DU ground: place babies come from

RU ground: money, which is so outdated as to be worthless [due to inflation]; (also) place babies come from

KO ground: "cabbage head" = a person with a hair-style where the hair is chin-length and curls up-outward [thus, looking like Korean cabbage]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  potato

US ground: "couch potato" = a person who is inactive (usually because of sitting on a couch and watching TV all day + usually the person has the shape like a potatoe); "hot potato" = an issue which is very provocative (usually so provocative that no one wants to "touch"/discuss it)

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: weird person

RU ground: none

KO ground: person from the Gang Weon Province of South Korea (as potatoes are the main product from that region); OR person with body like a potato (rare)

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  carrot

US ground:  "carrot on a stick" = incentive or lure; "carrot-top" = person with "red" hair (red meaning orange)

UK ground: incentive

AU ground: prob. same as UK

CA ground: prob. same as US

DU ground: "to shit carrots" = to be afraid [US equivalent: "to shit bricks"]

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  quiet, innocent person

 

Vehicle:  radish / turnip

US ground: none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground: "radish" = a bad person [from a famous Soviet comedy]

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

VEGETABLES (WHICH ARE TECHNICALLY FRUITS) METAPHORS:

 

Vehicle:  squash

Special Note:  American squash is any edible fruit of the gourd family, including pumpkin squash, zucchini squash, canary squash, butter squash, etc.  The American word is etymologically from the Narraganset (an American Indian Tribe) word: isquoutersquash; and, is a shortened version of the same. 

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  tomato

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: none

RU ground: rich, mean, greedy snob/aristocrat (us. man) [from Italian Novel: "Signor Pomidor", by Jianni Rodari]

KO ground: none

JA ground: [simile] red like a tomato = embarrassed

 

Vehicle:  chili pepper

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: hotheaded person (bad tempered person)

RU ground: "baby chili pepper" = a special feature of a woman that makes her more attractive

KO ground: (for children only) penis;  (for all) "small chili pepper" = small person or thing, which has great power or potential [from the Korean proverb: "Small chili peppers are spicy-hot!"]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  bell pepper

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: none

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  cucumber

US ground: (rare) penis

UK ground: none

AU ground: same as US, but extremely rare

CA ground: prob. same as US, but extremely rare

DU ground: (sometimes) weird person

RU ground: none

KO ground: [simile] "cucumber-like face" = acne face

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  pickle

US ground:  a no-win situation [i.e., a situation with two choices, but neither choice is appealing]

UK ground:  a difficult situation with no obvious solution

AU ground:  same as US;  (also) "dill pickle" = silly or trivial

CA ground:  same as US and same as UK

DU ground:  weird person

RU ground:  none

KO ground:  none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  pumpkin

US ground:  cute, little child (term of endearment)

UK ground:  none

AU ground:  none

CA ground:  prob. same

DU ground:  none

RU ground:  none

KO ground:  ugly woman

JA ground:

SP ground:  an idiotic belle

 

Vehicle:  zucchini [US] / courgette [UK]

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  gourd

US ground:  none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground: a 'rip-off' [from the Korean expression: "to use a gourd-scoop", which means to get ripped off.]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

FRUIT METAPHORS:

 

Vehicle:  fruit

US ground: (dated) strange person; (rare) a gay person (not politically correct)

UK ground: same

AU ground: "bag of fruit" = suit (rhyming slang)

CA ground: prob. same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: cunning person, who gets what he/she wants by any means possible

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  apple

US ground:  "apple of one's eye" = one's most cherished person; "The Big Apple" = New York; "rotten apple" = a bad person in a group [from English proverb: "One rotten apple spoils the whole bunch."];     (Note: this is not typically a linguistic metaphor, but from the Bible, the forbidden fruit (a metaphor for premarital consummation, or sex in general) is typically thought to be an apple.  And coming from a Christian upbringing, I sometimes use it as a linguistic metaphor. Example:  "I would like to partake of the apple tonight." But, that could just be me.]

UK ground:  same (except the sex part)

AU ground:  same (except the sex part)

CA ground:  same (except the sex part)

DU ground:  none

RU ground:  center of archery target

KO ground:  [simile] apple-like cheeks = red cheeks

JA ground:

SP ground:  [simile] apple-cheeked = all life red cheeks

 

Vehicle:  apricot

US ground: none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground: "dog-apricot" = a machine that looks good upon exterior inspection, but breaks down soon after purchase [see "dog"]

JA ground:

SP ground: dummy

 

Vehicle:  lemon

US ground: machine (usually, an automobile) that breaks down shortly after purchase

UK ground: same; but also:  any situation that turns out to be less than expected;  finally, can be used for one's self when feeling foolish about a stupid action

AU ground: same as UK

CA ground: same as UK

DU ground: none

RU ground: million of basic currency

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  cherry

US ground: virgin (vulgar) [possibly used metonymously, as the cherry is a metaphor for the untouched hymen, from the expression "to pop one's cherry"].

UK ground: same (but not common)

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  grape(s)

US ground: "sour grapes" = envy [prob. from Aesop's Fable]

UK ground: same

AU ground: "sour grapes" = bad feeling when a relationship goes wrong

CA ground: same as US, UK

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  melon

US ground: head

UK ground: (pl.) women's breasts

AU ground: none

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: (rare) head

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground: same as US

 

Vehicle:  watermelon

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: [There is a Korean fable, and the moral of the story is: "A pumpkin cannot become a watermelon, simply by painting stripes." AND, since pumpkin is a metaphor for an ugly woman, watermelon has come to be a metaphor for a beautiful woman, but only used linguistically when quoting the moral of the story.]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  nut

US ground: crazy person (facetious) [EX.  from the movie: "The Nutty Professor"]

UK ground: same [also: "nutter", and "nuthead"]

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  nuts

US ground: (not common) testicles

UK ground: same; (also) "nuts" = crazy [EX. You must be nuts! (prob. same in all English (L1) countries)] 

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: "chestnuts" = testicles

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground: an inactive person

 

Vehicle:  peach

US ground: (outdated) a pretty girl

UK ground: same

AU ground: same; (sometimes) some event that transpires well

CA ground: same as AU

DU ground: [simile] "peach-like skin" = fine skin

RU ground: young, virgin girl

KO ground: [simile] "peach-like girl" = a young, attractive, naive girl; (sometimes) "peach-like skin" = fuzzy skin

JA ground:

SP ground:  melocotoncito = sweetheart

 

Vehicle:  strawberry

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: [simile] "strawberry-like nose" = red nose (from drinking alcohol)

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  pineapple

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: ?

RU ground: ?

KO ground: ?

JA ground: ?

SP ground:  unlucky person

 

 

4-LEGGED ANIMAL METAPHORS:

 

Vehicle:  fox

US ground: (somewhat dated) a beautiful, sexy woman

UK ground: a sly person

AU ground: a cunning person

CA ground: a sneaky person

DU ground: a shrewd person

RU ground: a smart, cunning woman

KO ground: a smart, cunning woman

JA ground:

SP ground:  expert

 

Vehicle:  pig/hog/swine

US ground: "pig" = dirty, sloppy person OR police officer (both insulting); "hog" = greedy person (also v.t.); "swine" = detestable person;  "porker" person who eats too much

UK ground: "pig" = mannerless (impolite) person OR police officer (both insulting); "hog" and "swine" ... same as US

AU ground: "pig" = dirty person OR detestable person; "hog" as v.t. = to hoard ((sth)) [prob same in all English (L1) countries]

CA ground:  same as US

DU ground: "pig" = dirty, sloppy person

RU ground: same as DU

KO ground: "pig" = fat person, or person who eats too much

JA ground:

SP ground:  cerdo = person who gormandizes; puerco = dirty person; chancho = fat person

 

Vehicle:  sow (female pig)

US ground: (rare) dirty, sloppy woman

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground: ugly woman

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  boar (wild pig)

US ground:  none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground: [simile] "boar-like man" = heavy-set, wild, unsophisticated man

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  dog

US ground: ugly woman / bad man

UK ground: ugly woman

AU ground: ugly woman; sth mucked up [prob. from "dog breakfast"]

CA ground: ugly woman

DU ground: mean (low) person

RU ground: bad person

KO ground: mean (low) AND contemptible thing [ must collocate with sth. EX. "dog-man" = contemptible man, "dog-offspring" = worse than contemptible person, "dog-executioner" = the worst insult to a person in Korea, "dog-dream" = non-sensical dream (see also apricot)].

JA ground:

SP ground:  perro = bad man

 

Vehicle:  pup/puppy

US ground: cute, often obsequious person [I sometimes call my son "my little puppy" as he follows me around everywhere]; "puppy-dog eyes" = penitent-looking eyes

UK ground: none (but I suspect "puppy-dog eyes" is the same)

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: bad person (similar to "dog", but said to an inferior-status person)

KO ground: cute, loveable person [us. Korean mothers call their babies "my puppy"; (and sometimes) lovers call each other "puppies"]

JA ground:

SP ground:  cachorro = novice

 

Vehicle:  bitch (female dog)

US ground: a bad woman; (sometimes) a whore [used by men]; (when women use it) = very bad woman; (when transsexuals use it for each other) = term of endearment

UK ground: really nasty woman who says vile things about others

AU ground: sb who is sharp-tongued and outrageous; (sometimes) used as begrudging admiration by both genders toward both genders

CA ground: same as US and UK

DU ground: same as US and UK

RU ground: same as US

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  perra (puta) = whore

 

Vehicle:  cat/puss/pussy

US ground: "cat" = expert jazz player (used by jazz musicians); "puss" a weak, cowardly man; "pussy" = external, female genitalia (vulgar)

UK ground: same as US

AU ground: "pussy" = same as US, but used metonymously to refer to the whole woman; "puss" or "pussy" = a man who is easily swayed (a pushover)

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: "cat" = a wicked woman

RU ground: "tim-cat" = a man with strong sex appeal

KO ground: [simile] "cat-like eyes" = eyes that slant upward at the outside corners (considered aesthetically pleasing)

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  kitty/kitten

US ground: (rare) a cute girl or woman

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: ?

DU ground: [simile] "kitty-like" woman = very kind, sweet woman

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  gatita = sweetheart

 

Vehicle:  sloth

US ground: lazy person (but linguistically not common... the adjective form is much more commonly used. "slothful" = lazy)

UK ground: prob. "slothful" is used in the UK

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: same as US

RU ground: [Note:  in Russian, the name of the animal is: laziness]

KO ground: [Note:  in Korean, the name of the animal is: slow-ie]

JA ground:

SP ground:  [Note:  in Spanish the name of the animal is: lazy bear]

 

Vehicle:  rat

US ground: tattler, informant (also, v.t.: "to rat on ((sb))" or "to rat ((sb)) out")

UK ground: man who is untrustworthy in relationships OR who treats his partner badly; tale-teller

AU ground: a mad, idiotic person given to eccentric behaviour, esp., "ratbag"

CA ground: prob. same as US

DU ground: bad, weasely (see weasel) person

RU ground: bad, mean person

KO ground: person who can and/or does escape from a very difficult situation with ease [from the Korean proverb: "A cornered rat will bite the cat."]

JA ground:

SP ground:  bad person (who treats his partner badly)

 

Vehicle:  mouse

US ground: weak person (but not physically... I mean weak-minded or weak-willed person) [from the common interrogative: "Are you a man or a mouse?"]

UK ground: soft-spoken, timid person

AU ground: shy person

CA ground: same as UK

DU ground: anxious person

RU ground: a woman who does not attractive others' attention [maybe same as English: "wall-flower"]

KO ground: same as rat, but insulting

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  snake/serpent

US ground: cunning, deceptive person [prob. from the Bible, where the Devil took the form of a serpent and tried to deceive Eve]

UK ground: "snake" = a person whom one cannot trust with confidences (esp. incriminating confidences)

AU ground: "snake" same as US; "serpent" none; "snakey" = ill-tempered, grouchy

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: same as US

KO ground: same as US; "flower-snake" = a woman who seduces men for money (female gigolo)

JA ground:

SP ground:  vivora = slut (loose woman, easy woman)

 

Vehicle:  hippo

US ground: fat person (insulting)

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  very fat person

 

Vehicle:  elephant

US ground: very fat person (insulting)

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: same as US

RU ground: fat person (esp. one who makes a lot of noise when stepping)

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  whale (included here because it is a mammal, not a fish)

US ground: extremely fat person (insulting)

UK ground: same (but uncommon)

AU ground: same (sometimes)

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: person with heavy, noisy breath

KO ground: "liquor-whale" = a person who drinks a lot of liquor (somewhat derogatory)

JA ground:

SP ground:  same as US

 

Vehicle:  cow / heifer

US ground: fat woman (insulting)

UK ground: "cow" = disliked woman (esp. a disliked female teacher)

AU ground: "cow" = annoying or disliked woman [in a pitying situation: "poor cow", or "stupid cow"]

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: fat, sloppy woman

RU ground: fat woman

KO ground: "milk cow" = a woman with big breasts (vulgar)

JA ground:

SP ground:  same as US

 

Vehicle:  ox / bull

US ground: "ox" = big strong man; "bully" = 'pushy', forceful, bossy person

UK ground: "ox" none; "bully" prob. same

AU ground: "ox" same as US;  "bully" prob. same

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: "ox" same as US

RU ground: "ox" same as US

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  man who has sexual stamina

Vehicle:  horse

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: (poss.) ugly woman

DU ground: ugly person with big teeth

RU ground: big-boned woman

KO ground: (rare) a person with a long face; [simile] "horse-like hips" = wide hips (for woman); (sometimes) "white horse" = a man who when a beautiful woman ogles the 'princely' man next to him, thinks that she is ogling him, rather than the princely man. [traditionally, only royalty rode white horses in Korea]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  stud

US ground: handsome, debonair ladies' man (meant as a compliment among men)

UK ground: same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: (sometimes same as US); (also) a man with many children

RU ground: ladies' man

KO ground: ladies' man

JA ground:

SP ground:  man with big penis

 

Vehicle:  stallion (wild male horse)

US ground: (rare) a very capable man [EX. in the movie "Rocky", Rocky's nick name was "The Italian Stallion"]

UK ground:

AU ground: same as US

CA ground:

DU ground: none

RU ground:

KO ground: a man whose behavior is wild and obnoxious

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  mare (female horse)

US ground: none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground: a wild woman

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  foal / colt

US ground: none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground: a frisky person

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground: potrillo = young adult (male)

 

Vehicle:  deer / buck / doe

US ground: "deer" none; "buck" = one dollar bill [metonym...I believe that the US dollar bill had a picture of a buck on it at one time, in which case, it would be a metonymy]; "young buck" = young man

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground: "deer" = a fearful person

RU ground:

KO ground: [simile] "deer-like woman" = woman with a long neck

JA ground:

SP ground:  venado = a man who played "the fool"

 

Vehicle:  wolf

US ground: aggressive person (bad meaning) [prob. from Grimm's Fairy Tales, which portrays wolves as cruel creatures]

UK ground: none

AU ground: ?

CA ground: prob. same as US

DU ground: same as US

RU ground: independent person

KO ground: a man who aggressively pursues sex; a playboy [from Korean saying: "Women are foxes; Men are wolves"]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  tiger

US ground: aggressive person (good meaning)

UK ground: sexually aggressive person

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: a shrewd, aggressive person

RU ground: none

KO ground: (rare) brave person; (more commonly) a very strict person, (esp. a very strict teacher, called: "Tiger-teacher")

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  lion

US ground; a king-like person, a great leader (us. negative meaning, as US doesn't like kings) [prob. from the saying: "Lion is king of the jungle."]

UK ground: none

AU ground: a leader

CA ground: prob. same as US

DU ground: (rare) king [from King Richard the Lionhearted]

RU ground: brave person

KO ground: none

JA ground

SP ground:  a physically strong person

 

Vehicle:  sheep/lamb

US ground: quiet, docile, subservient, and sometimes dumb (in both senses) [as is evident from the movie title "Silence of the Lambs"]

UK ground: "lamb" = cute, good, obedient child

AU ground: same as UK; (also) follower (negative meaning... as one who follows regardless of whether it is good or not) [prob. from the belief that if one sheep goes off the edge of a cliff, all others will follow]

CA ground: ?

DU ground: same as US

RU ground: "sheep" = stupid or silly person / "lamb" = quiet, docile person

KO ground: quiet, innocent person

JA ground:

SP ground:  innocent person

 

Vehicle:  ram / ewe

US ground: "ram" = v.t.- to charge at ((sth))

UK ground: prob. same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: "ram" = go-getter, "ewe" none

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  sheepish (simile?)

US ground: acting as if one were shy (a character trait), i.e., acting embarrassed (whether really embarrassed or not), acting coy

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: [simile] "sheep-like" = shy and modest; shy in a modest way

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  turtle / tortoise

US ground: physically slow person

UK ground: "tortoise" = physically slow person

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: same as US

RU ground: same as US; (also) a wise, experienced person

KO ground: same as US

JA ground:

SP ground: physically slow person

 

Vehicle:  weasel / mongoose

US ground: "weasel" = person who tries (and sometimes succeeds) to avoid/escape responsibilities (also phrasal verb:  'to weasel out of sth')

UK ground: "weasel" = untrustworthy schemer

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground: same as US; or generally a bad man

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  comadreja = talkative old ladies

 

Vehicle:  shrew / mole

US ground: "shrew" (outdated) = nagging woman [from Shakespeare: "The Taming of the Shrew"] / "mole" none; (but) "molehill" = a small problem [from the expression: "to make a mountain out of a molehill"]

UK ground: same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: "shrew" = witch, old hag

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  musarana = sleepy person;  topo = blind person

 

 

Vehicle:  skunk

US ground: detestable person (and therefore sometimes a shunned person)

UK ground: none

AU ground: same as US [BUT, as with most 'names', when said to one's face, can be a term of endearment, sign of grudging admiration]

CA ground: prob. same as US

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  stinky person

 

Vehicle:  ass/ jackass / donkey

US ground: "ass" or "jackass" = extremely stubborn or disagreeable person; "ass" = buttocks;  "dumbass" = stupid person

UK ground: "ass" = stupid person

AU ground:  same as UK

CA ground: "ass" = a jerk

DU ground:  same as UK

RU ground: stubborn person

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  stupid person

 

Vehicle:  goat / kid

US ground: "goatee" = a beard styled to look like a goat's beard; "kid" = child

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: "goat" = a stubborn person; "kid" = a stubborn child

RU ground: "goat" = bad man (really offensive word)

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  gay

 

Vehicle:  dinosaur

US ground: (usually, a very old) person with out-of-date thinking

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: same; (also "fossil") [I think English can use "fossil" as well]

RU ground: ancient person

KO ground: (sometimes) a big person

JA ground:

SP ground: none

 

Vehicle:  lizard

US ground: none [BUT, "yellow-belly (lizard)" = a coward] [The color YELLOW is significant here.  See "yellow".]

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: none

RU ground: very quick person

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  pest

US ground: a bothersome person

UK ground: same

AU ground: same (esp. a person that is repetitively bothersome)

CA ground: same

DU ground: "(disease-causing) pest" [probably more at 'pestilence'] = a bad person

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground: same as US

 

Vehicle:  guinea pig / marmot

US ground: "guinea pig" = experimentee

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: same

RU ground: same

KO ground: (rare, because this animal is not indigenous to Korea) "marmot" = a follower (esp., one who has no original ideas of his/her own)

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  bear

US ground: none; BUT, "teddy bear" = a cuddly, loveable person; "bear-hug" = a strong, tight hug

UK ground: prob. same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: a big strong man

RU ground: none

KO ground: a stupid woman [from the Korean proverb: "A man can live with a fox, but not with a bear."]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  frog / toad / tadpole

US ground: "frog" none; "toad" = warty person (insulting); "tadpole" = term of endearment for a little child (extremely rare)

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  sapo = ugly person

 

Vehicle:  dragon

US ground: terrible / terrific thing [EX. China is the sleeping dragon.  OR  He has dragon breath.]

UK ground: prob. same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: same as shrew ==> witch or old hag

RU ground: none

KO ground: (not a linguistic metaphor, but an icon & harbinger of good fortune if seen in a dream)

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  monkey

US ground: (sometimes) a person who likes to climb [ I call my son "my little monkey boy" because he loves to climb all over the furniture.]

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  mi mona = my belle 

 

BIRD METAPHORS:

 

Vehicle:  owl

US ground: a night-loving person; [simile] as wise as an owl

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: wise person

RU ground: none

KO ground: same as US

JA ground:

SP ground:  same as US

 

Vehicle:  cock (male bird, sometimes rooster)

US ground: penis (vulgar)

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: "cocky" = macho [I believe it is the same for all English (L1) countries]

RU ground: person who pretends to be brave and tough

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  cuckoo

US ground: crazy (adj.)

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  dodo

US ground: a stupid, idiotic person (euphemistic)

UK ground: none

AU ground: same as US

CA ground: same as US

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

 

Vehicle:  duck

US ground: v.i.--to lower one's head like a duck fishing; "ugly-duckling" = an ugly child [from the Hans Christen Andersen story "The Ugly Duckling"]

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same

DU ground: "ugly-duckling" = ??? (I'd like to know whether the US meaning is correct or the Korean meaning)

RU ground: none

KO ground: [simile] "duck-like buttocks" = a buttocks that protrudes a lot; (rare simile) "duck-like mouth" = a wide mouth; (metaphor) "hated-duckling" = the one 'disliked' child of a family [from the Hans Christen Andersen story "The Ugly Duckling"]

JA ground:

SP ground:  (1) person who goes #2 a lot, (2) gay

 

Vehicle:  goose

US ground: none;  v.t. to goose sb = to poke sb in the buttocks

UK ground: prob. none

AU ground: prob. none

CA ground: prob. none

DU ground: twit

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground: dummy

 

Vehicle:  swan

US ground: none

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground: elegant, graceful, florid person

RU ground:

KO ground: a female who doesn't work [comes from Sino-Korean, literally.: "white bird", and is a variation of the Korean metaphor "white hand" which is a metonym for any non-working adult]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  stork

US ground: place babies come from [Is a slightly outdated linguistic metaphor; more of an icon]

UK ground: same (but obsolete)

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: same as US

RU ground: same as US

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  same as US

 

Vehicle:  crane

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: none

RU ground: [prob. not linguistic metaphor, but icon of luck, and to see one brings luck to the viewer]

KO ground: [prob. not linguistic metaphor, but icon of good fortune and long life]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  eagle

US ground: (sometimes) a leader [prob. from the saying: "It is hard to soar with eagles, when you live/work with turkeys." or others like it]; (rare as a linguistic metaphor, but possible) "bald eagle" = icon of US, the federation of states

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  hawk / falcon

US ground: "hawk" = one who takes a militant attitude and advocates immediate vigorous action; especially : a supporter of a war or warlike policy (Merriam-Webster's Dictionary);  persona person always watching very carefully for an opportunity to exploit others for his/her own benefit

UK ground: (nowadays) "hawk" = aggressive, right-wing, war-monger

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  dove

US ground: none; icon of peace

UK ground: prob. same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground: same as US

 

Vehicle:  buzzard / vulture

US ground: "buzzard" = a person who 'hangs around' and looks for opportunities to scavenge; "vulture" = a scavenger (very neg. and very insulting)

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground:

KO ground:

JA ground:

SP ground:  thief

 

Vehicle:  crow

US ground: none, BUT, "to eat crow" = to apologize for one's wrong-doing [the ground is that crow tastes bad and apologizing 'tastes' bad, i.e., hurts one's pride]

UK ground: prob. same

AU ground: prob. same

CA ground: prob. same

DU ground: police officer

RU ground: "white crow" = a person who is different from others

KO ground: none, BUT, "to eat crow" = to forget [from the common interrogative "Did you eat crow?"]

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  magpie

US ground: none

UK ground: (sometimes) a person that collects things

AU ground: same as UK

CA ground: ?

DU ground: thief

RU ground: talkative person

KO ground: [not linguistic metaphor, but harbinger of good luck, and/or a visit from a good friend or relative]

JA ground:

SP ground:  talkative woman

 

Vehicle:  swallow

US ground: none

UK ground: none

AU ground: none

CA ground: none

DU ground: quick, graceful person

RU ground: beautiful, lovely woman

KO ground: gigolo

JA ground:

SP ground:  none

 

Vehicle:  chicken / chick

US ground: "chicken" = coward; "spring chicken" = a youthful, active, agile person; "chick" = a young, single woman ["chick" is used by men with men.  It is not considered rude, but is not used to a woman's face]

UK ground: same

AU ground: same

CA ground: same [BUT, the Canadians that I know consider "chick" to be a very politically incorrect term]

DU ground: "chicken" = coward; (and sometimes) police officer

RU ground: "chick" = child

KO ground: "chick" = young adult

JA ground:

SP ground:  pollo = easily drunken person

 

Vehicle:  turkey (I believe this bird is indigenous only to N.A.)

US ground: silly person

UK ground: a failed event; a "flop"

AU ground: ?

CA ground: stupid person

DU ground: (rare, as turkeys are not indigenous to Europe) silly person

RU ground: silly person [are there turkeys on the Soviet/Asia continent?]

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  same as US and CA

 

BUG METAPHORS:

Vehicle:  bug

US ground: small, insignificant person [Note: many (but not all) insect(s) can have the same ground]; (also) v.t.-to bother ((sb))

UK ground: same

AU ground: same, but mostly v.t.

CA ground: same

DU ground: none

RU ground: none

KO ground: none

JA ground:

SP ground:  same as US

 

Vehicle:  worm

US ground: (sometimes) same as weasel; (more commonly) contemptible, detestable person

UK ground:

AU ground:

CA ground:

DU ground:

RU ground: none

KO ground: weak person (BUT, NOTE:  only used in the Korean proverb: "A worm will wiggle when stepped on"