Aussie subtleties of the c-word.

1. “Silly Cunt” = funny person (endearing)

2. “Stupid Cunt” = complete idiot (serious)

3. “Dumb Cunt” = a good mate acting stupid (jovial)

4. “This Cunt” = referring to a good mate who’s done/said something uniquely odd (jovial)

5. “Acting like a Cunt” = acting terribly (serious)

6. “Don’t be a Cunt” = stop acting terribly (serious)

7. “Bunch of Cunts” = all your good mates (endearing)

8. “Good Cunt” = the best compliment you can receive (endearing)

9. “Dog Cunt” = the worst insult you can receive (get ready to fight)

10. “Shit Cunt” = insult (serious)

11. “Bit of a Cunt” = insult (jovial)

There’s a bunch of weird ones in Portuguese.

• “Caroço de manga não é sabonete” Do you think that mango seed is soap? = “this is an absurd proposal/situation/etc.”
• “Pobre só sobe na vida quando o barraco explode” Poor people only ascend on life when the [shit]shack explodes. = “don’t expect social ascension”
• “Enquanto vem com o milho, já comi a polenta.” While you’re bringing the corn, I already ate the polenta. = “I’ve already handled this, you’re too late.”
• “um polaco de cada colônia” a Pole from each settlement = a bunch of randomly picked people or items. I don’t think that people use this too much outside Paraná.
• “farinha do mesmo saco” flour from the same bag = extremely similar in some aspects that matter (and usually negative ones)
• “comer o pão que o diabo amassou” to eat the bread kneaded by the devil = to go through rough times
• “Vai chupar prego até virar tachinha!” Go suck an [iron] nail until it becomes a thumbtack! = somewhat polite way to tell someone to fuck off
• “Vai ver se estou na esquina.” *Go check if I’m around the corner." = also a way to tell people to fuck off
• “anta quadrada” squared tapir = “anta” tapir is used to call someone stupid, so anta quadrada is stupid to the power of two.
• “anta cúbica” cubed tapir = because some people do some really, really stupid shit.
• “mais louco que o Requião de pedalinho” crazier than Requião on a paddle boat = Requião is a politician here in Paraná known for his crazy antics. The phrase highlights that something is completely fucking crazy. Clearly local.
• “teu cu” your arse[hole] = definitively, clearly, and blatantly “no”.

In Australia people who mean business say “I’m not here to fuck spiders.” I think that’s just wonderful.

In America we express suffering beyond words by saying we’re “living the dream”. And the Brits think we have an irony deficiency.