Idiomatic Expressions

Calling a person a ‘reza’: Rezas are T-rexes, but in my world, T-rexes are scavengers who can only eat what something else has killed. They are big and scary, though. Calling someone a reza is the Terran equivalent of calling them a vulture. Rather than do their own work, they just steal someone else’s and enjoy the rewards/take the credit. Especially true if they stole it via intimidation.

Bickering like Takyufon: argumentative. A speciesist idiom, given that it’s a rude stereotype that Takyufon are all rude and like to argue.

The next three reference Selachi, a species of shark-like people. Inside each egg, around ten Selachi babies will be created. While they are still non-sapient/have no soul, they will fight and eat each other until only one remains. The last one will receive a soul:

Selachi egg: a dangerous place or situation.

Fighting like Selachi siblings: fighting to kill. Vicious. Cruel.

Ten Selachi, one soul: Used when stating there aren’t enough of a precious resources for everyone.

As useless/useful as a blind Noklopa: Another incredibly speciesist idiom. The Noklopa are a species with powerful eyesight. The implication that they are only useful for their biology derived from when they were enslaved by the Takyufon in the pre-Conquering days.

Tiger in bamboo: An Ophidian idiom referring to drunkenness. Comes from a story claiming tigers sneak into bamboo forests to drink.

Apple-eater: Another saying used exclusively in Ophidia where apples are considered an inferior food that only slaves eat. Calling a woman an apple-eater is to say she’s either poor, a cheapskate, or just has bad taste.

It takes fifty years for an Omi/Umi to become a sage: A sort of “practice makes perfect” idiom. Keep practicing and you’ll become better at your craft. Refers to the Omi and Umi volkhvs who train to reach a state of enlightenment/sagacity.

Ponies prancing in one’s head: insane. Describes the mentality of a person about to make an unwise choice.

Attention span of a cotza: pretty much the same thing we say about goldfish. Cotza are large desert bovines that are stereotyped as being unaware of their surroundings.

Don’t mix up your fan and pen mollusks: An idiom used by the aquatic species. A warning to stay organized. Fan and pen mollusks look similar, but produce different types of byssus, so should not be mixed.

You won’t find lightmites during the day: A Noklopan saying meaning if you want to find something, look for it where it’s supposed to be. Gradually became a saying about how people are creatures of habit, so don’t expect them to change for your needs.

Clumsy as an ulega: Very clumsy. Somewhat of a misnomer because ulega aren’t clumsy, they just look silly when they intentionally slide on ice.

As loyal as a Zulidor: Very loyal, named after a breed of dog. Sometimes they’ll also add “and half as smart” not to insult the person, but actually to praise their intelligence because of a joke that Zulidorok are super intelligent.

As flat as a Jukalyan’s chest: Very flat. A crude idiom, not to be said in polite company. Might also have pedophiliac vibes to some. The Jukalyans are a species of people who tend to look young and the women don’t grow large breasts.

More pricks than a Sundayga: An asshole. The Sundayga are a species of cactus-people. They’re not stereotyped as being jerks, but there is a stereotype that cruel people grow thorns.

Tickling a nue’s balls: Proverbial “poking the bear.” Provoking something/someone more powerful than you. A nue is a mythological creature in the real world, but a real animal in the Pentagonal Dominion.

May your path glitter with starlight: There are many variations of this, but all essentially mean they hope one has a good future. It’s only said on Aloutia, where the stars are made of Good elementrons.

Slipha deserted you: Calls a person an idiot. Slipha is the Macadalian name for the Purple Moon, the Mind Moon, which was once thought to make you intelligent if you bathed in its light.

A Ruomi Hour: A long, indefinite time. Named after Ruomi, the vassal nation at Aloutia’s north pole. For about a month, the sun never sets, but rather circles the horizon.

Chasing a near-star: Ambitiously trying to achieve a goal which will inevitably prove futile. Used exclusively on Starsine which has a fast near-star. (Near-stars are basically miniature suns with all the heat and light, but none of the stuff that would fuck the planet up by orbiting it.)

As constant as the Eversun: Also an idiom used almost exclusively on Starsine, where the Eversun shines constant over the top of the planet. Used to describe a person who never changes or who does the same repetitive tasks every day.

To the Hollow Void with you: Used to be a serious thing people would say when killing spiders. Now it’s more of a silly thing you might say when your friend says something ridiculous.

Building a window in the Makai: to come up with an escape plan/”plan B.” Named for the fact that due to how light works in the Makai, it’s pointless to build windows in buildings unless you plan to use it as a quick escape when you’re in danger

From Seashells to Seabells: a long distance, a long journey. Often used sarcastically e.g. parents saying that when they were kids, they had to swim “from Seashells to Seabells to get to school.” People who actually live in/close to Seabells (such as Amiere and his family) swap it around.

Shinigami come for everyone: An equivalent of “death and taxes.” Sometimes taken a step further to mean not just something inevitable, but also something which all people must do.

Heaven may not exist, but Hell sure as Hell does: coined during the Conquering by those who joined Lucognidus in conquering Hell. It means that goodness/kindness is not guaranteed in life, but pain and suffering is. Has an implication of “if you want people to be nice to you, be nice to them first.”

Our only Lord is Lucognidus: An Aloutian saying that came out of the Greed Wars. A way of saying a person or community rejects evil/demons (Demon Lords) and the concept of land ownership (landlords).

Their favorite flower is the raffla: Rafflas are rafflesia, a stinky flower. This idiom is a way of saying someone is stinky/filthy/unclean. Not used by the Dipterans, a species who actually do like the smell of rafflas.

Speaking Draeg (or Mugo): Someone speaking nonsense/incomprehensible. Used sarcastically also if someone says something wildly unbelievable. Both Draeg and Mugo are extinct languages in the current era.

Making cock candy: Very vulgar, offensive term used in Ophidia. Essentially ‘wasting one’s time/money/resources’ on something that’s at best pointless and at worst detrimental. Refers to the idea that giving slaves candy makes them rowdy and disobedient.

One doesn’t have to know Flamboil’s sex to worship him (or her or them): You don’t have to know the private details of a person’s life to treat them with respect.

Swearing like a merchant of mail: Equivalent of ‘swearing like a sailor.’ The merchants of mail are stereotyped as being loud, crude, vulgar, and swearing every other word.

Popped a balloonshroom: to make a huge mess. Named after the mushrooms that release their spores when popped.

Yesterday’s savior, today’s God, tomorrow’s tyrant: Their equivalent of ‘you either die a hero or live to see yourself become a villain.’ Since their version is explicitly about Lucognidus, some Mind elementals consider it blasphemous, as it implies Lucognidus will become a tyrant in the future (some would say he already is one).