Sometimes I can’t think of a word, so I give a terrible definition of the word I am looking for and my saddest face in the hopes that the person I’m talking to will take pity on my feeble mind.
Sometimes that can work though! I was in France once and had to try to talk about toes for some reason, I could only say “what do you call like, fingers but on your feet?” and they were like “…yes that’s right” (doigts de pied) while giving me a look like “duh, what kind of stupid language doesn’t call them foot-fingers.”
To be fair most of my interactions in English also fit in the ‘take pity on my feeble mind’ category, but I think either you learn something, or worst case scenario you give someone their own version of the ‘cobra chicken’ story to tell people, so you might as well go for it.
I’ve said exactly the same thing. My mind just went automatically and said “foot-fingers” and it was the friend I was talking with that interrupts me saying “you mean toes!?” and couldn’t stop laughing
I sometimes forget the word in English and German. Thanks brain, now I can’t even use a translator to remind me, since you decided to forget a word in my mother tongue.
Worst of all, when that happens my brain also refuses to offer - or accept - an alternative formulation. “No, you were looking for one specific word and you won’t continue until you find it!”
Sometimes I can’t think of a word, so I give a terrible definition of the word I am looking for and my saddest face in the hopes that the person I’m talking to will take pity on my feeble mind.
Sometimes that can work though! I was in France once and had to try to talk about toes for some reason, I could only say “what do you call like, fingers but on your feet?” and they were like “…yes that’s right” (doigts de pied) while giving me a look like “duh, what kind of stupid language doesn’t call them foot-fingers.”
To be fair most of my interactions in English also fit in the ‘take pity on my feeble mind’ category, but I think either you learn something, or worst case scenario you give someone their own version of the ‘cobra chicken’ story to tell people, so you might as well go for it.
In German gloves are hand shoes (Handschuhe). I just though you should know.
Cobra chicken?
I’ve said exactly the same thing. My mind just went automatically and said “foot-fingers” and it was the friend I was talking with that interrupts me saying “you mean toes!?” and couldn’t stop laughing
Just to add that ‘doigts de pied’ is ok, but there is a specific word in French too (‘orteils’)
The word you’re looking for is Schadenfreude
I only speak English. I have this issue all the time.
I sometimes forget the word in English and German. Thanks brain, now I can’t even use a translator to remind me, since you decided to forget a word in my mother tongue.
Worst of all, when that happens my brain also refuses to offer - or accept - an alternative formulation. “No, you were looking for one specific word and you won’t continue until you find it!”
Oh my god, thank you for this laugh.