Life isn't all beer and skittles

Encolpius

Encolpius

Senior Member
Hungarian
Hello, it means life is sometimes hard. I wonder what you use. Thanks.

Hungarian: Az élet nem habostorta. [life is not a cream cake]
 
    • Czech:

    Život není peříčko. = Life is not a feather (i.e. life is not as light as a feather).

    Život není procházka růžovou zahradou (růžovým sadem). = Life is not a walk through a rose garden (orchard).
     
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    The closest I can think in Russian is не всё коту масленица /ne vsio kotu maslenitsa/ - not everyday is Maslenitsa for a tomcat

    Maslenitsa is a Russian folk holiday before the beginning of the Great Lent, when traditionally pancakes were made and eaten with lots of cream and butter, so I assume cats were happy that time of year because they were getting some scraps.
     
    In Greek:

    «Η ζωή δεν είναι όλο χαρές και πανηγύρια» [i zo'i ðen 'ine 'olo xa'res ce pani'ʝirʝa]
    "Life is not all joy and festivities"

    Neut. noun «πανηγύρι» [pani'ʝiri] < Βyzantine neuter diminutive «πανηγύριον» panegýrion --> religious festival of Classical fem. noun «πανήγυρις» pănḗguris --> general assembly; compound, determiner «πᾶν» pân --> whole (with obsure etymology) + Aeolic form of «ἀγορὰ», «ἄγυρις» águris (fem.) --> assembly, market (possibly from PIE *ger-, to collect)
     
    In Czech adjective růžový has 2 meanings - rose and pink. So Život není procházka růžovou zahradou (růžovým sadem) could also mean Life is not a walk through a pink garden (orchard).
     
    I was about to start a new thread on this and then discovered a huge number of expressions in English, at least according to context.reverso.net. But then I found out that such a thread had been started earlier.

    May I invite the English-speaking delegation (and others) to comment on the following expressions , which I have tried to categorize? Feel free to adapt... (Thanks in advance)
    a - not always balloons and Jello (origin?) OR it's not all Jell-O with Cool Whip.
    b - not all wine and hoses here/ fun and games/ frolic and joy/
    c - not all rainbows and unicorns over there?
    d - not all puppies and sunshine/ shunshine and roses/ sunshine and flowers/
    e - a relationship can't be all hand-holding and restaurant desserts.
    e' - sure, it's not like he bought their daughter flowers and took her to the prom. (?)
    f - it's not all cracked up to be/ picture-perfect

    I guess that this topic allows for creativity and that such expressions are quite productive! In English for sure, but also in other languages?
     
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    The classical expression I know is...
    Life isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

    That skittles saying sounds like something that was just made up by someone, like I could change it to m&ms or snickers bars... and cool whip?! Please...
    Life is not all champagne wishes and caviar dreams.. This was heard in my childhood but it's not classical either. Someone made it up but I remember it.
     
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    I've heard (but not recently) 'beer and skittles' in the US; I assume it's an established, if old=fashioned, phrase here.
    ThomasK said:
    I was about to start a new thread on this and then discovered a huge number of expressions in English, at least according to context.reverso.net. But then I found out that such a thread had been started earlier.

    May I invite the English-speaking delegation (and others) to comment on the following expressions , which I have tried to categorize? Feel free to adapt... (Thanks in advance)
    a - not always balloons and Jello (origin?) OR it's not all Jell-O with Cool Whip.
    b - not all wine and hoses here/ fun and games/ frolic and joy/
    c - not all rainbows and unicorns over there?
    d - not all puppies and sunshine/ shunshine and roses/ sunshine and flowers/
    e - a relationship can't be all hand-holding and restaurant desserts.
    e' - sure, it's not like he bought their daughter flowers and took her to the prom. (?)
    f - it's not all cracked up to be/ picture-perfect

    I guess that this topic allows for creativity and that such expressions are quite productive! In English for sure, but also in other languages?
    Click to expand...

    I don't think I've heard these, except possibly 'rainbows and unicorns.' I know 'days of wine and roses' (not 'hoses') as days of happiness and prosperity, but I don't recall hearing 'life is not all wine and roses.'
    Life is not a bowl of cherries
    and
    Life is not a bed of roses
    and
    Life is not all peaches and cream
    are the phrases I am used to hearing.
    " it's not all cracked up to be" doesn't mean quite the same thing to me.
     
    I should have investigated more. I'd never have guessed "skittles" was "bowling" in Britain. In my life it has only meant candy and that is what I'd understand if someone were to use it with me. Maybe someone HAS already and I totally misunderstood. Beer and skittles could taste good together.

    Roxxxannne said:
    Ion't think I've heard these, except possibly 'rainbows and unicorns.' I know 'days of wine and roses' (not 'hoses') as days of happiness and prosperity, but I don't recall hearing 'life is not all wine and roses. '
    Click to expand...

    Roxxxannne said:
    Life is not a bowl of cherries. Life is not a bed of roses and Life is not all peaches and cream are the phrases I am used to hearing." it's not all cracked up to be" doesn't mean quite the same thing to me.
    Click to expand...
    I have heard a lot
    Life is not a bowl of cherries
    Life is not a bed of roses. (Very much used)
    Life is not all strawberries and cream
    It's not all what it's cracked up to be

    But I'm not familiar with
    Life is not all rainbows and unicorns
    Life is not all wine and roses.
    This last one I would be able to figure out
     
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    I haven't heard most of those in the list. The one should be "not all wine and roses" not "wine and hoses", but I see its from a "fun" site, so be careful: some of those expressions may be puns and not accurate.
     
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