[Trans] Words that can’t be understood literally~

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I don’t know if anyone has posted it before. . . 1. Vocabulary: lover – a sweetheart (not “spouse”); busboy – a worker who does miscellaneous tasks in a restaurant (not “bus ticket seller”); busybody – a person who likes to meddle in other people’s affairs (not “a very busy person”); dry goods – textiles (in the US) ； (English) Cereals (not “dry goods”). Heartman: a person who undergoes a heart transplant (not “a person with a heart”). Mad doctor: a psychiatrist (not “a crazy doctor”). Eleventh hour: the last moment (not “11 o’clock”). Blind date: a first meeting between a man and a woman arranged by a third party (not “a blind arrangement” or “a random meeting”). Dead president: U.S. currency with a president’s portrait on it (not “a dead president”). Personal remark: an attack on someone’s character (not “a personal comment”). Sweet water: fresh water (not “sugar water” or “sweet liquid”). Confidence man: a scammer (not “a trustworthy person”). Criminal lawyer: a lawyer specializing in criminal cases (not “a lawyer who commits crimes”). Service station: a gas station (not “a service center”). Rest room: a toilet (not “a lounge”). Dressing room: a place for changing clothes (not “a fitting room” or “a changing area”). Sporting house: a brothel (not “a sports facility”). Horse sense: common sense (not “the senses of a horse”). Capital idea: a good idea (not “capitalist ideas”). Familiar talk: trivial or vulgar conversation (not “conversations that are familiar”). Black tea: red tea (not “black tea”). Black art: witchcraft (not “black art”). Black stranger: a complete stranger (not “a strange black person”). White coal: water used as a source of energy (not “white coal”). White man: a loyal and reliable person (not “a person with fair skin”). Yellow book: a French report with a yellow cover (not “a yellow book”). Red tape: bureaucratic procedures (not “red strips”). Green hand: a beginner (not “green hands”). Blue stocking: an intelligent woman (not “blue stockings”). China policy: policies regarding China (not “China-related policies”). Chinese dragon: a qilin (not “a Chinese dragon”). American beauty: a red rose (not “an American beauty”). English disease: osteoarthritis (not “British diseases”). Indian summer: a pleasant and peaceful old age (not “summer in India”). Greek gift: a gift that causes harm (not “Greek gifts”). Spanish athlete: a person who boasts (not “a Spanish athlete”). French chalk: talcum powder (not “French chalk”). Rest room: refers to a public toilet, not a lounge. Milkway: the Milky Way. Piss you off: to annoy someone, not to urinate on them. Fuck you up: to destroy someone, not to “get rid of” them. 2. Idioms: Pull one’s leg: to joke (not “to hold back someone”). In one’s birthday suit: naked (not “wearing a birthday outfit”). Eat one’s words: to renege on what was said earlier (not “to break a promise”). An apple of love: a tomato (not “the fruit of love”). Handwriting on the wall: an ominous sign (not “posters”). Bring down the house: to win applause from everyone (not “to knock down a building”). Have a fit: to become extremely angry (not “to try on clothes”). Make one’s hair stand on end: to be terrified (not “to be furious”). Be taken in: to be deceived (not “to be accepted”). Think a great deal of oneself: to overestimate one’s own abilities (not “to think too much about oneself”). Pull up one’s socks: to muster courage (not “to pull up socks”). Have the heart to do: to have the courage to do something (used in negative sentences). 3. Expressions: Look out! Be careful! (Not “looking outward”) What a shame! What a pity! What a pity! (Not “how shameful”) Really! Is that so! (Not “Don’t say that”) You can say that again! Well said! (Not “Can you say that again?”) I haven’t slept better. I slept extremely well. (It’s not “I’ve never had a good night’s sleep.”) You can’t be too careful in your work. The more careful you are at work, the better. (It’s not “you shouldn’t be too careful in your work”). It’s been 4 years since I stopped smoking. I’ve been quit smoking for 4 years now. (Not “I have been smoking for 4 years.”) All his friends did not turn up. Not all of his friends showed up. (It’s not “none of his friends showed up”). People will be long forgetting her. People will remember her for a long time. (It’s not “People will forget her forever.”) He was only too pleased to let them go. He was happy to allow them to leave. (It’s not “He was too happy to let them go.”) It can’t be any less interesting. It’s extremely boring. (It’s not that “it can’t be interesting.”)