Mar 31, 2007 16:32
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
United Kingdom
Experto crede
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English, French to Italian, and 3 more.
sticking your tongue in a cavity
English
Art/Literary
Psychology
Can anybody help me with this idiom?
The writer is talking about a certain kind of attitude and says: "But this attitude is like STICKING YOUR TONGUE IN A CAVITY or becoming preoccupied with an emotional problem"
Many thanks in advance!
The writer is talking about a certain kind of attitude and says: "But this attitude is like STICKING YOUR TONGUE IN A CAVITY or becoming preoccupied with an emotional problem"
Many thanks in advance!
Responses
| 4 +17 | probing where it hurts |
JaneTranslates
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| 3 +3 | just makes the situation worse |
Will Matter
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| 3 +2 | see comments |
Melzie
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Change log
Mar 31, 2007 16:45: Kim Metzger changed "Term asked" from "STICKING YOUR TONGUE IN A CAVITY" to "sticking your tongue in a cavity "
Responses
+17
13 mins
JaneTranslates
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Puerto Rico
Quality and Integrity
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English, English to Spanish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
English term (edited):
sticking your tongue in a cavity
Selected
probing where it hurts
When we have a cavity (dental carie) we tend to keep touching/exploring it with the tongue, even though it would be better to leave it alone. Perhaps the author is suggesting that it's better not to dwell on/think constantly about a physical or emotional problem, but rather get on with living.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
kmtext
: It becomes an obsession.
3 mins
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Right...exactly. As willmatter posted while I was writing mine, it just makes the situation worse.
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| agree |
Tony M
6 mins
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Thanks, Tony!
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| agree |
Can Altinbay
: Of course!
10 mins
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I guess we all do it, huh? Thanks, Can!
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| agree |
Evi Prokopi (X)
31 mins
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Thanks, Evi.
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| agree |
Dave Calderhead
33 mins
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Thank you, Dave.
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| agree |
Caryl Swift
: e.g.all the painful, useless, things we do when a relationship ends - check mail, check phone for messages etc. etc.
59 mins
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Yes, exactly. Thanks, Caryl!
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| agree |
Mark Nathan
1 hr
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Thank you, Mark.
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| agree |
kironne
: "meter el dedo en la llaga" Totally ;)
1 hr
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Yes. Thanks, kironne.
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
3 hrs
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Thank you, Marju.
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
3 hrs
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Thank you, Rachel.
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| agree |
Alexandra Tussing
11 hrs
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Thank you, Rusinterp.
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| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
11 hrs
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Thank you, Vicky.
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| agree |
Suzan Hamer
18 hrs
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Thsnk you, Suzan.
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| agree |
Els Spin
: Ouch! Silly thing is, you can't help doing it, but when you've been to the dentist, the obsession is gone within hours.
19 hrs
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Yep! Thank you, Els.
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| agree |
Will Matter
: Right. Good explanation.
1 day 56 mins
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Thank you very much, willmatter.
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| agree |
ErichEko ⟹⭐
1 day 10 hrs
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Thank you, Erich.
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| agree |
NancyLynn
: another idiom: picking at a scab (what a pleasant image, eh?)
1 day 21 hrs
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Eeeuuuu! But you're right, that's a closely-related concept. Thanks, NancyLynn.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you Jane and thank you all!!!
"
+3
8 mins
Will Matter
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
proofreading/editing/research/security
Native in: English
Works in: English, Japanese to English, zzz Other zzz to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
English term (edited):
sticking your tongue in a cavity
just makes the situation worse
It seems that maybe they mean an attitude that just makes the pre-existing situation worse / more painful / harder to deal with. An unproductive or self-defeating attitude, in other words. HTH.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
JaneTranslates
1 hr
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Caryl Swift
: making it worse by obsessing over it
1 hr
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Alexandra Tussing
11 hrs
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Thank you.
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+2
17 mins
English term (edited):
sticking your tongue in a cavity
see comments
A filling of mine fell out a while ago, and I can't stop worrying the hole. The denteen isn't exposed so I'm in no pain but, it's very difficult to stop myself fiddling at the gap with my tongue. A totally useless action but I seem to be overly aware of the cavity.
I hope my 'sad' story helps ;-)
Basically somthing that isn't getting worse in itself but that is out of proportion
I hope my 'sad' story helps ;-)
Basically somthing that isn't getting worse in itself but that is out of proportion
Discussion