Herps in commonly used expressions

[Thomas Reich]

In the German language there are some commonly used sayings with amphibians and reptiles.

"allen Unkenrufen zum Trotz" (despite the prophecy of doom / Unkenrufe=calls of Bombina)
"Sei kein Frosch" (don't be a coward / Frosch=frog)
"einen Frosch im Hals haben" (to have a frog in the throat)
"eine Kröte schlucken" (to swallow a bitter pil / Kröte=toad)
"ein paar Kröten" (a few bucks / Kröten=toads)
"Sie ist eine falsche Schlange" (she's a snake in the grass / Schlange=snake)
"Schlangenfrass" (awful meal)

I wonder if there are the same or similar expressions in other languages. Who can help?

[Liam Russell]

Pissed as a newt = very drunk....

[Mario Schweiger]

in German: "sie sieht aus wie eine Kröte", and as told by an American friend, the same in English "she looks like a toad"

[Martti Niskanen]

"Ajaa käärmettä pulloon" = "To force a snake into a bottle" = To force something (often an idea or a philosophy) through.
"Konna!" = Means toad, but also crook or someone dishonest.
"Liskojen yö" = "Night of the lizards" = The restless, sweaty night after a hangover.

[Tom Hoogesteger]

One more in Finnish:
"Päästää sammakoita suustaan" = "To release frogs out of your mouth" (to say something stupid before thinking about what you are saying)

[Kristian Munkholm]

In Danish you have a toad in your throat, not a frog.

[Peter Oefinger]

Ts, very negative - seems, I'm the only amphibian enthusiast :
In my area in South-Western Germany: "A süße grott" = a sweet toad = beautiful girl!

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

This is fun!!!
It may come as no surprise that in Flemish Dutch, the verb "salamanderen" means to empty a drink in a single go, I kid you not.

[Thomas Reich]

Thank you for your contributions. I would love to see more.

One expression that is used in a lot of languages:
crocodile tears, Krokodilstränen, Krokodillentranen, Krokodilletårer, larmes de crocodile, lágrima de cocodrilo, lacrime da coccodrillo, Krokodyle łzy, Krokotiilin kyyneleet,etc.

[Paul Lambourne]

The quaint English phrases " as fat as a toad with side pockets" and " as mad as a box of frogs" and the fabulous Australian phrase to describe being very busy.. " flat out like a lizard drinking"

Regards

Paul