Idioms ... for the traveler and correspondent

language is more than just the spoken word -- anyone or anything -- computers included can be taught to speak. But to understand the pace you are in you might want to look closely at cultrual idioms in a language.
I'll post a few more from the rest of Asia pacific region from time to time... for now here are a few from where I am;

di makabasag-pinggan -- mahinhin a very demure, prim-and-proper person (literal=someone who can't break a plate)

di mahulugang-karayom -- maraming tao overcrowded place (literal=where one cannot throw a pin)

DIBDIB (CHEST/HEART)

pag-iisang dibdib -- kasal wedding (literal=to be of one heart)

kabiyak ng dibdib -- asawa spouse (literal=the other half of the heart)

daga sa dibdib -- takot worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)

nagbukas ng dibdib -- nagtapat na nais pakasalan ang kasintahan a man who proposed marriage (literal=opened his heart)

DILA (TONGUE)

bulaklak ng dila -- pagpapalabis sa katotohanan exaggeration (literal=flower of the tongue)

magdilang anghel -- magkatotoo sana to wish that what has been said will come true

makati ang dila -- madaldal, mapunahin talkative person (literal = one with itchy tongue)

matalas ang dila -- masakit mangusap one who talks offensively (literal = sharp-tongued person)

maanghang ang dila -- bastos magsalita a vulgar person (literal = spicy-tongued person)

matamis ang dila -- mahusay mangusap, bolero a fast talker (literal = sweet-tongued person)

kaututang dila -- katsismisan a gossip (literal = farting tongue)

sanga-sangang dila -- sinungaling a liar

may krus ang dila -- nakapanghihimatong one who could foretell an event

DUGO (BLOOD)

kumukulo ang dugo -- naiinis, nasusuklam a person who hates somebody (literal=boiling blood)

magaan ang dugo -- madaling makapalagayan ng loob a person with whom one gets along easily (literal=light-blood)

maitim ang dugo -- salbahe, tampalasan an evil or bad person (literal=dark-blooded)

Agaw-buhay -- naghihingalo between life and death (literal=life about to be snatched away)

anak-pawis -- magsasaka; manggagawa farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker

anak-dalita -- mahirap poor

alilang-kanin -- utusang walang sweldo, pagkain lang house-help with no income, provided with food and shelter

LOOB (FEELINGS; LITERAL=INSIDE)

malakas ang loob -- matapang a brave person (literal=strong-willed)

mahina ang loob -- duwag a coward (literal=weak-willed)

mababa ang loob -- maawain merciful person (literal=low-hearted)

masama ang loob -- nagdaramdam a person with a grudge, painful or ill feelings against someone (literal=bad feelings)

mabigat ang loob -- di-makagiliwan a person with whom one could not get along with (literal=heavy vibes or feelings)

bukal sa loob -- taos-puso, tapat a sincere person, or one who gives with a pure heart (literal=pure-hearted)

utang na loob -- malaking pasasalamat na hindi kayang bayaran ng ano pa man (as noun) debt of gratitude

"utang na loob" -- malaking pakiusap, madalas ginagamit upang ipahiwatig ang masidhing damdamin ng nakikiusap, tulad ng "parang awa mo na" (as expression) "please", used to express the deepest feelings of the person asking for a very big favor, equivalent to "have mercy"

ULO (HEAD)

matalas ang ulo -- matalino bright, intelligent (literal=sharp-headed)

mahangin ang ulo -- mayabang arrogant person (literal=air-headed)

malamig ang ulo -- maganda ang sariling disposisyon in a good mood (literal=cool-headed)

mainit ang ulo -- pangit ang disposisyon in a bad mood (literal=hot-headed)

lumaki ang ulo -- yumabang someone who became proud, arrogant (literal=one whose head grew big)

matigas ang ulo -- ayaw makinig sa pangaral o utos one who is stubborn (literal=hard-headed)

basag-ulo -- gulo, away chaos, quarrel, fight (literal=break head)

may ipot sa ulo -- taong pinagtaksilan ng asawa a person who has been cheated by his/her spouse (literal=one with shit on his/her head)

sira ang ulo/sira ang tuktok -- taong maraming kalokohan ang nasa isip a crazy or foolish person

panis ang laway -- taong di-palakibo a very quiet person

pagkagat ng dilim -- pag lubog ng araw twilight

patay-gutom -- matakaw glutton

pulot-gata -- pagtatalik ng bagong kasal honeymoon

putok sa buho -- anak sa labas an illegitimate child; out-of-wedlock child

PAA (FEET)

makati ang paa -- mahilig sa gala o lakad a person who is fond of going places (literal=itchy feet)

pantay ang mga paa -- patay na one who just died (literal=level feet)

PUSA (CAT)

nagpupusa -- nagsasabi ng mga kuwento ukol sa isang tao telling on somebody

saling-pusa -- pansamantalang kasali sa laro o trabaho temporarily included in a game or work, a term used to refer to little kids fond of joining games or work of grown-ups