Last night, after a couple of glasses of wine, my husband was explaining to our friend, Lottie, that our old owner’s manual for the Mazda GLC we owned instructed us to “tootle the horn.” It advised that “tootling more vigorously” may be required if the obstruction to driving continues. This brought about gales of laughter from all three of us. Just thinking about it this morning sent Lottie and me into more tootles of laughter.
Since it feels good to “tootle,” here are a few more humorous interpretations of the English language from our worldly friends:
- Hong Kong dentist – Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.
- Budapest zoo – Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, please give it to the guard on duty.
- Acapulco – The manager has personally passed all water served here.
- Instructions on a multipurpose knife in Japan – Caution: Blade Extremely Sharp! Keep out of children.
- Germany’s Black Forest – It is strictly forbidden on our camping site that people of different sex, for instance men and women, live together in the tent unless they are married to each other for that purpose.
- From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo – When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.
- In a Bucharest hotel lobby – The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.
- Swedish furrier – Fur coats made for ladies from their skins.
- Bangkok dry cleaners – Drop your trousers here for best results.
- Copenhagen airline office – We take your bags and send them in all directions.
This is so funny, Bonnie! I keep coming back to it so for the laughs.
That was a fun night, too!
By: Lottie on May 21, 2009
at 3:28 pm