Traditional proverbs of Canada in en and English — each with its meaning and source.
Keep your stick on the ice.
“Keep your stick on the ice.”
Stay alert, stay ready, and keep doing the right thing even when nothing is happening.
Source: Modern Canadian idiom popularized by the Canadian TV comedy 'The Red Green Show' (CBC, 1991–2006); now a common everyday Canadian saying.
Attache ta tuque!
“Tie up your toque!”
Brace yourself — things are about to get intense or exciting.
Source: Traditional Québécois (French-Canadian) expression, oral tradition.
Parler à travers son chapeau.
“To speak through one's hat.”
To talk about something you know nothing about, or to speak nonsense.
Se faire passer un sapin.
“To have a fir tree slipped to you.”
To be cheated or swindled in a deal.
Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, and the last river poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.
“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, and the last river poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.”
Material wealth is worthless if we destroy the natural world that sustains us.
Source: Commonly attributed to Cree (First Nations) oral tradition; exact origin and attribution are debated among scholars.
Il fait frette.
“It's cold out.”
An emphatic Québécois way of saying it is bitterly, painfully cold.
Source: Traditional Québécois (French-Canadian) colloquial expression, oral tradition.
Give'er.
“Give'er.”
Put in your full effort; go all out and do not hold back.
Source: Canadian colloquial slang, documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
Don't be such a keener.
“Don't be such a keener.”
Said, often teasingly, of someone overly eager to please or impress, especially at school or work.
Don't be a hoser, eh.
“Don't be a hoser, eh.”
A gentle insult for someone acting foolish or unsophisticated; popularized nationally by the Bob and Doug McKenzie comedy characters.
Source: Canadian colloquial slang, popularized by SCTV's 'Great White North' sketches (1980-1982); documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
I'll have a double-double, please.
“I'll have a double-double, please.”
A coffee order with two creams and two sugars, so common at Tim Hortons that it has become an everyday shorthand across the country.
Source: Canadian colloquial slang tied to the Tim Hortons coffee chain; documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
That meeting was a total gong show.
“That meeting was a total gong show.”
Describes a chaotic, disorganized, or out-of-control situation.
Source: Canadian colloquial slang, believed derived from the 1970s TV program 'The Gong Show'; documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
Come sit on the chesterfield.
“Come sit on the chesterfield.”
An older Canadian English word for a sofa or couch, still heard especially among older generations.
Source: Canadian English usage documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
Grab a two-four for the weekend.
“Grab a two-four for the weekend.”
A case of 24 bottles or cans of beer, a term so common it named the May long weekend, nicknamed the 'May Two-Four.'
Source: Canadian colloquial slang documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
It's chilly, grab your bunny hug.
“It's chilly, grab your bunny hug.”
The word Saskatchewan residents use for what the rest of Canada calls a hoodie.
Source: Regional Saskatchewan English, documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
He's a rig pig out in Fort Mac.
“He's a rig pig out in Fort Mac.”
Someone who works on an oil drilling rig, especially in Alberta's oil fields.
Source: Regional Alberta English, documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
It's another twenty klicks up the road.
“It's another twenty klicks up the road.”
A casual Canadian shorthand for a kilometre, used constantly for distance.
He picked up a mickey on the way over.
“He picked up a mickey on the way over.”
A small, flask-sized 375-millilitre bottle of liquor, easy to carry in a coat pocket.
She's from away.
“She's from away.”
In Atlantic Canada, this describes anyone who was not born and raised in the region, no matter how long they have lived there.
Source: Atlantic Canadian regional English, documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
As Canadian as possible, under the circumstances.
“As Canadian as possible, under the circumstances.”
A wry, self-deprecating description of the Canadian character: doing your best and accepting the outcome without drama.
Source: Coined by contest entrant Heather Scott on CBC Radio's 'This Country in the Morning' (host Peter Gzowski), 1972; has since entered common Canadian usage as a popular national aphorism.
Don't just stand there like a pylon.
“Don't just stand there like a pylon.”
Hockey slang for a player who is slow or easily skated past, now used more broadly for anyone standing around uselessly.
Source: Canadian hockey slang in common use in Canadian rinks and broadcasts, documented in general references on Canadian hockey terminology.
What a barn burner of a game!
“What a barn burner of a game!”
An intensely exciting, high-scoring, back-and-forth contest, originally hockey slang, now used for any thrilling event.
Source: Canadian hockey slang in wide broadcast and colloquial use, documented in general references on Canadian hockey terminology.
He deked the goalie right out of his skates.
“He deked the goalie right out of his skates.”
To fake a move to fool an opponent, from hockey, now used generally for tricking or dodging someone.
Source: Canadian hockey slang, documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
Quit chirping at the ref.
“Quit chirping at the ref.”
To trash-talk or hurl good-natured insults at an opponent, especially in hockey.
Give your head a shake.
“Give your head a shake.”
Told to someone acting foolishly or unreasonably: stop, think again, and come to your senses.
Source: Canadian colloquial expression in wide everyday and broadcast use.
Hang a Larry at the next light, then hang a Rodger onto Main.
“Hang a Larry at the next light, then hang a Rodger onto Main.”
Casual Canadian driving slang for turning left (Larry) or right (Rodger) at an intersection.
Source: Canadian colloquial slang documented in general references on Canadian English usage.
Long may your big jib draw!
“Long may your big jib draw!”
A traditional Newfoundland nautical blessing wishing someone continued good fortune and fair winds, like a sail (jib) staying full.
Source: Traditional Newfoundland and Labrador English expression, documented in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English (Kirwin, Story & Widdowson, 1990).
How was the trip? Best kind!
“How was the trip? Best kind!”
Newfoundland English for 'excellent' or 'couldn't be better.'
Stay where yer to, till I comes where yer at.
“Stay where yer to, till I comes where yer at.”
A well-known Newfoundland saying that simply means: stay right where you are, I'm on my way to you.
He's gone where the ducks wear mitts.
“He's gone where the ducks wear mitts.”
A colourful Newfoundland way of saying someone has gone completely crazy.
Source: Traditional Newfoundland and Labrador English expression, documented in popular references on Newfoundland sayings.
You're some crooked today, b'y.
“You're some crooked today, b'y.”
Newfoundland English for being in a very grumpy or bad-tempered mood.
How's she goin', b'y?
“How's she goin', b'y?”
A classic Cape Breton and Maritime greeting, meaning simply, 'How are things going?', used for anyone, not just boys.
Source: Traditional Cape Breton, Nova Scotia English expression, documented by the Strathy Language Unit, Queen's University.
G'way witcha, that never happened.
“G'way witcha, that never happened.”
Cape Breton English for polite disbelief, roughly, 'get out of here, you're kidding.'
J'en ai vu neiger.
“Don't worry, I've seen it snow before.”
A Québécois way of saying you have plenty of experience and have seen it all before, so nothing surprises you anymore.
Il est temps d'accrocher mes patins.
“It's time to hang up my skates.”
A hockey-inspired Québécois expression meaning to retire or give something up for good.
J'ai de la broue dans le toupet cette semaine.
“I've got foam in my bangs this week.”
A vivid Québécois expression for being completely swamped and overworked, as if working up a sweaty foam.
J'étais tellement nerveux que j'aurais mangé mes bas.
“I was so nervous I could have eaten my socks.”
A Québécois expression for being extremely anxious or on edge.
Quand le castor parle, le bois écoute.
“When the beaver speaks, the wood listens.”
Those who truly know their craft earn the respect and attention of others; honours the beaver as a symbol of hard work in Canadian culture.
J'ai d'la misère avec ça.
“I'm having a hard time with this one.”
A common Québécois way of saying you are struggling or having difficulty with something.
Pogne pas les nerfs pour ça.
“Don't lose your temper over this.”
A Québécois expression for losing one's temper or getting worked up.
No tree has branches so foolish as to fight among themselves.
“No tree has branches so foolish as to fight among themselves.”
A teaching against infighting: like the branches of one tree, people who belong together should not turn on each other.
Source: Commonly attributed to Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) oral tradition; exact origin and first speaker are undocumented, as is typical of orally transmitted teachings.
Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows.
“Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows.”
A teaching on paying attention to nature and inner intuition as sources of wisdom.
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.”
A teaching on legacy: the way you live and treat others is the lasting mark you leave behind.
Source: Commonly attributed to Dakota oral tradition; Dakota communities live on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, and exact first attribution is undocumented, as is typical of orally transmitted teachings.
The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.
“The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.”
A caution against overusing or destroying the environment that sustains you.
Source: Commonly attributed to North American Indigenous oral tradition, shared across several nations including Canadian First Nations; exact origin is undocumented.
Only when the ice breaks will you truly know who is your friend.
“Only when the ice breaks will you truly know who is your friend.”
True friendship is proven in moments of real hardship and danger, not in easy times.
Source: Widely circulated in popular Inuit proverb collections; precise community and original-language source are undocumented.
May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart.
“May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart.”
A traditional Inuit blessing wishing someone comfort, sustenance, and inner peace.
Il mouille à boire debout.
“It's raining enough to drink standing up.”
A vivid Québécois way of describing an extremely heavy downpour of rain.
Ça n'a pas d'allure!
“That makes no sense at all!”
A common Québécois exclamation used when something is absurd, unreasonable, or simply doesn't add up.
Who knit ya?
“Who knit ya?”
A Newfoundland way of asking about someone's family and ancestry — literally "who made you" — often used to place a stranger by their family lineage.
That's one skookum truck.
“That's one skookum truck.”
A British Columbia and Yukon term, borrowed from Chinook Jargon, meaning strong, powerful, or excellent.
Source: Western Canadian English (British Columbia, Yukon), derived from Chinook Jargon; documented in A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles (DCHP).
I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.
“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”
Success comes from anticipating the future and positioning yourself ahead of it, rather than reacting to where things already are.
Source: Wayne Gretzky, widely cited quotation from career interviews (commonly dated to the 1980s); also referenced in "Gretzky: An Autobiography" (1990).
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