Example: No dir-ne ni gall ni gallina mostra indiferència total.
Definition
"No dir-ne ni gall ni gallina" is an expression used in Catalan to describe someone who shows complete indifference or refuses to comment on a matter. It literally means not calling something either a rooster or a hen, implying a deliberate avoidance of judgment or opinion.
Translations
To say nothing definite
No decir ni una cosa ni otra
Nergens duidelijk over zijn
Ne rien préciser
Sich nicht festlegen
Etymology
The expression "No dir-ne ni gall ni gallina" comes from Catalan, where 'gall' means rooster and 'gallina' means hen. It humorously suggests that the speaker won't even classify or name something as male or female bird, thus showing total indifference or refusal to engage. Did you know this phrase reflects an old way of avoiding taking sides?
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"No dir-ne ni gall ni gallina" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 120 commonly used expressions.
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