8 American Sayings That Seriously Backfired Abroad

When Words Travel Badly

How My Everyday Phrases Got Me Blank Stares, Awkward Silence, and a Few Accidental Offenses Across 6 Countries

“Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg,” I said casually to a new friend at a cafe in Tbilisi.

She froze, stared like I was about to lunge across the table, and said, “Why would you pull someone’s leg?”

That’s when it hit me. 

American English isn’t just confusing abroad, it sounds like something you’d scream before committing a felony. 

Quick note for my British friends: Yes, some of these show up in UK English too. But I’m American and I speak from an American perspective. So no need to form a queue in the comments.

Still, whether it’s British or American, I’ve found out the hard way what happens when you actually say this stuff out loud overseas.

In Ukraine, I once told a Business English student to “break a leg” before a presentation.

Unfortunately she took me “literally”.

She looked horrified, like I’d just wished her bodily harm in front of the entire class.

In France, I told someone to “hit me up” sometime.

He paused, frowned, and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a restraining order.

And in Albania, saying something was “a piece of cake” nearly sparked an impromptu dessert hunt.

After years of traveling, teaching, and collecting awkward silences across Europe, I’ve noticed a pattern. 

American idioms don’t just confuse people.

They trigger panic, blank stares, or that nervous laugh people make when they’re not sure if you’re joking or insane.

In this article, I’m spilling the beans on eight American expressions that caused total confusion abroad.

Think blank stares, awkward silences, and one bizarre run-in with a jar of mayonnaise in Blagoevgrad.

Yes, it was as weird as it sounds.

How American Idioms Set Us Up for Culture Shock

If you’ve ever taught English abroad, you know idioms are where things get… strange.

Native speakers don’t even realize how ridiculous we sound until someone repeats our words back to us with genuine concern.

English is a beautiful mess of expressions that make zero literal sense.

And nowhere is that more obvious than when you leave the safety of American ears. 

Idioms don’t just confuse, they shape how people view you.

Say the wrong thing, and you’re either hilarious or borderline criminal.

After years of living, working, and saying the wrong thing in Ukraine, Georgia, France, and Albania, I’ve learned the hard way.

These expressions aren’t just awkward.

They’re cultural sinkholes that swallow your dignity in seconds.

1. Pulling Your Leg: Sounds Like a Threat in Georgia

I used this gem while chatting with a new Georgian friend over coffee in Tbilisi.

I’d said something sarcastic, smiled, and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg.”

Her brows scrunched, and she actually glanced under the table.

Pretty sure she thought I was about to reach down and grab her leg.

To us, it means you’re joking. 

To her, it sounded like a physical threat or “come on” that required immediate exit strategy planning.

Better phrase abroad: “I’m just joking.” Keep it simple. No limbs involved.

2. Hit Me Up: Bulgarians Took It Personally

In Blagoevgrad, I told a guy at a language exchange event, “Hey, hit me up if you want to grab a beer sometime.”

He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head like I’d just spoken Klingon.

Then, very politely, he said, “I do not hit people I drink with.”

Can’t argue with that logic.

In English, it means “contact me.” But the phrase sounds like you’re requesting to be physically assaulted.

Not the best first impression.

Phrase swap: “Send me a message” or “Give me a shout.”

Avoid violence-based invitations.

3. Break a Leg: In France, They Thought I Was Being Malicious

I told a new acquaintance I had met in Dieppe, who was in the local drama club, to “break a leg” before her small theater performance.

She froze mid-stride and said, “Why would you wish that?”

To her, I wasn’t being supportive, I sounded like a bitter enemy hoping she’d trip off the stage and into a lawsuit.

In the U.S., it’s encouragement. In France, it’s sabotage.

Alternative: “Good luck.” Not as theatrical, but much safer for international friendships.

4. Spill the Beans: In Kyiv, It Just Got Me a Blank Stare

I was in Kyiv, at a table with a couple of Ukrainian acquaintances chatting over a few beers.

One of them started hinting at some drama involving one of her coworkers.

Curious and trying to be more involved in the conversation, I leaned in and said, “Come on, spill the beans.”

She paused, looked genuinely confused, and asked, “What beans?”

I tried to explain it meant “tell me everything,” but by then the moment had passed and so had the gossip.

We ended up talking about which bar we should move on to next instead.

Better choice: “What happened?” or “Tell me the whole story.”

Less flavorful, more effective.

Plus, it keeps the mystery and skips the legumes.

5. Piece of Cake: In Ukraine, They Thought I Was Actually Offering Dessert

A teacher I knew in Kyiv was telling me how nervous she was about her driving test. I said, “Don’t worry, it’ll be a piece of cake.”

She looked genuinely confused. “You bring cake?”

I was tempted to go find some just to avoid explaining what I meant.

That’s how I ended up at a bakery at 9 a.m., awkwardly buying pastries I never planned to eat.

I ended up giving her the pastries after she passed the test as a small congratulations. Phew! that was a close call…

Clearer option: “It’ll be easy.” Unless you’re actually holding dessert, skip the cake talk.

6. No Problem: In Thailand, It Sounded Like I Was Dismissing Their Effort

In Bangkok, a server brought me an extra drink I hadn’t ordered but kindly let me keep. I said “No problem” with a smile.

She didn’t smile back.

Later, the local concierge at the hotel I was staying at explained that in Thai culture, saying “no problem” can sound like you’re minimizing someone’s effort. As in, “Yeah, whatever, it’s not a big deal.”

What I meant as casual gratitude came off like I didn’t appreciate her gesture at all.

Better move: “Thank you so much.” Gratitude doesn’t need to sound cool.

7. Shoot Me a Text: In Ukraine, The Word “Shoot” Didn’t Go Over Well

During my early years in Kyiv, right after I got my first cellphone, when texting was all the rage, I told a private student, “Just shoot me a text later.”

She looked visibly uncomfortable and replied, “Why do Americans say such violent things so casually?”

Fair point.

Considering the context and history of post-Soviet Ukraine in the late 90s early 2000s, using “shoot” in any casual way was about as welcome as bringing up Stalin at a family dinner.

Phrase fix: “Send me a text.” Leave firearms out of it.

8. That’s Sick: In Mexico, They Thought I Was Talking About Illness

A fellow traveler I met in Oaxaca was showing me some street art she’d photographed during an excursion we had taken with our tour group the day before. I said, “Wow, that’s sick.”

She gave me a side-eye and said, “You don’t like it?”

Apparently, telling someone their favorite thing is “sick” in a country where actual sickness is not taken lightly doesn’t go over well.

Swap suggestion: “That’s amazing” or “Looks awesome.” Save “sick” for actual fevers.

What Awkward Conversations Taught Me About Connection

Idioms are more than wordplay. They’re mini cultural time bombs.

What seems like harmless small talk to us can sound aggressive, dismissive, or just downright confusing abroad.

As an ESL teacher, I learned that quickly. My students would stare at me like I’d lost my mind every time I threw in a colorful phrase.

And honestly, it made me a better teacher.

It forced me to slow down, explain, and realize just how bizarre our language can be to someone learning it for the first time.

Even in friendships or dating abroad, learning to cut the idioms helped me connect faster.

Lesson Learned: When I stopped trying to sound clever and started speaking clearly, people actually understood me.

Funny how that works.

What’s the Weirdest Phrase You’ve Ever Misused Abroad?

Language doesn’t just translate. It transforms.

The same sentence can land as a compliment, a threat, or a mystery depending on where you are and who’s listening.

So here’s my question to you, “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever said (or heard) that didn’t quite land abroad?”