[JenB]

I have not seen all of these before. Of course, what would a thread like this be like without reference to the greatest mistranslation of all:

"All your base are belong to us!"

[real saxophonist]

My hovercraft is full of eels.

[Libertina]

Seen in the grocery cookie and cracker isle (snacks) in Taiwan:

Snakes (oh yum :)

[Nogbad]

One of my favorite Greek specialties is Roast Lamp, served in many restaurants in Greece.

[meisterbrewer]

Very funny, thanks for the post.

Reminds me of a marketing class I took a long time ago. The prof wanted to show us how important it was to know who your customers would be, and to be sure you took into account their language and culture. So, he gave us a couple of examples of big-time screw-ups.

Like the Chevy Nova. Would never sell in Mexico, they didn't know why. Then someone realized that Nova translated in Spanish literally means "No go".

Or here's one many never thought about. Remember that old video game Donkey Kong? Did you ever wonder why there was no donkey? That's because the guy in Japan who had to name it screwed up while looking in a Japanese to English dictionary. Was supposed to be Monkey Kong.

[Florida native]

On exit signs in Sydney Airport, Australia: "WAY OUT"

[Revolting cat!]

Sign in customer waiting room of tinsmith shop in Korxnikov, Bulgaria:

'Spread underwear under carburator of enchilada ear muff infidels'

[d4now]

bump for a much needed laugh. Thanks for posting!

[untenured]

"Please take advantage of the maid."

- attributed to a hotel in Tokyo.

A good site for not-quite-right Japanese English is www.engrish.com.

[MadameAxe]

Actual Signs Seen in England:

Sign in a Laundromat :
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT.

In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN.

AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.

Outside a secondhand shop :
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Sign outside a new town hall which was to be opened by the Prince of Wales:
THE TOWN HALL IS CLOSED UNTIL OPENING. IT WILL REMAIN CLOSED AFTER BEING OPENED. OPEN TOMORROW.

Outside a photographer's studio:
OUT TO LUNCH: IF NOT BACK BY FIVE, OUT FOR DINNER ALSO.

Outside a disco :
SMARTS IS THE MOST EXCLUSIVE DISCO IN TOWN. EVERYONE WELCOME.

Sign warning of quicksand :
QUICKSAND. ANY PERSON PASSING THIS POINT WILL BE DROWNED. BY ORDER OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL.

Notice sent to residents of a Whiltshire parish :
DUE TO INCREASING PROBLEMS WITH LETTER LOUTS AND VANDALS WE MUST ASK ANYONE WITH RELATIVES BURIED IN THE GRAVEYARD TO DO THEIR BEST TO KEEP THEM IN ORDER.

Notice in a dry cleaner's window:
ANYONE LEAVING THEIR GARMENTS HERE FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS WILL BE DISPOSED OF.

Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS.

Spotted in a safari park:
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR.

Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

Notice in a field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

Message on a leaflet:
IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS.

Sign on a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR, THE BELL DOESN'T WORK).

Spotted in a toilet in a London office block :
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

[Joe Bonforte]

In a Kowloon tailor shop:

CUSTOMERS GIVING ORDERS WILL BE SWIFTLY EXECUTED

[c. l. coffman]

"Pauvre tomate; il na puede cantar" = "Poor tomato; it cannot sing." "Une crocodile - dans la piscine" = "The crocodile in the pool"

[kitkat]

Thanks for the laugh, HLL. Here's one more: When the Phantom of the Opera opened in Tokyo they had to ditch all the Tshirts and other souvenir items because at the last minute they discovered that the words printed on them said, "She chased him until she caught him by his organ."

[11th Earl of Mar]

I always liked the street sign seen in many neighborhoods across America:

"SLOW CHILDREN PLAYING"

[must be due to the public schools]

[Malesherbes]

In Mexico: We serve good tasting people.

In Prague: Please pay before ordering.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Some signs i've seen;

Guam road warning sign: "DENJAR!" (We think they meant "Danger".)

In Saudi Arabia a large sign at traffic circle: "The One coming From Left Of Center Has Priority." (They could have just used a "Yield" sign, which they have in other places.)

Albany, New York on an ice cream parlor during January: "Closed For the Season, Reason Freezin."

[X-USAF]

Up here in Western New York, there is a road sign on a three lane hill (two up, one down). The sign reads: USE BOTH LANES. After ten years living here, I am yet to be on that hill when a police officer is nearby. I have always wanted to USE BOTH LANES and be cited for it. I can't wait to explain to the judge that Rule #34 applies: WORDS MEAN THINGS. We also have another sign, SPEED ZONE AHEAD. The way I see it, I should be able to speed up.

[fredtaps]

Laughing so hard, thanks we needed that!

[FReethesheeples]

lol

[dighton]