Knee-high to a grasshopper

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate informal
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Significado: Very young or very small; used when reminiscing about someone's childhood.

非常年幼或非常矮小;用于回忆某人的童年时光。
Muy pequeño o muy joven; se usa al rememorar la infancia de alguien.
非常に幼い、またはとても小さい。誰かの幼少期を懐かしく振り返るときに使う表現。
아주 어린, 또는 아주 작은. 누군가의 어린 시절을 회상할 때 사용하는 표현.

This charming Southern expression is almost always used nostalgically — someone reminiscing about knowing you when you were tiny. 'I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper' is a classic Southern greeting to a young person they haven't seen in a while.

这个迷人的南方表达几乎总是带着怀旧意味——某人在回忆你很小的时候。'I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper'(你还只有蚱蜢膝盖那么高的时候我就认识你了)是南方人跟许久未见的年轻人打招呼时的经典用语。
Esta encantadora expresión sureña se usa casi siempre con nostalgia — alguien que recuerda haberte conocido cuando eras diminuto. 'I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper' (te conozco desde que te llegabas a la rodilla de un saltamontes) es un saludo sureño clásico para un joven al que no han visto en un tiempo.
この魅力的な南部の表現は、ほぼ必ず懐かしさを込めて使われる——誰かが小さかった頃を思い出す表現である。「バッタの膝丈くらいの頃から君を知っている」は、しばらく会っていなかった若い人への典型的な南部式の挨拶だ。
이 매력적인 남부 표현은 거의 항상 향수를 담아 사용된다 — 당신이 아주 어렸을 때를 기억하며 하는 말이다. 'I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper'는 오랫동안 못 본 젊은 사람에게 하는 전형적인 남부식 인사이다.

Ejemplos

  1. I've known that boy since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.
    那孩子还丁点儿大的时候我就认识他了。
    Conozco a ese chico desde que era un renacuajo.
    あの子がバッタの膝丈くらいの頃から知っているよ。
    그 아이를 메뚜기 무릎 높이만 할 때부터 알고 있었지.
  2. She's been singing in the church choir since she was knee-high to a grasshopper.
    她还那么小的时候就开始在教堂唱诗班唱歌了。
    Canta en el coro de la iglesia desde que era una enana.
    彼女はバッタの膝丈くらいの頃から教会の聖歌隊で歌っている。
    그녀는 메뚜기 무릎 높이만 할 때부터 교회 성가대에서 노래했어.
  3. Last time I saw you, you were knee-high to a grasshopper!
    上次见你的时候,你还那么一丁点儿大呢!
    ¡La última vez que te vi eras un renacuajo!
    最後に会ったとき、君はバッタの膝丈くらいだったよ!
    마지막으로 봤을 때 넌 메뚜기 무릎 높이만 했었는데!

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: nostalgia, reunions, family gatherings

Tono: nostalgic, affectionate

✓ Correcto

  • Known her since she was knee-high to a grasshopper.
    她还那么丁点儿大的时候我就认识她了。
    La conozco desde que era una enana.
    彼女がバッタの膝丈くらいの頃から知っているよ。
    그녀를 메뚜기 무릎 높이만 할 때부터 알고 있었지.
  • Back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper.
    我还那么小的时候。
    Cuando yo era un renacuajo.
    私がバッタの膝丈くらいだった頃はね。
    내가 메뚜기 무릎 높이만 했을 적에.

✗ Incorrecto

  • Don't use to describe something currently small — it's specifically about childhood or the past
    不要用来形容当前很小的东西——这个表达专门用于童年或过去的事
    No lo uses para describir algo que es pequeño actualmente — se refiere específicamente a la infancia o al pasado
    現在小さいものの描写には使わないこと——この表現は幼少期や過去についてのみ使う
    현재 작은 것을 묘사하는 데 사용하지 말 것 — 이 표현은 어린 시절이나 과거에 대해서만 쓴다

Origen e historia

First recorded in American usage in the 1814 publication 'The Devil's Walk.' The grasshopper variant emphasizes just how tiny the person was — even smaller than a grasshopper's knee, an absurdly small measurement.

Contexto cultural

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Throughout the South and rural America

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