tell that to the marines
I don't believe what you are saying!
TRANSLATION
Tell that to the Marines! = Das kannst du deiner Großmutter erzählen!
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
European leaders like Chris Patten talk of the EU now being a 'counterweight' to the United States. Javier Solana says "Some of us profoundly disagree with Bush. But it may push the European Union to become much more of an actor in the world. We have an obligation to do so." Tell that to the marines – outside Basra and Baghdad.
(William Shawcross - Harkness Lecture, King‘s College, London - 27 March 2003)
(William Shawcross - Harkness Lecture, King‘s College, London - 27 March 2003)
Did you
know?
You can tell that to the marines
colloquial
Origin:
To say to someone "tell that to the Marines" suggests that you don't really believe them. The Marines here are not the US variety but the much older military unit which belonged to King Charles II.
The story goes that the King, being told by a naval officer that such things as flying fish existed, remarked "Tell that to my Marines".
A nearby Marine officer, who felt that this was an insult, was relieved when the King explained that it was a compliment. His Marines had been to all parts of the World and had seen everything. If they had not seen flying fish, then they didn't exist.
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"What? The engineering director has agreed to the production schedule suggested by marketing? You can tell that to the marines!"
colloquial
Origin:
To say to someone "tell that to the Marines" suggests that you don't really believe them. The Marines here are not the US variety but the much older military unit which belonged to King Charles II.
The story goes that the King, being told by a naval officer that such things as flying fish existed, remarked "Tell that to my Marines".
A nearby Marine officer, who felt that this was an insult, was relieved when the King explained that it was a compliment. His Marines had been to all parts of the World and had seen everything. If they had not seen flying fish, then they didn't exist.
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"What? The engineering director has agreed to the production schedule suggested by marketing? You can tell that to the marines!"
