Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

노가리까다

[no-ga-ri gga-da]

chew the fat; shoot the shit

Meaning & context

노가리는 본래 명태 새끼를 의미한다. 한국인들은 보통 술을 마실 때 말린 노가리를 안주 삼아 먹는다. 그러므로 노가리 까다는 문자그대로 “말린 노가리를 뜯다”가 된다. 술을 마 실 때 수다를 많이 떠는 것 처럼 killing time 또는 shooting the shit 을 암시한다.

A nogari is originally “a young walleye,” which in dried form is often eaten as a side dish when drinking alcohol. Thereby, nogari ggada would literally be “to pare dried fish.” The implication is that people tell stories while drinking, or when they have nothing else to do. . . like “killing time,” “chewing the fat” or just “shooting the shit.” Synonym: 뒹굴뒹굴 [duing-gol-duing-gol] kill time (aimlessly surf the internet)

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 71–71. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

이상한 물고기

English

Strange Fish

MyongTae

동태는 어딨어?

명태

Where is DongTae?

SaengTae

그 특이한 놈은 언제나 늦는 거 너도 알잖아. 항상 우리를 기다리게 만들고.

생태

You know that fish, he’s always late. He likes to keep us on ice all the time.

MyongTae

할 것도 없는데 여기 앉아서 노가리나 까자.

명태

There’s nothing to do but sit here and nogari ggada.

SaengTae

그래, 그냥 여기 앉아서 걔 올때까지 그 자식 뒤땅이나 까고 있자.

생태

Yeah, we’ll just sit here and talk shit about that SOB till he gets here.

The Flashcard

The original illustrated card, front and back.

Sex Sells card back노가리까다 — chew the fat; shoot the shit
As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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