뒷북치다
[duit-buk-chi-da]
old news; yester-say
Meaning & context
글자 그대로는 북의 뒷면을 치다. 비속어로 이것은 이미 끝난 일(끝난 이야기)에 수선 을 떠는 것을 의미한다. 이 표현은 타이밍과 관련된 것으로 이와 비슷한 영어표현으로는
that’s old news 가 있다. Literally “to hit the backside of the drum.” Here, duitbuk chida means to make a fuss about something that is already finished (or has already been hashed out). Timing is everything with this expression and it relates to the American expressions “that’s old news,” “give it up,” “stop beating a dead horse” or “thanks for the history lesson.”
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 91–91. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
밝고 밝은 어느 화창한 날
English
A Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day
대중이 소식 들었지? 노벨평화상 탔대!
Did you hear about DaeJung? He just won the Nobel Peace Prize!
응. 드디어, 우리 대한민국의 꿈이 이루어진거야.
Finally, our dreams of a Great Korean Empire are coming true.
와우, 대중이가 우리나라를 위해 정말 많은 일을 했구나. [5분 후, 대중이가 웃으면서 걸어온다]
Wow, he’s done so much for our country. [5 minutes later, DaeJung walks in smiling]
화창한 날이다. 그지? 내가 무슨 일하고 왔는지 들었어?
It’s a bright day isn’t it? Did you hear what I did?
뒷북치네. 뒷북. 자랑 그만해라.
Duitbukchida. Duitbuk. Quit bragging.
허! 전과자 주제에 잘난척 하기는.
Huh! Ex-con trying to make himself out to be better than others.
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