It's the 7th inning stretch

My cubicle-mate, a very nice guy, got up to take a stretch when the janitors came to take his trash. I told him it’s the 7^th inning stretch… he just smiled and nodded. I shook my head in frustration and proceeded to try and explain this baseball term. He did not blow me off, but it was clear my cliché did not do anything for him. My subsequent explanation just ruined the cliché too. At the end of it, I realize I was just trying to relay my understanding that he is wearing thin (another cliché) and ready to go home soon.Israeli’s have their own cliché’s, but they can be harder to understand or explain. Just picture Bill Cosby or Dr. Huxtable from the Cosby show having one of his television kids explaining to him how “bad” is good.

“Al ha panim,” translates to English as “On the face.” Example: Q-How was your date last night? A-We went to a restaurant last night, it was al ha panim. Basically, it sucked really bad (as in bad). Think of it as egg on your face, that would suck, so saying “al ha panim” is negative. Did you watch the game last night? Yeah, it was al ha panim.

A more complicated one is “Chaval al ha zman,” which translates as “it is a pity on the time.” This can be used as good or bad. Imagine your buddy asked about the date last night; “Was she hot?” and you could answer “Chaval al ha zman…” Depending on your tone and your next few words, it could mean “Damn, she’s smoke’n! (worth every minute)” or it could mean, “Ouch, someone was hit by an ugly stick! (what a waste of time)”.

If anyone reads this and thinks I am wrong, please post a comment…