sap1 seoi2 laam5 wat6濕水欖核濕水榄核

Jyutpingsap1 seoi2 laam5 wat6

Yalesāp séui láahm waht

Definition

Restless or naughty children who are slippery and difficult to hold onto.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom relies on the visual of a wet olive pit, which is notoriously difficult to hold because it slips out of your fingers instantly. It captures the essence of a child who is physically fidgety or hyperactive and impossible to keep in one place. It is almost exclusively used to describe children rather than adults.

Examples

keoi5佢sing4成go3個sap1濕seoi2水laam5欖wat6核gam3咁，co5坐m4唔ding6定aa4呀。

He is like a slippery olive pit, he just cannot sit still.

nei5你baan1班sai3細lou6路hou2好ci5似sap1濕seoi2水laam5欖wat6核，wun6玩dou3到din1癲saai3晒。

You kids are like slippery olive pits, playing until you are wild.

Common phrases

sing4成go3個sap1濕seoi2水laam5欖wat6核

just like a slippery olive pit

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe someone who is simply unreliable or slippery in character. It specifically refers to physical restlessness and high energy levels in children.