EI KOORI. We won't peel your banana... Actually that would be: "
Me ei koori sinu banaani."
Koor is the peel of a fruit, shell of a nut or any number of other hard external layers incl. the bark of a tree.
Koorima = to peel. What is being promised at this Neste gas station in the Kalamaja neighbourhood of Tallinn is: "We won't rip you off." [/i]Meil on lihtne ja soodne[/i]. What we offer is simple and economic. Photo: Riina Kindlam
Koori ja tükelda kartulid = peel and dice the potatoes. The higher-butterfat layer that is skimmed,
kooritud, (although some might say
riisutud, raked) from the top of milk is logically called KOOR (cream). When you are skimmed, taken for a ride, ripped off, or have the clothes taken off your back, you too are being peeled, so to speak.
Mind riisuti rahast paljaks. I was raked clean of my cash.
Nülgima, to remove the hide and skin, can also be used in this context. If you peel or take many skins off someone (
kelleltki mitut nahka koorima / nülgima), is means you are demanding many times more work or payment from them.
Nöörima is another slang in the family.
Nöör = rope and to be
nööritud is to be roped or lassoed into paying too high a price.
Nööris kasuka eest liiga soolast hinda – took an exhorbitant ("salty") amount for the fur. Tying up boots is
saapaid nöörima, untying them or say, a corset is
lahti nöörima.
Käed nööriti selja taha – their hands were tied behind their back.
Krae nöörib kaela – when your collar is digging into your neck. Paying more than expected
rohkem raha välja käima can be physically exhausting indeed.
Riina Kindlam, Tallinn
