Have you ever felt like navigating relationships abroad is harder than ordering coffee in a foreign language? Well, you’re not alone. And sometimes, when emotions get heated, it’s not just the language barrier that makes things tricky — it’s the unspoken "bad blood" bubbling under the surface.
Let me paint you a picture: You’re at a dinner party. Everyone is speaking in English, but it feels like they’re all speaking in inside jokes. You try to laugh at the right moments, but something in the room is off. Then, someone mentions a mutual acquaintance’s name, and the air thickens.
"Oh, there’s definitely bad blood there," whispers the woman next to you, as if you should already know. Bad blood? Between who? You? Them? The cheese platter?
Let’s decode this together.
"Bad Blood" — The Drama Nobody Asked For
When two people have "bad blood," it’s like trying to bake a cake without sugar: bitter and hard to swallow. It stems from past arguments, misunderstandings, or sometimes just an unspoken rivalry.
Imagine this: Your upstairs neighbor keeps hosting loud karaoke parties that sound like a cat’s audition for The Voice. One night, you march upstairs and give them a piece of your mind. From then on, every time you see each other, there’s a tension so thick it’s basically a wall. That’s bad blood.
But hey, the good news? Bad blood doesn’t have to last forever. More on that later.
"Getting Blood from a Stone" — The Impossible Ask
Fast forward to your workplace. You need a colleague to send you a report before tomorrow's meeting. You’ve emailed, messaged, and even brought them coffee as a peace offering. Nothing. Getting that report is like "getting blood from a stone."
This phrase describes those moments when asking for help feels more impossible than finding avocados that ripen at the right time. Whether it’s an unresponsive coworker, a secretive friend, or a partner who won’t say what’s bothering them, we’ve all been there.
The trick? Sometimes it’s about patience — or finding another way to approach the situation.
"Makes Your Blood Boil" — The Rage You Didn’t See Coming
Picture this: You’re waiting in line for coffee, practicing your order in your best "local" English accent. You’re feeling good, confident even. But when you finally step up, the barista doesn’t even look at you, skipping to the next person.
Your blood? It’s boiling.
Whether it’s rude service, an unfair critique, or someone cutting you off in traffic, these moments can leave you fuming. It’s okay to feel angry; what matters is how you handle it. Channeling that energy constructively is the secret sauce.
"Blood is Thicker than Water" — The Family Card
This one hits differently for expats. "Blood is thicker than water" suggests that family ties are stronger than any friendship or external relationship. But what happens when your family is thousands of miles away?
One day, your best friend in your new city cancels plans at the last minute — again. They tell you their cousin flew in unexpectedly. “Sorry, blood is thicker than water,” they say, leaving you to Netflix and self-pity.
The thing about this phrase is that it’s often true, but not always. In the expat world, "chosen family" becomes just as important, if not more so, than blood relatives.
Now, let’s circle back to that dinner party. The bad blood? It’s between the hostess and the guy she hired to DJ her wedding last year. Apparently, he played ABBA’s Dancing Queen one too many times, and now she can’t even look at him.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to avoid making your blood boil over this unnecessary drama. Instead, find a way to connect with both sides. Offer a listening ear, a joke, or even just a refill of their wine glass.
Remember: Life as an expat is messy. Relationships are complicated. But understanding these expressions gives you the tools to navigate the ups, downs, and awkward dinner parties.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where "bad blood" or "blood-boiling" moments tested your patience? How did you handle it?