한국어 어휘 - 관용구 Korean vocabulary - Idioms

1. 강건너 불구경 - Watching fire on the other side of river

It means just watching something not related to you. = just watching.

우리 같은 팀이야! 강건너 불구경하고 있으면 안돼. - We are in the same team! You can't just watching.

2. 간 떨어지다 - One's liver falls

Old people thought liver is the origin of life.

So many idioms using liver instead of heart.

In this idiom it means state of surprised like feeling of heart when you are surprised.

Like "one's heart dropped".

아 깜짝이야! 간 떨어지는 줄 알았네! - OMG! I thought my liver falls!

3. 골로 가다 - Going coffin

It means dying.

very simple one.

골 is old word of 관 which mean coffin. 

나쁜일만 하면 골로 간다. - If you do only bad things you will die.

4. 귀신이 곡할 노릇 - Even ghost will cry

It means very strange or odd thing happened so even ghost will cry

Like something or someone disappear in a second or something moves in your room when you are alone in home

방에 있던 지갑이 사라졌어. 귀신이 곡할 노릇이네. - Wallet in my room disappeared. Even ghost will cry.

5. 눈 둘 곳을 모르다 - Don't know where to look

When everywhere is full of things you don't want to see.

Or just don't know where to look.

니가 벗고 있어서 눈 둘 곳을 모르겠다. - I don't know where to look, because you are naked.

6. 다리를 뻗고 자다 - sleep with one's legs stretched out

When you sleep with comfortable mind and body

숙제를 다 했으니 다리를 뻗고 잘 수 있다. - I did every homework so I can sleep with legs stretched out.

7. 마음에 두다 - Keep in mind

슬픈 일을 마음에 두지 마. - Don't keep sad things in mind.

8. 모 아니면 도 - Mo or Do

They are from Korean dice 윷, Mo and Do = 6 and 1.
It means success or failure = go big or go home.

지금 주식을 사면 모 아니면 도다. - If I buy stocks now its go big or go home

9. 죽이 되든 밥이 되든 - Become porridge or become rice

When you have to do something and there is no way to avoid.
It has similar meaning with Sink or Swim.

죽이 되든 밥이 되든 도전해 봐야 알 수 있다. - Sink or swim, you can't know before challenge it.

10. 피가 되고 살이 되다. - Become blood and flesh.

Things helpful to you like blood and flesh.

공부를 하면 다 피가 되고 살이 되는거야. - If you study, it will help you.