Can take a lot of crap; forbearing

Pak-tn̂g chin khoa (“Have a broad stomach/guts”)

As in other East Asian languages, pak-tn̂g is used in a number of expressions about a person’s character:

Pak-tn̂g sè (“have a narrow/small stomach or guts” = whiny, can’t take much hardship or discomfort)
Pak-tn̂g chhián (“shallow stomach or guts” = superficial, shallow), and its opposite
Pak-tn̂g chhim (“deep stomach or guts”)

Anyone; any Tom, Dick, or Harry

A-niau a-káu

Hiān-chú-sî a-niau a-káu lóng khó ē tio̍h tāi-ha̍k.

These days, anybody can get into college.

Complete defeat

Bí-kok se-chong — tōa su

Literally: (It’s like) an American suit: a big set (of clothes) [tōa su], which rhymes with “a big defeat” [tōa su].

These are called kek-kut-ōe or giat8-khiat-ōe (歇後語 in Mandarin), which my dictionary calls “two-part allegorical sayings.” Very common in Chinese languages.  I’ve always thought of them as Fat Albert jokes. As in, “Rudy, you’re like school in July … [wait for it...wait for it...] … no class!”

Sacrificial lamb, scapegoat

Thè-sí-kúi / thòe-sí-kúi

Literally: “ghost who dies in place of (someone or something).”

Related entry here.

Shocked, speechless

Chha chi̍t-tiám-á hō· chhùi-nōa kéⁿ — tio̍h

Literally: almost gagged/choked on my spit

Different strokes for different folks

Ū lâng hòⁿ chiú, ū lâng hòⁿ tāu-hū.

Literally: Some people like alcohol, some people like tofu.

Ask someone’s permission; “kiss the ring”

KhoaN3 (pat8-lang5) e5 bak8-sek8

Literally: “(have to go and) look at the color of (someone’s) eyes (before acting)”

Stupid and lazy

Pn̄g7-tháng kòa chhia lián

Literally: (Like a) rice bucket with wheels.

Scapegoat

Or: the one to blame, the one who gets picked on

 

Chhàu thâu-ke-á

Literally: scabby-headed chicken

 

I tī ha̍k⁸-hāu lóng chò chi̍t⁸ ê chhàu thâu-ke-á.

He’s always picked on at school.

Easy as pie; piece of cake

Chhin-chhīuⁿ to̍h8-téng ni̍h8 kam.

[Literally: "like picking up a tangerine from the table."]