Posts by pmatejcek

pmatejcek

12 Mar 2015

Language / Does this phrase mean anything to you in Polish? "Up to you" while drinking. [17]

Jak se mate.

My own heritage is mainly Bohemian, but my wife is 100% died-in-the-wool Polish. Both of her parents (but not all of her aunts and uncles!) were born in the USA. When I would drink with my father-in-law, he would 'salute,' saying "Up to you." He never knew what it meant! He was just mimicking something that his own long-passed father used to say. Does this phrase sound like some actual Polish phrase that might be recited before downing a shot? I'm thinking that it could be a transliteration that has been repeated for years, with accuracy decreasing with each repetition -- kind of like the guy who raises his glass and says, "Nice driveway."

I know that my wife and her sisters will be delighted to learn whether this phrase is somehow linked to some general Polish custom.

Thanks in advance,

Paul in Wisconsin

pmatejcek

13 Mar 2015

Language / Does this phrase mean anything to you in Polish? "Up to you" while drinking. [17]

I don't know who edited the title of my post, but it would have been better if s/he had read it first. *I* did not make Na zdrowie part of the subject. Thanks to those who responded -- and ditto about reading the post. "Up to you" does not sound anything like Na zdrowie. I am familiar with Na zdrowie; I always respond with Na zdar.

When I would drink with my father-in-law, he would 'salute,' saying "Up to you." He never knew what it meant! He was just mimicking something that his own long-passed father used to say. Does this phrase sound like some actual Polish phrase that might be recited before downing a shot?

I really thought this was a place that could be helpful. Instead, it seems to be another place where people shoot from the hip, looking for a chance to attack and critique.

Disappointed,

Paul

pmatejcek

13 Mar 2015

Language / Does this phrase mean anything to you in Polish? "Up to you" while drinking. [17]

Szalawa, thanks for trying to makes sense of this, and for showing some compassion. Let me try one more time to explain the circumstance and ask the question.

My father-in-law, peace be upon him, was the youngest of 10 siblings. He was born in Chicago. His older siblings were born in Poland. When I would drink with my father-in-law, he would hoist his glass and say, "Up to you." When I asked him what it meant, he said that he really didn't know, that it was something that his father used to say when he drank.

My guess is that his father, born in Poland circa 1880, and who did not especially speak English, never said, "Up to you." Instead, I believe that he was probably speaking a phrase in Polish that sounded like "up to you." So what I've been wondering is whether there is a phase in Polish that sounds like "up to you," that would make sense in context.

I am truly sorry that I asked. But, having come this far, I thought I'd make another attempt at explaining.

pmatejcek

14 Mar 2015

Language / Does this phrase mean anything to you in Polish? "Up to you" while drinking. [17]

Thanks so much, Unja, for helping me with this!

Remembering that I am basically ignorant of Polish language, would you please explain

za ciebie/ za twoje zdrowie = (up) to you/ to your health

in detail? Or I can guess: we start with Na zdrowie: To your health. Then we morph a little to, Za twoje zdrowie: For your health. Then we migrate slightly to, Za ciebie: For you. The we translate, roughly to "(Up) to you." Is that the path you're suggesting? And my suspicion of transliteration was completely wrong!

It's hard to explain how much gratitude I feel for your help. My father-in-law was a much beloved man, so much so that he actually has his own mythology. His daughters will be delighted to understand one more piece of the wonderful patchwork that was their father.

Paul in Wisconsin