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


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

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.

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.


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