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Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation


Lyzko  41 | 9583
30 May 2019   #331
My guess is that honesty is a quality considered of close physical proximity to the human body, at least in English, also in German, albeit from another part of the anatomy. As to the meaning aka origin of the Polish equivalent I have no clue, I'm afraid.
Chemikiem
30 May 2019   #332
It does have to do with honesty, it means that you can't get away with a lie, the truth will always come out.
Miloslaw  21 | 4987
30 May 2019   #333
the truth will always come out

So true..... as this forum shows us on almost a daily basis.....
Chemikiem
30 May 2019   #334
You're not wrong Milo, Kaprys clocked on to it too, in an earlier post.
Couldn't have chosen a better idiom to best represent PF!
Miloslaw  21 | 4987
30 May 2019   #335
Lol!!!!
What I love about languages, and I am no expert, I only speak 3 and a half.....is the different images the words throw up.
Many of them are untranslatable ( is that even a real word?) LOL!!!
delphiandomine  86 | 17823
30 May 2019   #336
I still can't find a good translation for "zawiść". Envy is the dictionary translation, but it seems stronger in Polish somehow :/

(speaking of which: youtube.com/watch?v=MmQqpEy96r4 - I learnt so many strange expressions from Dzień Swira! Well worth a watch if you haven't seen it - it's Polish comedy at its finest IMO)
OP pawian  221 | 25159
30 May 2019   #337
"Frei von der LEBER weg", literally, "Straight from the LIVER".

That reminded me of a few organ idioms in Polish.

E.g,
to lie on sb`s liver

to lie on sb`s heart.

to be the brain of sth


Bonus
sb is a vein.

Couldn't have chosen a better idiom to best represent PF!

The PF is a perfect representation of a typical society. We have both extremes: honest guys and liars, decent and immoral, brilliant and morons, etc etc. And most are somewhere in between.
Chemikiem
31 May 2019   #338
to lie on sb`s liver

For worries to lie heavily on someone?

to lie on sb`s heart.

Something is very important and is a concern to somebody?

to be the brain of sth

I think this is the equivalent of the English term 'to be the brains behind something' e.g a plan

Somebody is a vein - Someone tightfisted, miserly?

PS, I think your idea of PF being a perfect representation of a typical society is true, but on here it just seems like the crazies stand out more ;)
OP pawian  221 | 25159
31 May 2019   #339
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. :)

A new one: to stand on one`s ears.
Chemikiem
1 Jun 2019   #340
To be deaf to something, as in I'm not listening?
OP pawian  221 | 25159
1 Jun 2019   #341
Sorry, no. Completely different from to fall on deaf ears.
Before I forget (I recall hundreds of idioms while coming back home but when I am in, I forget everything):

to fall on 4 paws.
OP pawian  221 | 25159
1 Jun 2019   #342
Before I forget

......and he could have killed, (but didn`t).
mafketis  38 | 10949
2 Jun 2019   #343
to fall on 4 paws.

to land on one's feet?
Chemikiem
2 Jun 2019   #344
to stand on one`s ears.

To reach new heights?

to land on one's feet?

Yep, I would go with that too, as in some people always manage to get out of trouble by landing on their feet.

No idea about the could have killed it idiom though.
OP pawian  221 | 25159
2 Jun 2019   #345
To reach new heights?

If you mean to do one`s best and even more, yes.

No idea about the could have killed it idiom though.

That is very easy


  • amoglzabic_201610.jpg
Chemikiem
3 Jun 2019   #346
If you mean to do one`s best and even more, yes.

Yes, of course. It wasn't meant literally!

That is very easy

Sometimes I miss the obvious ;)
OP pawian  221 | 25159
3 Jun 2019   #347
There are plenty of memes with A mógł zabićquote. I can read it a few times a week in humorous comments on political events.

sb turns into a ram.
Chemikiem
4 Jun 2019   #348
Someone becomes an ass, idiot, fool?
OP pawian  221 | 25159
4 Jun 2019   #349
There is a little connection with those three but the primary meaning is different. Or, let`s say - first goes the primary meaning and then sb may look like a fool.
Chemikiem
4 Jun 2019   #350
Is the idiom similar in meaning to 'brać kogoś na barana'? Or zrobić kogoś w konia?
OP pawian  221 | 25159
4 Jun 2019   #351
No, I meant zbaranieć. :)
Chemikiem
5 Jun 2019   #352
Does it mean that a person behaves in an aggressive, stubborn, angry manner, and therefore makes himself look an idiot by displaying those qualities?
mafketis  38 | 10949
5 Jun 2019   #353
What does it mean if (in a work context) someone is referred to as a 'hare' ?
gumishu  15 | 6174
5 Jun 2019   #354
praca nie zając :P
Ziemowit  14 | 3936
5 Jun 2019   #355
It has reminded me of a Russian saying in the times of the Soviet Union and PRL: Kuritsa nie ptitsa, Polsza nie zagranica.
gumishu  15 | 6174
5 Jun 2019   #356
Kuritsa nie ptitsa, Polsza nie zagranica

this goes back much further back in history (at least to the times of the partitions, but I guess even to the middle of the 18th century)
OP pawian  221 | 25159
5 Jun 2019   #357
Does it mean that a person behaves in an aggressive, stubborn, angry manner?

Sorry, it means to become completely flabbergasted.

What does it mean if (in a work context) someone is referred to as a 'hare' ?

Was gumishu`s answer correct? Because you saidsomeone and he suggested something.

I can see we are turning to animals again.

So : sb became black groused.
mafketis  38 | 10949
5 Jun 2019   #358
Was gumishu`s answer correct?

no... think.... openings....
OP pawian  221 | 25159
5 Jun 2019   #359
Hmm sb is like a hare ...... in a work contex. Hmm. I have no idea. The only thing that comes to mind is based on that fable about a hare and tortoise racing. The hare procrastinates until he sees his rival close to the finishing line - he starts running at last but it is too late.
Chemikiem
7 Jun 2019   #360
it means to become completely flabbergasted.

I wonder why a ram specifically?

someone is referred to as a 'hare' ?

Someone always jumping in front of others to get a new position? Always the first in line for a promotion etc?

sb became black groused.

I'll have to think about this one........

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