Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation

What is kabbalah? spelled with a small letter.

It's been a long time since I read those... too brutal....

Yes, some are brutal, primitive and rude. But many are funny and that`s what I focus on. :):)

The above is too easy for me - I leave it to a foreign person ;)
Now something from me - not sure if I saw it before:
a grandmother/old woman presaged in two (I hope I've chosen the right words)

I would say that is similar to the English ' It went in one ear and out the other '. Maybe someone said something that was boring or uninteresting, so someone is only half listening? I have no idea about the kabbalah one :(


Scroll down to the section ' where does ale meksyk come from' in this article:

culture.pl/en/article/mexico-poland-centuries-of-cultural-relations


Aha, so that's what Lenka was also referring to when she spoke of spies. I have never heard of coatling. Thanks for the explanations regarding Mexico and Saigon.


I had to look this up as I hadn't actually heard of the word. Presage as a noun means an omen or portent, and as a verb, be a sign or a warning. I am not sure how to translate it to your idiom, but then some things in Polish don't translate directly anyway. I'll have a think about this.

It supposed to be a word connected with "divination" (?)
These are also new words to me, so my apologies for the confusion..

I understand that to mean seeking knowledge of the the future or unknown by supernatural means. It might well be that how you have interpreted this, is exactly how it's meant to be. Many idioms that Pawian has written I haven't understood sometimes because there is no direct translation. Let's see what others say!

Yes.


My invention, meaning a small coat.


I thought hard for 3 minutes and finally got it: wróżyła babka na dwoje:a granny foretold two (options)


kabała - a difficult situation. Get involved into kabała.

what gypsum/ some gypsum/ not bad gypsum - what does it mean?

Yes! What I meant exactly was: "Na dwoje babka wróżyła" :)

Ok, from what you and Pawian have said, I think it is similar to ' It's a toss up' ( between 2 options ) or ' your guess is as good as mine'.


I presume gypsum is meant as in plaster ( gips? ). To be honest I have no idea!

(pretty) gypsum - gips - is another term for a difficult situation.

sb is beaten off the trail/track or to beat sb off the track

Before I forget: to fray one`s tongue.

Ok, thanks.


To rub somebody the wrong way?


To waste one's breath? To talk a lot/too much about unnecessary stuff?

No, zbić kogoś z tropu means baffle, surprise sb.


Yes.

to mix sb with mud.

Before I forget: when sth or sb is a hot potato, what does it mean?

Ok thanks.


Blacken someone's character/reputation? Drag someone through the mud? Jak ironicznie.


A topic or person is too hot to handle, a controversial/difficult subject, risky to deal with?

Yes and yes!

Sth gets burnt in the pan (the one in the flintlock gun)

The one in the flintlock gun? Not sure what you mean.

Are you talking about black powder used in flintlock guns? That is what is getting burnt?

Look at the flintlock mechanism of an old gun. The pan is the part which holds powder, ignited by sparks from the flint.

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Thanks for the gun pic. I had a vague idea about how they worked but didn't know there was a part of them called the pan. Really, I don't have much idea. An explosive situation?

Sth burned out on the pan. Are you making those more difficult on purpose?

I am afraid your translation is not only wrong but also against the rules. :):)
BTW, do you know Polish as a a native speaker or you acquired it as an adult?

It cannot be wrong as you don't translate idioms and proverbs verbatim. Instead you gave an approximation of the meaning.


What about you?

By the way what rules?

No, it means a situation when you have to abort your plans, they can`t be realised due to unfavourable circumstances


You don`t say on the pan but in the pan. Simple. Just like you don`t say sit on the armchair, that is a copy from Polish. :):)

hey isn't it something you are doing here? copying from Polish to make it more difficult to guess?
If not why would you bother to come up with something as clumsy and silly as in - gets burnt in the pan?
Why not use - a flash in the pan?

That is why I asked you if you know Polish as a native speaker. It seems you don`t coz you do not understand which Polish idiom we are discussing now - flash in the pan is certainly not its equivalent.

the hell it isn't.
Ask maf if you won't take my word for it.

Ok, if you insist, I will take your word for it. :):) Funny you recommend maf for consultation- I thought you are at odds with him.

Ok thanks. So essentially, something was over before it got started.

Well, it depends. The book usage of the idiom concerns camouflaged criminals who start to carry out a mischievous plan but are recognised and forced to take to their heels.

it is a good paintbrush.

It's good at covering things up? Does what its meant to?