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Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation


Chemikiem
27 Jul 2020 #931
No, it's someone who pretends to be all posh but in reality his lower class/rural nature shows.

Ok, thanks Lenka.

I also see 'vest' but have never heard that.... it might be British

I've not heard of it, only play your cards close to your chest as you said earlier.

soda rushes into sb`s head.

Success has gone to someone's head?
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
27 Jul 2020 #932
Yes, of course.

I am watching an old series now and one 65 yo character says to another one who is 42: it can stiffen you. What does he mean?
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #933
it can stiffen you.

Old age? Apart from that I have no idea......

I've worked on a few English idioms and translated them directly to Polish as best I can. Not sure about the grammar of some but I'm sure everyone will let me know if they're wrong.......

What is meant by this:

Na chmurze dziewięć
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
28 Jul 2020 #934
Old age? Apart from that I have no idea......

Nope. Two guys, rather elderly, were talking about possible tragic ends, one of them was a stroke whichcan stiffen you. I hope you like this typically British black humour.

be on cloud nine - in Polish way say to be in 7th heaven.

What is the next one?
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #935
I hope you like this typically British black humour.

That's almost gallows humour!

in Polish way say to be in 7th heaven.

Yes!

What is the next one?

I've done a few!

Szczekać na złe drzewo
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
28 Jul 2020 #936
Ha! I remember using that idiom in an explanatory letter to my most important girlfriend decades ago. I wrote about our huge problems and chose to use English to sound less strict.

bark up the wrong tree. Right after it I wrote: to be in a relationship with you requires me to have a skin like a rhinocerous but I certainly don`t possess it. I was 20 years old but I still remember it. I am so sentimental. Weep, weep. Sorry..
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #937
I am so sentimental. Weep, weep. Sorry..

Hahaha!
You are right again of course. I don't think my idioms will last too long at this rate because your knowledge of English is too good.........

Idealna burza
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
28 Jul 2020 #938
Perfect Storm is the title of the film I didn`t watch coz I consider such marine adventures a little boring if they last 2 hours. The only Perfect Storm which was short and exciting is in Forest Gump film . I always loved how Forest`s first mate, Dan, screams at the sky: You call this a storm??? It is time for a showdown - you and me! Come and get me! hahahaha Reminds me of Polish Romantic heroes who were also at odds with God.

Btw, Polish translation is better: The Wrath of the Ocean.

youtu.be/_03zn8Vq6iw
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #939
Perfect Storm

Yes, and its meaning as an idiom is a chance or rare combination of events/circumstances culminating in an unusually bad situation.

This one I'm a little unsure of. I've used 'przez' but not sure whether it should be 'na'.

Przez grube i chude
guessoc
28 Jul 2020 #940
Let's get back to this game.

Perfect storm.

I don't have any green concepts..

Oh sorry.

Through thick and thin

Since I posted my reply before I saw your reply, I need to post again.

Nie mam zielonego pojęcia.
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #941
Through thick and thin

Correct, but you have to give the meaning too :)
guessoc
28 Jul 2020 #942
Oof.

The meaning would be going through tough times and better tiems?
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #943
Exactly, though good times and bad times.

Nie mam zielonego pojęcia.

I don't have any great ideas? Although not sure it's right.......
guessoc
28 Jul 2020 #944
@Chemikiem
Close, but wrong.
It means "I don't have any ideas".
Chemikiem
28 Jul 2020 #945
Ok, thanks.

Next one:-

On siedzi na płocie
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
28 Jul 2020 #946
Exactly, though good times and bad times.

In Polish it is thin and fatty years.

On siedzi na płocie

Now it is sth I need to make sure if it the same as Polish: to sit astride on a barricade. Yes, it is - keep neutrality.
Chemikiem
29 Jul 2020 #947
We say to sit on the fence.
Yes it means to keep neutral between two sides in e.g an argument due to not wanting to take sides or a lack of decisiveness.

A new one:-

Błogosławieństwo w przebraniu
Lenka 5 | 3,418
29 Jul 2020 #948
Something that we thought is bad but turned out to be good

to salt somebody
mafketis 36 | 10,706
29 Jul 2020 #949
to salt somebody

to punish someone (including physically)?
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
29 Jul 2020 #950
yes, but it doesn`t need to be punishment. Simply you maltreat sb physically or mentally.

to make sb an icecream.
Chemikiem
29 Jul 2020 #951
Something that we thought is bad but turned out to be good

Yes, exactly. A blessing in disguise.

to make sb an icecream.

Robić komuś loda? That's all I can think of. To give someone a blow job.

In the meantime:-

Uderzyć worek
johnny reb 47 | 6,795
29 Jul 2020 #952
Nie masz na myśli "hit the sack" ?
Chemikiem
30 Jul 2020 #953
Yes, but you also have to provide the meaning. These are English idioms/sayings that I've translated directly to Polish. Most people here will probably know the meaning but maybe not everyone.

Hit the sack = go to bed.

A new one:

Możesz złapać więcej much z miodem niż z octem.
Lenka 5 | 3,418
30 Jul 2020 #954
I can't remember how it sounds in English but it means that being nice brings better results than being mean/unpleasant
mafketis 36 | 10,706
30 Jul 2020 #955
being nice brings better results than being mean/unpleasant

Wouldn't it be nice if more people in Poland thought that?

Anyhoo....

Osiemdziesięciosześciowali to.
OP pawian 221 | 24,014
30 Jul 2020 #956
Wow, never heard it.

to remove, end usage, or take something out or away.

urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=86

What is a hot potato?
Chemikiem
31 Jul 2020 #957
Wow, never heard it.

Me neither!

a hot potato?

Controversial or delicate subject matter.

I can't remember how it sounds in English but it means that being nice brings better results than being mean/unpleasant

Perfect explanation! You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Another one:-

Smak swojego własnego lekarstwa
mafketis 36 | 10,706
31 Jul 2020 #958
Me neither!

It's an American expression, supposedly originally used by restaurant/diner employees and then taken into more general usage (though still not that common).
Maj2020
31 Jul 2020 #959
@Chemikiem
The taste of your own medicine!
Chemikiem
1 Aug 2020 #960
supposedly originally used by restaurant/diner employees and then taken into more general usage

Thanks for the explanation.

The taste of your own medicine!

It is yes, but you should also provide the meaning.
A taste of your own medicine = For you to experience the same harm or unpleasant experience that you have dished out to somebody else.

A new one:-

Dodać obelgę do urazu


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