Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation

To add insult to injury; to make a bad situation worse.

Yes, exactly.

To jest ostatnia słomka

the last straw that broke the camel's back

To jump on a goat and break all its legs??? Incapacitate a goat to prevent it from running away.

You don't know it?
Zapędzić kogoś w kozi róg- to dominante someone, put them in a situation without choice

Of course I do. Didn`t you see I answered it: break the goat`s legs so that it can`t jump. It is a form of domination and a situation without choice for the goat, isn`t it?? hahahaha

Yes. Adding the camel's back is an extenstion to that's the last straw. Both mean it is the latest in a succession of occurrences that leads to the one final thing that causes someone to lose their patience.


We would say 'to back someone into a corner'.

Another, although I think mine are far too easy for everyone:-

Spóznić się na łódz

Sorry, I can't put the correct diacritical mark above both letter z. For some reason I can only put the kropka above it.

to lose an opportunity for something by not acting quick enough

może ja teraz spróbuję: this is a Polish phrase: to paint oneself into a corner

Yes. Perfect explanation of 'miss the boat'.


Does it mean to get oneself into a situation/difficulty that it's not easy to extricate oneself from?

A new one:

Ugryść pocisk

hey when it became two way street? :)
To perform a difficult or painful but unavoidable task or to steel oneself in the face of a painful but unavoidable situation.
It is akin to Polish raz kozie smierc! Chemikiem your take on that? lol


Hopefully it is not about Jack Straw? lol

A little while ago now. Pawian's idea. Translating them is harder than I thought, I've had to abandon quite a few.....


Perfect explanation of ' bite the bullet'.


Great idiom! I prefer you only die once, but sink or swim would also do. There seems to be a lot of Polish idioms about goats.........


He's not the last straw ;)

Another:-

Ciekawość zabija kota

Goats were quite common in the Polish countryside but there were considered a sing of a poor household or poverty. They disappeared from Poland during commie years but imagine commies suspire that poverty stayed. Anyway they did really give a damn it was all about appearances. Anywho I don't remember any goats growing up, cows yes but not goats. Poor animals their milk is much better for children than cows milk, plus they are more cost-effective but ...

Here dangers of brainwashing in a plain sight.


Mind your own business as venturing into territory that has little to do with you can be dangerous and may backfire. Definitely not a prover for Poles. They are when young very inquisitive. lol! In general of course.


Great answer as expected.

It seems to me that goats are on a par with sheep as far as Poles are concerned. Not many Poles like goat's milk, goat's cheese or lamb. I've actually never tried goat's milk but love cheese and lamb.


Perfect explanation of curiosity killed the cat :)

Another:-

Zabić dwa ptaki jednym kamieniem

@Chemikiem
To kill two birds with one stone; to take care of two issues at once.

Yes, exactly :)

A new one:-

Pozwól śpiącemu psu leżeć

Let the sleeping dog lie means do not call the wolf out of the forest coz both canines had better not be disturbed.

Watching a film from 1970s and they said: mustard cup. What about?

Okay the problem here is figuring out what very specific Polish word became the very non-specific English word 'cup' which ban be kubek, filiżanka, puchar (and more...)

Is it related to 'mustard after dinner'?

No :)
But I think you should think more glass than cup...

Musztardówka?

is it something about.....

making do (using a mustard jar because that's what's available?)
or
pretending to be fancy ?

Yes, musztardówka, funny name, it has always amused me, could do well when there weren`t enough glasses, the replacement object typical for shortages in communist times.

..... I still use them....

Because of nostalgia ???? Your first shot of Polish vodka served in a mustard cup?? hahahaha
Eastern Germans call it Ostalgia.

No, I just like them... this is a nice shape once the mustard's gone and there's no... thread (gwint) either)

polki.pl/foto/1_X_LARGE/nowosci-spozywcze-czerwiec-2016-2247876.jpg

In the southern us everyone uses mason jars as glasses (despite the thread)

images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61FMgX4paQL._AC_SX522_.jpg

and I remember using jelly jars as glasses (made with that in mind) as a kid....

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Have we had

zamknięcie drzwi stodoły ?

Yes, they are sturdy and when, being stoned and unconscious, you drop one onto the floor the chance is it won`t break. Also, you can throw it at your spouse during marrital rows and they will also survive.


Shut the stable door after the horse has bolted - to be late in taking action to prevent something bad happening. You probably got association from Polish:mustard after lunch/dinner. However, the Polish saying doesn`t always imply sth bad happening - it only stresses a late appearance.

What about this?:
to cover sb with a cap.

and another one from the series I am watching: to trod/trample on sb`s heels.

Yep.


I did the same with nutella jars, they did a version that came with a bendy plastic cover.


To try and take control over people? Make them sweat?


To be right behind someone following them. We would say to breathe down someone's neck.

New one:-

Walić dookoła krzaka

To beat around the bush - avoid saying sth directly.

new one
to beat a horse.

ewwwwww just make sure you keep the door closed and clean up afterwards....

rather like udusić kurczaka...

choke the chicken - never heard this term :P