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Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation


mafketis 37 | 10,886
15 Nov 2020 #1,111
Is this actually an idiom?

It is in the US.... it's more specific than your translation...
OP pawian 223 | 24,375
15 Nov 2020 #1,112
Strzelba!

Do you mean to rifle through sth?
Chemikiem
17 Nov 2020 #1,114
Is it anything to do with a pistol?
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,115
No.... two hints

The origin has to do with a gun (not a pistol)

The modern version has nothing to do with any type of gun...

The modern version is a way of expressing a particular desire...
Chemikiem
17 Nov 2020 #1,116
My thoughts were along the Mae West phrase " Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you glad to see me ". Is gun used instead of pistol or am I completely wrong?
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,117
gun used instead of pistol

It's a very specific type of gun (hence the translation which might not work in reverse all the time).... I hear this in American tv shows movies fairly frequently... maybe it's not something British people notice...
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,119
No. Remember 'gun' or 'pistol' are not good translations of strzelba!
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,121
More like "Shotgun!"

What does it mean and what's the origin?
johnny reb 49 | 7,093
17 Nov 2020 #1,122
Means the front seat of a vehicle on the passengers side.
In the wild west a stage coach driver always had someone riding shotgun to protect the stage coach's contents.
He usually would be sporting a shotgun so hence the name 'shotgun' for that seat.
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,123
Yes, saying "shotgun!" is a way of claiming the position in a vehicle next to the driver (where you can control the music and/or temperature and generally be cooler than the schlub(s) in back).

Supposedly the origin was in stagecoaches in American frontier when one person kept control of the horses and someone sat next to him with a shotgun in case disgruntled Indians or robbers showed up.

I've also heard it in expanded usage where a person claims the best spot in a room (or next to the best spot) with the word (I think I've also heard it used in other situations but my memory is a little fuzzy).
johnny reb 49 | 7,093
17 Nov 2020 #1,124
Shotgun wedding by the father of the bride when she is a little bit pregnant.
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,125
The idea of the thread are Polish idioms translated into English (can you recognize and understand the original)

Later someone added English idioms translated into Polish (same idea) you should have had "ślub ze strzelbą" (or ślub pod strzelbą?)

Until sometime in the 2000s a _very_ high percentage of Polish wedding ceremonies took place with VPB's (visibly pregnant brides).
OP pawian 223 | 24,375
17 Nov 2020 #1,126
Shotgun seat? Funny, I would never guess it. :):) I know only backseat driver idiom. .

Cat`s tears/ weeping means what?
mafketis 37 | 10,886
17 Nov 2020 #1,129
What about cries of.... passion?
gumishu 13 | 6,140
17 Nov 2020 #1,130
Cat`s tears/ weeping

do you mean cats' music
Ironside 53 | 12,424
18 Nov 2020 #1,131
Means the front seat of a vehicle on the passengers side.

Shotgun wedding

Duh!

The idea

you wrote gun WTF? You should have add all those if that what you meant.
mafketis 37 | 10,886
18 Nov 2020 #1,132
you wrote gun WTF?

My clue was, and I quote..... 'strzelba!' a translation of 'shotgun!'... others tried translating that as gun or pistol...
Chemikiem
18 Nov 2020 #1,133
saying "shotgun!" is a way of claiming the position in a vehicle next to the driver

Yeah, I've heard of riding shotgun before but I wouldn't have got this idiom. Good one!

Cat`s tears/ weeping means what?

A miniscule amount of something? Next to nothing?
Chemikiem
18 Nov 2020 #1,135
I always thought crocodile tears were an insincere show of sorrow. I didn't mean it in that way. I'm not sure I'm right maf, we'll have to wait for Paw to return,,,,,
OP pawian 223 | 24,375
18 Nov 2020 #1,136
You said it as if I had taken a long break like Ziem. haha

Yes, it is a tiny amount of sth. E.g, the baby has pooped as much as the cat would weep.

Gumi offered a new idiom in 1130
Chemikiem
18 Nov 2020 #1,137
You said it as if I had taken a long break like Ziem

Yeah, I suppose you could take it like that....

cats' music

Caterwauling.
OP pawian 223 | 24,375
18 Nov 2020 #1,138
Yes.

If we stick to cats, here is a poet`s saying:
the older the cat, the harder its tail.

What does it mean?
Chemikiem
18 Nov 2020 #1,139
Some things get better with age, are valued more?
gumishu 13 | 6,140
18 Nov 2020 #1,140
never heard this saying but I guess it is a bit indecent


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