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Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation


OP pawian  221 | 25151
15 Nov 2020   #1111
Strzelba!

Do you mean to rifle through sth?
Chemikiem
17 Nov 2020   #1113
Is it anything to do with a pistol?
mafketis  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1114
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   #1115
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  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1116
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...
Ironside  50 | 12353
17 Nov 2020   #1117
It's

gun it?
look at those guns?
mafketis  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1118
No. Remember 'gun' or 'pistol' are not good translations of strzelba!
mafketis  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1120
More like "Shotgun!"

What does it mean and what's the origin?
johnny reb  47 | 7614
17 Nov 2020   #1121
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  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1122
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  47 | 7614
17 Nov 2020   #1123
Shotgun wedding by the father of the bride when she is a little bit pregnant.
mafketis  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1124
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  221 | 25151
17 Nov 2020   #1125
Shotgun seat? Funny, I would never guess it. :):) I know only backseat driver idiom. .

Cat`s tears/ weeping means what?
mafketis  38 | 10945
17 Nov 2020   #1128
What about cries of.... passion?
gumishu  15 | 6174
17 Nov 2020   #1129
Cat`s tears/ weeping

do you mean cats' music
Ironside  50 | 12353
18 Nov 2020   #1130
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  38 | 10945
18 Nov 2020   #1131
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   #1132
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?
mafketis  38 | 10945
18 Nov 2020   #1133
Aha.... like crocodile tears?
Chemikiem
18 Nov 2020   #1134
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  221 | 25151
18 Nov 2020   #1135
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   #1136
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  221 | 25151
18 Nov 2020   #1137
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   #1138
Some things get better with age, are valued more?
gumishu  15 | 6174
18 Nov 2020   #1139
never heard this saying but I guess it is a bit indecent
OP pawian  221 | 25151
18 Nov 2020   #1140
Some things get better with age, are valued more?

Yes, what things exactly??

never heard this saying but I guess it is a bit indecent

I found it when I studied Polish Reneissance poetry.
Only a bit.

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