Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation - part 2

Not sure if you understand the name of the thread... originally about translating Polish sayings/idioms directly into English and seeing if people could identify them like to look for wind in a field and say what they meant...

A reverse riddle is to do the same in reverse... translate an English expression into Polish. Muszę rozmawiać z kimś o koniu is that. Interestingly, while doing research before posting... the expression has a different... range(?) of meanings in the US and UK....

I do, however that idiom does exist in English too; same imagery, same meaning.

So alike that I did wonder if it was a reverse riddle. How I'd say in conversation in Polish is a different matter, in fact I don't have a green idea...

Well muszę porozmawiać z kimś o koniu is an English idiom that I translated to Polish though apparently US and UK usage differ a bit...

Yes, I've only ever heard going/been/off to see a man about. Basically a politer MYOB.

In the US (ime, ymmv) it's only used by men to announced that they're going to take a p*ss, usually only said in bars or parties.

A variation on the original theme: Polish translation of an expression that has (slightly, somewhat) different meanings in the US and UK....

How is ciemny koń different in the two countries?

That too. Thanks for posting that phrase; it took me right back to a long-forgotten happy childhood memory about unexpectedly being given a pet kitten. The happiness is tempered a bit because a nasty neighbour put rat poison in his saucer of milk. And they wonder why people end up cynical about life.


The English one of course I know however the Polish one not so much.

As you know, you hear something and understand it because it's in context but don't recall it productively.

Too late to edit.

I wonder if that neighbour is still alive. If he is he must be about 85. I was 9 then and he had all the power. Not any more, since I'm now the strong one and he's weak. If he's still alive I can track him down and break all four limbs quickly and easily. It would probably kill him. Tempting....

Do you? I hear it used in British contexts where I would not use it in America....

So English, unless England has seceded from Britain (which would be logistically difficult in geographic terms since we would need a very big stonemasonry saw, a large tow rope and more than a few heavy ships) since I was last there a few days ago.

Location is everything with English.... In the US 'dark horse' pretty much only refers to someone in a competitive event (election or sports) who could do better than anyone expects or who did better than anyone expected...

In the UK (England etc?) I've heard it used of someone revealing a skill or talent the other person hadn't realized they have... I don't think I've ever heard it used that way in US English.

Not heard of that one Iron.


In my neck of the woods, 'I have to see man about a dog' is more commonly used.


Exactly this. I haven't heard any other definition of 'dark horse' to be honest.

That would make sense in the U.K. too.


Very often, but it can also be someone who is secretive about their personal life or has had some big news that they chose not to share.


Mine too. It looks like a senior moment while writing. Always see a man about a dog.

That one reminds me of some of the cruder things you hear in Yorkshire. Sometimes when kids ask their mum what's for dinner or tea, a reply can be "shıt with sugar on".

There are cruder ones than that though....

I've heard that one down south too.

A new one although probably too easy.

From the rain to beneath the gutter

roughly the same as z patelni do ognia

Or, od deszczu pod rynnę

Yes! From a bad situation to one that is worse.

Another:

Wake up with the hand in a potty

Z deszczu pod rynnę

Yes, that is the exact phrase I was thinking of.

I always liked that and it sounds as cute in English.

Potty is a cute word and also means slightly crazy. It's short for Chamber Pot which can also be called a Gazunder (because it goes under the bed).

The Polish word nocnik is nice. It was funny when they built the extension to metro line one in Warsaw a few years ago. The final station is called Mlociny, although in fact it's at least a mile from Mlociny village. They were going to name it after one of the streets it's on, Nocznickiego but people objected because it sounded like nocnik.

When I was new to PL and learning the language from scratch, I tried to tell someone I'm a Northerner. So made up a neologism, "północnik" and couldn't figure out why they thought it was so funny.

Similar tozamknąć drzwi stodoły po tym jak koń wybiegł ???

What about z rękawów do rękawów w trzech pokoleniach?

not really

Yeah, not super close... can't think of a really close one... there's obudź się i poczuj kawę but that's before, not after....

Not exactly, but I think there is a similarity. Maybe Gumishu can explain it better given that he's Polish.

To wake up with the hand in a potty means that one found oneself in a situation where it was too late to change or counter something, whereas closing the barn door after the horse has run out means that someone has tried to prevent something from happening, but it's too late, the damage has already been done.

In the UK, the phrase would be 'locking the stable door after the horses have bolted'.

About something being undeserved?

Not precisely to me.... it's less about prevention and more about doing something that might be a good idea but when it's already too late or... mustard after dinner as the Poles say.


Only in a very, very oblique way.... the primary meaning is different.

to wake up with a hand in a potty means to find yourself in an unpleasant/unconvenient/undesireable situation because of your inaction, negligence or ignorance

Is this to do with declining family wealth across three generations? When wealth is earned in the first generation, the ensuing entitlement means it's squandered by the third generation.


Actually, yes. That describes it well.

yeah... the original (apparently from Scotland) is 'shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations'... the idea apparently is that 'shirtsleeves' refers to someone who can't afford a jacket (or never needs one).

A very popular expression in the US where it happens again and again and again... a lot of US class warfare are wealthy people trying to make sure their unspectacular children will be able to keep the family wealth without competition from hoi polloi..

What about your reason, my peace