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


jon357  73 | 24817
11 Jun 2025   #691
And pewnego razu though maybe not as frequent
OP Feniks  1 | 975
12 Jun 2025   #692
Thanks for the information guys, I haven't heard any Polish fairy tales so I was a bit stuck with that one.

The only thing that fits is "dawno, dawno temu...".

That one makes more sense to me.
mafketis  42 | 11651
21 Jun 2025   #693
New reverse riddle!

pakować upał
OP Feniks  1 | 975
21 Jun 2025   #694
To carry a gun?
mafketis  42 | 11651
21 Jun 2025   #695
To carry a gun?

Yes... too easy....

Maybe also easy.... when do people saydiabeł bije swoją żonę?
jon357  73 | 24817
21 Jun 2025   #697
Isn't that a Deep South thing about sunshine through the rain?

A sort of thank heavens for small mercies ting.
mafketis  42 | 11651
21 Jun 2025   #698
Isn't that a Deep South thing about sunshine through the rain?

Basically, other terms for rain while the sun shines include 'sun showers' and 'rainshine'.... I prefer 'sun shower'. The devil is beating his wife is more of a folk explanation... (there are others... something involving a horse but I forget the specifics).
OP Feniks  1 | 975
9 Jul 2025   #699
Bit crude and sure it's way too easy but here we go:

In the arse you've been, sh!t you've seen.
mafketis  42 | 11651
15 Jul 2025   #700
In the arse you've been, sh!t you've seen.

You don't know what you're talking about.

Now a regional one I just learned....

What is duck food ?
OP Feniks  1 | 975
16 Jul 2025   #701
You don't know what you're talking about.

Exactly :)

Now a regional one I just learned....

From Poland or the US? I've heard of duck soup but not duck food.
mafketis  42 | 11651
16 Jul 2025   #702
From Poland

Yes. It's a regional name for a well known dish in Poland.
OP Feniks  1 | 975
16 Jul 2025   #703
I'm sure it's not czernina but that's what I instinctively thought of......
jon357  73 | 24817
16 Jul 2025   #704
What is duck food ?

Something like "throwing them scraps" in English?
gumishu  15 | 6353
16 Jul 2025   #705
duck food is probably food that is utterly bland and only used to fill oneself
mafketis  42 | 11651
16 Jul 2025   #706
duck food is probably food that is utterly bland

No. It's a regional name for a dish that is very well-known in Poland (by a name that's different from how it's known internationally or in its country of origin) ... and one of my favorites when it's done well.
jon357  73 | 24817
16 Jul 2025   #707
A dish with corn?
mafketis  42 | 11651
16 Jul 2025   #708
A dish with corn?

Not a canonical ingredient though some might add it...
gumishu  15 | 6353
16 Jul 2025   #709
@mafketis
Russian salad?
mafketis  42 | 11651
16 Jul 2025   #710
Russian salad?

Yes!

My source: A great twitter account about regional vocabulary in Polish

x.com/Swietlan/status/1945219833395659258

Apparently in some other regions the same expression is used for noodles and white cheese....
OP Feniks  1 | 975
17 Jul 2025   #711
Russian salad?

Well done! I wouldn't have made that link.
gumishu  15 | 6353
17 Jul 2025   #712
the same expression is used for noodles and white cheese....

noodles with white cheese is the epitome of bland food, if you ask me (not that I thouroughly despise it though)
jon357  73 | 24817
17 Jul 2025   #713
noodles with white cheese

Pasta with soft cheese?

An odd and strangely unpleasant combination, perhaps suitable for a hospital patient with severe gastric problems.

Pop some chilli flakes and capers in and it might be ok.

My local restaurant in Warsaw (now closed) used to do pasta with a mix of processed factory cheese (the 'topiony' stuff that's you see in Poland and in Africa that doesn't go off or really need refrigerating) and jalapeños.
mafketis  42 | 11651
17 Jul 2025   #714
Pasta with soft cheese?

twaróg, crumbly.... I prefer the savory version with bits of skwarki
Lenka  6 | 3520
18 Jul 2025   #715
twaróg, crumbly

I like it from time to time. Quite usefull for quick, light meal.
jon357  73 | 24817
18 Jul 2025   #716
I like it from time to time

Me too, a lot of uses. I'd not pair it with pasta though.

It can be nice with fresh soft fruit.
Lenka  6 | 3520
18 Jul 2025   #717
I'd not pair it with pasta though.

I meant with pasta.
mafketis  42 | 11651
18 Jul 2025   #718
I meant with pasta.

It's a regional thing, not just Poland I've seen it in Hungary too.

Easy, quick and filling.

What's not to like?
jon357  73 | 24817
18 Jul 2025   #719
I meant with pasta

That's like the stuff I sometimes do in the Sahara for a quick meal due to there being nothing else.

Sort of grim.

Hungary

They have much nicer stuff there.
mafketis  42 | 11651
18 Jul 2025   #720
They have much nicer stuff there.

I wouldn't count the Hungarian version of pasta and white cheese among them... I think they only have the sweet version.

I love lots of Hungarian food but there are... limitations. They pickle many more different kinds of vegetables than Polish people do (including very small whole watermelons, plums and other things) but they pickle everything in the same sweet vinegar solution so in a way there's less variety.

And tripe was a disappointment...

But I love tarhonya (kind of like Polish żabki or very large couscous but browned in oil before being boiled).


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