johnny reb 48 | 8129
15 Sep 2025 #781
in direct English translation
Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation - part 2
show how the sausage is made?
I would say that this definition is similar but the details are often unpleasant rather than just hidden.
give away trade secrets"?
I think this one is closest in meaning.
to make someone gray
To deceive someone and put them in a very difficult situation?
in direct English translation
You really don't understand the idea behind the thread.... "to make someone gray" is an English translation of a Polish idiom.
To deceive someone and put them in a very difficult situation?
Yes! You are right... zrobić kogoś na szaro is the Polish original....
Nie będą się z tobą patyczkować - What does it mean?
atyczkować - What does it mean?
Et tu, Aliene?
the idea is to _translate_ idioms and see if people can guess the meaning....
Bangs head against keyboard.....
_translate_
"Patyczkować" cannot be translated directly
"Patyczkować" cannot be translated directly
That's the challenge!
Some possible ways...
I'm not gonna stick around with you.
I'm not gonna handle you with sticks.
Surely others exist....
I'm not gonna stick around with you.
I'm not gonna handle you with sticks.
Surely others exist....
Bargepoles.
Nie będą się z tobą patyczkować - What does it mean
To be clear, Google's translation is incorrect.
They'll throw the book at you..
They'll throw the book at you
that's what they'll do jak się nie będą patyczkować. 🙂
jak się nie będą patyczkować
They're not gonna stick you around!
Has this been solved or not because I'm slightly confused....
So is it not to do with sticks/sticking at all in any context?
I was doing a lot of reading and found 'they'll throw the book at you', but I don't think that's right.
Google's translation is incorrect.
So is it not to do with sticks/sticking at all in any context?
I was doing a lot of reading and found 'they'll throw the book at you', but I don't think that's right.
I was doing a lot of reading and found '
More like, they're not gonna go easy on you or 'they're not gonna treat you with kit gloves'
The origins seem to be a case of semantic transfer.... to not treat someone like a fragile object/stick... I don't get that part.
they're not gonna go easy on you or 'they're not gonna treat you with kit gloves'
Sort of fits with the meaning I found.
to not treat someone like a fragile object/stick... I don't get that part.
To be honest, the more I read the more confused I got with this one.
. to not treat someone like a fragile object
Yes, that's the meaning of the phrase "nie patyczkować."
Alternatively, in certain situations you can use "don't be shy."
Ok, next task - "Pierdolenie kotka za pomocą młotka" what does it mean?
Ps.
Forget Google.
Pierdolenie kotka za pomocą młotka
Dude... not even trying to translate it takes the fun out of it....
How hard is 'fvkking a cat with a hammer' be?
If the literal translation doesn't make sense.... that's the whole point!
Pierdolenie kotka za pomocą młotka" what does it mean?.
Probably something between using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and breaking a butterfly on a wheel.
using a sledgehammer to crack a nut
No.
literal translation doesn't make sense.... that's the whole point!
Not sure why there appears to be so much confusion with the thread title........
'fvkking a cat with a hammer
Waffling on and on about nothing in particular with very little information conveyed?
In that case, maybe flogging a dead horse or taking coals to Newcastle.
A task done that is largely pointless. Like the two above or pounding sand and grinding water.
And milking a bull.
There's also pìssing in the wind however that's subtly different.
A task done that is largely pointless. Like the two above or pounding sand and grinding water.
And milking a bull.
There's also pìssing in the wind however that's subtly different.
A task done that is largely pointless
Yes, this is a pointless discussion or action that does not bring results.
a pointless discussion or action that does not bring results
You're describing 95% of this forum....
Two easy ones....
A joke with a beard.
And
To i piątak. (this one is a bit loose - it's the idea that counts not the exact words...)
A joke with a beard.
And
To i piątak. (this one is a bit loose - it's the idea that counts not the exact words...)
A joke with a beard
A really old joke.
Not sure about the other
You're describing 95% of this forum....
That's the whole point of forums. What results would you expect here? lol!
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make face like a sh't cat in the wild.
A really old joke.
Yes.
I'm not sure if the other was/is used much in the UK...
the other
If I heard it in a sentence, I'd understand it as "something and nothing".
What about neither a dog nor an otter?
I'd understand it as "something and nothing".
Not really the meaning.... I saw it once translated in subtitles as 'jak cholera' which fit that context but maybe not most others....