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Do you know these Polish phrases? Posted by on Mar 1, 2015 in Culture, Grammar

Every language has its specific expressions which are pretty difficult to understand abroad. Polish is not an exception in this field. Just have a look at some (funny) examples:

Image by PolandMFA on Flickr.com

Image by PolandMFA on Flickr.com

Wypchaj się sianem – “stuff yourself with straw” (get lost)

Wziąć coś na ząb – snack on something

Owijać prawdę w bawełnę – wrap the truth in cotton (in English, you’d say that you’re out of sorts, queasy, or upset. In Polish, you’re not in the sauce, which means that you’re in a very bad mood)

Szukać dziury w całym – looking for a hole in the whole (looking for excuses)

A jedzie mi tu pociąg/czołg? – Do I have a train / tank riding here? (it is a great reply when someone tells you something totally unbelievable)

Już po ptakach – It’s after the birds (it’s too late, and nothing can be done about the situation)

Ręce opadają – Hands are dropping (this is used to describe situations that are basically hopeless. It’s when you surrender, lose all hope, just give up. It’s similar to the English expression, “To throw one’s hands in the air”)

Być w proszku – to be in powder (if you’re expecting guests and they arrive 10 minutes early while you’re still in the shower, well then you’re still in powder, which means you are unprepared or not yet ready for something.)

Bez dwóch zdań – Without two sentences (if something is without two sentences, it means it is without a doubt, or without unnecessary discussion. For example, without two sentences, traveling is a great way to learn about other cultures.)

Czuć miętę do kogoś – To feel mint for someone (If you’re feeling mint for someone, it means you’re attracted to them, or just simply have a crush on them)

Rzucać grochem o ścianę – throw peas onto a wall (If you’re trying to persuade someone, or explaining something to someone who won’t budge or even listen to you, then you’re throwing peas onto a wall)

Być nie w sosie – to be not in the sauce (In English, you’d say that you’re out of sorts, queasy, or upset. In Polish, you’re not in the sauce, which means that you’re in a very bad mood)

 

Till next time! Do następnego razu…

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About the Author: Kasia

My name is Kasia Scontsas. I grew near Lublin, Poland and moved to Warsaw to study International Business. I have passion for languages: any languages! Currently I live in New Hampshire. I enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking and paddle boarding. My husband speaks a little Polish, but our daughters are fluent in it! I wanted to make sure that they can communicate with their Polish relatives in our native language. Teaching them Polish since they were born was the best thing I could have given them! I have been writing about learning Polish language and culture for Transparent Language’s Polish Blog since 2010.


Comments:

  1. Daniel:

    Hi Kasia,

    I love your post, this is the kind of stuff you simply don’t find in text books. I really love finding new idiomatic expressions, it helps develop my understanding of the culture at a deeper level.

    p.s. are you able to update the explanation of the phrase “Owijać prawdę w bawełnę”? It seems to be mixed up with “Być nie w sosie”.