What are some idioms in the Polish language that are hard to translate?

2 Comments

1. sometalhead says:

   November 1, 2009 at 4:44 pm

   Here are the idioms that are not popular in English but are popular in Polish.

   Siedzieć jak na tureckim kazaniu.
   To sit like in a Turkish sermon. (To not make head or tail of things, to not understand a thing.)

   Znaleźć się między młotem a kowadłem.
   To be caught between a hammer and an anvil. (To be caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.)

   Kłamstwo ma krótkie nogi.
   A lie has short legs. (Truth will out.)

   Zrobili mnie w konia – (I was made into a horse) – I was taken for a ride

   Suszy mnie ( I am getting dry) – I have a cotton mouth

   Zalany (Flooded) – stoned, tanked-up,

   Na gazie (on gas) – gassed, drunk

   Stary jak świat (as old as the world) – As old as the hills

   Zimny jak głaz (as cold as a stone)

   Spity jak bela (drunk as a log) Drunk as a skunk

   Kto rano wsaje, temu pan Bóg daje -(God gives to the ones that get up early)- the early bird catches the worm

   Spał twardo jak kamień (he slept soundly like a rock) – he slept like a log
2. SUZANNE CABLE says:

   April 20, 2011 at 7:19 pm

   Siedzieć jak na tureckim kazaniu.
   To sit like in a Turkish sermon. (Clueless)

   Znaleźć się między młotem a kowadłem.
   To be caught between a hammer and an anvil. (Between a rock and a hard place)

   Kłamstwo ma krótkie nogi.
   A lie has short legs – (You haven’t got a leg to stand on.))

   Suszy mnie ( I am getting dry) – I need a drink. (alcoholic beverage)

   Zalany (Flooded) – drunk, loaded

   Zimny jak głaz (as cold as a stone) (Stone cold dead)

   ;- )