
IdiomAnimals
Croatian
Ići niz dlaku
Meaning: To go smoothly and agreeably.
Literally: To go along the fur
Example: “Preseljenje je išlo niz dlaku.” — The move went off without a hitch.
English equivalent: To go off without a hitch
Origin: Dlaka is an animal's hair, and stroking it the way it grows is smooth and pleasant. Ići niz dlaku is going along with someone, humoring them. Its opposite, uz dlaku (against the hair), is rubbing someone the wrong way.
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: Liscio come l'olio Literally: Smooth as oilEnglish: go off without a hitch
More Croatian idioms
- Glavom kroz zid To stubbornly attempt the impossible.
- Okrenuti ploču To abruptly change your tune.
- Mlatiti praznu slamu To engage in pointless talk or effort.
- Bacati drvlje i kamenje To hurl furious abuse at someone.
- Prodavati maglu To peddle empty promises and con people.
- Pasti s kruške To be clueless and out of touch.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Love asks faith, and faith asks firmness. Loving requires you to trust despite uncertainty, and maintaining that trust demands stea…
- One may sooner fall than rise. Damage spreads faster than repairs; decline requires less effort than recovery.
- If a man once fall, all will tread on him. Misfortune invites exploitation; those already disadvantaged face renewed abuse from othe…
Keep exploring