IdiomDaily Life
Slovenian
SlovenianMetati polena pod noge
Meaning: To deliberately obstruct or sabotage someone.
Literally: To throw logs under someone's feet
Example: “Birokracija nam meče polena pod noge.” — The bureaucracy keeps throwing a spanner in the works.
English equivalent: To throw a spanner in the works
Origin: Throwing logs under someone's feet is tripping them up deliberately. The phrase means putting obstacles in someone's way, like German Knüppel zwischen die Beine werfen. No particular story lies behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
English: To throw a spanner in the works
Dutch: roet in het eten gooien Literally: To throw soot in the food
Swedish: sätta käppar i hjulet Literally: To set sticks in the wheel
Polish: włożyć kij w szprychy Literally: To put a stick in the spokes
More Slovenian idioms
- Biti ob živce To be a nervous wreck.
- Iti rakom žvižgat To go to ruin; to fall apart.
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