IdiomFood & Drink
Polish
PolishMusztarda po obiedzie
Meaning: Too late to be of any use.
Literally: Mustard after dinner
Example: “Przeprosiny po tygodniu to musztarda po obiedzie.” — An apology a week later is a day late and a dollar short.
English equivalent: A day late and a dollar short
Origin: Mustard is served with meat, so mustard brought after dinner arrives when it can no longer be of any use. Polish uses the phrase for anything that comes too late; no source found dates it, and the claim that it goes back to the 18th century is not documented. Musztarda itself came from Italian mostarda and is found in Polish from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Korean: 소 잃고 외양간 고친다 (So ilkko oeyanggan gochinda) Literally: Fix the barn after losing the cow
Persian: نوشدارو بعد از مرگ سهراب (Nushdaroo ba'd az marg-e Sohraab) Literally: The remedy after Sohrab's death
Czech: Přijít s křížkem po funuse Literally: To come with a little cross after the funeral
French: Arriver comme les carabiniers Literally: To arrive like the carabineers
English: a day late and a dollar short- English: shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
More Polish idioms
- Bułka z masłem Something very easy; a piece of cake.
- Wiercić komuś dziurę w brzuchu To nag someone relentlessly.
- Czuć do kogoś miętę To have a crush on someone.
- Być nie w sosie To be in a bad mood.
- Robić kogoś w konia To make a fool of or trick someone.
- Mieć węża w kieszeni To be very stingy.
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