IdiomDaily Life
Czech
CzechPřijít s křížkem po funuse
Meaning: To arrive uselessly too late.
Literally: To come with a little cross after the funeral
Example: “Nabídka pomoci po dokončení stěhování je jako přijít s křížkem po funuse.” — Offering to help once the move is finished is a day late and a dollar short.
English equivalent: A day late and a dollar short
Origin: A cross was carried at the head of a funeral procession, so someone who arrives with the cross after the funeral is over has come too late for it to be any use. The phrase is said of help or advice that comes too late. No first use is documented.
Equivalents in other languages
Korean: 소 잃고 외양간 고친다 (So ilkko oeyanggan gochinda) Literally: Fix the barn after losing the cow
Polish: Musztarda po obiedzie Literally: Mustard after dinner
Persian: نوشدارو بعد از مرگ سهراب (Nushdaroo ba'd az marg-e Sohraab) Literally: The remedy after Sohrab's death
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 Czech idioms
- Dělat dlouhý nos To thumb your nose; to mock.
- Mít máslo na hlavě To have a guilty conscience or something to hide.
- Je to za vodou To be out of trouble; home free.
- Dělat z komára velblouda To blow something tiny wildly out of proportion.
- Spadnout z višně To be naive and clueless about how things really work.
- Mít kliku To be lucky.
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