IdiomAnimals
Polish
Polishrany koguta
Meaning: A mild exclamation expressing surprise, frustration, or emphasis.
Literally: Rooster's wounds
Example: “Rany koguta, ale ulewa!” — Holy cow, what a downpour!
English equivalent: Holy cow!
Equivalents in other languages
French: La vache ! Literally: The cow!
English: holy cow!
Origin: A mild oath made by swapping a holy word for a harmless one: rany boskie (God's wounds, meaning Christ's) is the old exclamation, and rany koguta (the rooster's wounds) keeps its shape while avoiding the blasphemy. This is the usual explanation, though no source documents why the rooster was chosen.
More Polish idioms
- stracić głowę To act without rational thought; to abandon self-control and sound judgment.
- włożyć kij w szprychy To obstruct or sabotage someone's plans or efforts.
- wziąć z sufitu To invent something without basis; to make something up or fabricate it.
- manna z nieba An unexpected blessing or fortunate arrival of something greatly needed.
- stracić twarz To suffer a loss of respect, dignity, or social standing, especially through shame or fai…
- grać na zwłokę To stall or delay deliberately in order to buy time until one is ready.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Hygge The warm contentment of simple, cozy pleasures shared with people you love — candles, bla…
- Komorebi The dappled light that filters through leaves and scatters across the ground.
- Schadenfreude The guilty little pleasure of taking satisfaction in someone else's misfortune.
Keep exploring