IdiomThe Absurd
Polish
Polishrobić dobrą minę do złej gry
Meaning: To grin and bear it; to pretend a bad situation is acceptable.
Literally: To make a good face at a bad game
Example: “Przegrał wybory, ale robił dobrą minę do złej gry.” — He lost the election but put on a brave face.
English equivalent: To put on a brave face
Equivalents in other languages
English: put on a brave face
Origin: A calque of French faire bonne mine à mauvais jeu, from card games: a player dealt a bad hand keeps a cheerful face so the others will not guess it. Robić dobrą minę do złej gry (to make a good face at a bad game) means pretending all is well when it is not.
More Polish idioms
- zmieszać z błotem To harshly criticize or verbally attack someone; to tear them apart.
- rozłożyć ręce To give up; to throw up one's hands in admission of defeat or inability to act.
- bez owijania w bawełnę Bluntly and directly, without softening or sugarcoating one's words.
- strzyc uszami To prick up one's ears; to listen intently.
- zamiatać pod dywan To conceal or hide a problem rather than address it directly.
- cud miód Something delicious, wonderful, or excellent.
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