IdiomAnimals
Polish
PolishRobić kogoś w konia
Meaning: To make a fool of or trick someone.
Literally: To make someone into a horse
Example: “Sprzedawca zrobił nas w konia z tą gwarancją.” — The salesman led us up the garden path with that warranty.
English equivalent: To lead someone up the garden path
Origin: Making someone into a horse is fooling or exploiting them. Polish Wiktionary gives both senses: treating someone dishonestly or mockingly, and deceiving them by taking advantage of their naivety. The phrase is colloquial, with the near synonym zrobić kogoś w balona (to make someone into a balloon); its origin is not documented.
Equivalents in other languages
Russian: Водить за нос (Vodit' za nos) Literally: To lead by the nose
Hungarian: Lóvá tesz valakit Literally: To make a horse of someone
English: lead someone up the garden path
More Polish idioms
- Mieć węża w kieszeni To be very stingy.
- Wyjść jak Zabłocki na mydle To lose out badly on a deal.
- co ślina na język przyniesie Careless, thoughtless speech; whatever comes to mind without reflection or substance.
- błędne koło A logical fallacy or impossible situation in which the solution requires solving the prob…
- podbijać bębenka To flatter someone or egg them on; to feed someone's vanity.
- róg Amaltei An abundant and inexhaustible source of wealth or plenty.
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