IdiomBody & Senses
Polish
Polishrozłożyć ręce
Meaning: To give up; to throw up one's hands in admission of defeat or inability to act.
Literally: To spread one's hands
Example: “Mechanik tylko rozłożył ręce: silnik do wymiany.” — The mechanic just threw up his hands: the engine needs replacing.
English equivalent: To throw up one's hands
Equivalents in other languages
English: throw up one's hands
Origin: Spreading one's arms wide, palms up, is the gesture of someone who can do nothing more. Rozłożyć ręce is admitting helplessness, and is often said of officials or experts who cannot explain or solve something. No particular story lies behind it.
More Polish idioms
- 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.
- wąchać kwiatki od spodu To be dead; to push up daisies.
- rany koguta A mild exclamation expressing surprise, frustration, or emphasis.
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