utrzymać język za zębami
Meaning: To keep silent and refrain from speaking.
Language: Polish
Literally: to hold tongue behind teeth
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The image is of literally controlling one's tongue by keeping it behind one's teeth to prevent it from moving and causing speech.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- mieć głowę na karku — To be sensible, intelligent, and capable of thinking for oneself.
- trzymać buzię na kłódkę — To keep silent and not reveal a secret.
- policzyć na palcach jednej ręki — To be very few in number; countable on one hand.
- uzbroić się w cierpliwość — To be patient or to gather one's patience.
- rozłożyć ręce — To give up; to throw up one's hands in admission of defeat or inability to act.
- stracić nerwy — To lose one's emotional control and become agitated or frantic.
More Polish idioms
- papierek lakmusowy — A decisive test that reveals the true nature or quality of something.
- nic a nic — Not at all; not in the slightest.
- wyrzucić pieniądze w błoto — To waste money on something worthless or futile.
- prosty jak drut — Very easy or straightforward.
- dusza towarzystwa — The most entertaining or lively person at a gathering.
- list gończy — An arrest warrant, especially a public wanted poster circulated to apprehend a fugitive.
From our proverbs
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- There is no rule without an exception. — Absolute rules inevitably encounter situations where their strict application breaks down…
- Love rules his kingdom without a sword. — Affection maintains order and obedience more effectively than force or coercion ever coul…