IdiomNaturePolish

wąchać kwiatki od spodu

Meaning: To be dead; to push up daisies.

Literally: To sniff flowers from below

Example: “Gdybym tak jeździł jak on, już bym wąchał kwiatki od spodu.” — If I drove like him, I'd be pushing up daisies by now.

English equivalent: To push up daisies

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: Someone lying in the grave sees the flowers on it from underneath. Wąchać kwiatki od spodu (to smell the flowers from below) is a joking euphemism for being dead, like English "push up daisies" and French manger les pissenlits par la racine (to eat dandelions by the root).

More Polish idioms

  • rany koguta A mild exclamation expressing surprise, frustration, or emphasis.
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  • 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.
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