wziąć z sufitu
Meaning: To invent something without basis; to make something up or fabricate it.
Language: Polish
Literally: to take from the ceiling
Category: The Absurd
Origin: The ceiling is a place from which nothing real can be drawn; the image is of pulling something from nowhere, from emptiness.
More idioms — The Absurd
- в долгах как в шелках — To be deeply and hopelessly in debt.
- ездить в Тулу со своим самоваром — To do something entirely pointless or unnecessary, bringing what is already abundant in t…
- сражаться с ветряными мельницами — To struggle against imaginary or futile enemies; to waste effort on impossible causes.
- полтора землекопа — An absurdly small group; a nonsensical quantity that defies rational measure.
- на честном слове и на одном крыле — Succeeding or surviving by the barest margin, through luck or desperation rather than sol…
- ври больше — An expression of dismissive disbelief; an ironical way of saying someone's story is uncon…
More Polish idioms
- manna z nieba — An unexpected blessing or fortunate arrival of something greatly needed.
- stracić twarz — To suffer a loss of respect, dignity, or social standing, especially through shame or fai…
- grać na zwłokę — To stall or delay deliberately in order to buy time until one is ready.
- zimne nóżki — A cold dish of meat in aspic or jelly.
- wziąć w łapę — To take a bribe or to accept money corruptly.
- wziąć na ambit — To challenge someone to prove their courage or honor; to call someone's bravery into ques…
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