IdiomDaily Life
Polish
Polishzamiatać pod dywan
Meaning: To conceal or hide a problem rather than address it directly.
Literally: To sweep under the carpet
Example: “Rada miasta zamiata problem korków pod dywan.” — The city council is sweeping the traffic problem under the rug.
English equivalent: To sweep something under the rug
Equivalents in other languages
English: sweep something under the rug
Origin: Sweeping dust under the carpet leaves the room looking clean while the dirt stays. The Polish phrase matches English "sweep under the carpet" and may be a loan from it; no first Polish use is documented.
More Polish idioms
- 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.
- stracić głowę To act without rational thought; to abandon self-control and sound judgment.
- 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.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
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- Złej baletnicy przeszkadza i rąbek u spódnicy People who lack skill always find something to blame.
- Mądry Polak po szkodzie People only learn to be careful after something has gone wrong.
- Na bezrybiu i rak ryba When there's nothing better, you make do with what you have.
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