Polish Idioms
A curated set of 63 idioms in Polish — literal translations, real meanings, and where each one comes from.
- Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy — Not my problem; I'm not getting involved. Literally: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
- Gdzie raki zimują — To be in serious trouble; to learn a harsh lesson. Literally: Where the crayfish spend the winter.
- Musztarda po obiedzie — Too late to be of any use. Literally: Mustard after dinner.
- Rzucać grochem o ścianę — To plead with someone who will not listen. Literally: To throw peas at the wall.
- Bułka z masłem — Something very easy; a piece of cake. Literally: A roll with butter.
- Wiercić komuś dziurę w brzuchu — To nag someone relentlessly. Literally: To drill a hole in someone's belly.
- Czuć do kogoś miętę — To have a crush on someone. Literally: To feel mint towards someone.
- Być nie w sosie — To be in a bad mood. Literally: To be out of the sauce.
- Robić kogoś w konia — To make a fool of or trick someone. Literally: To make someone into a horse.
- Mieć węża w kieszeni — To be very stingy. Literally: To have a snake in your pocket.
- Wyjść jak Zabłocki na mydle — To lose out badly on a deal. Literally: To come out like Zabłocki on soap.
- Gdzie kucharek sześć, tam nie ma co jeść — Too many cooks spoil the broth. Literally: Where there are six cooks, there's nothing to eat.
- trzęsienie ziemi — A sudden, violent upheaval or catastrophic disruption in society, politics, or personal circumstances. Literally: shaking of the earth.
- co ślina na język przyniesie — Careless, thoughtless speech; whatever comes to mind without reflection or substance. Literally: whatever saliva brings to the tongue.
- błędne koło — A logical fallacy or impossible situation in which the solution requires solving the problem itself, trapping one in endless repetition. Literally: false circle.
- ciągnie swój do swego — People naturally gravitate toward and associate with those similar to themselves. Literally: one's own draws to one's own.
- podbijać bębenka — To flatter someone in an attempt to win their favor. Literally: to beat the drum.
- róg Amaltei — An abundant and inexhaustible source of wealth or plenty. Literally: horn of Amalthea.
- kupować kota w worku — To purchase something without examining it first, risking getting a poor deal. Literally: to buy a cat in a sack.
- zapadać się pod ziemię — To wish to disappear from shame or mortification. Literally: to sink into the earth.
- na kolanie — Done quickly, crudely, or without proper care; improvised and shoddy. Literally: on the knee.
- utrzymać język za zębami — To keep silent and refrain from speaking. Literally: to hold tongue behind teeth.
- papierek lakmusowy — A decisive test that reveals the true nature or quality of something. Literally: litmus paper.
- nic a nic — Not at all; not in the slightest. Literally: nothing and nothing.
- mieć głowę na karku — To be sensible, intelligent, and capable of thinking for oneself. Literally: to have head on neck.
- wyrzucić pieniądze w błoto — To waste money on something worthless or futile. Literally: to throw money into mud.
- trzymać buzię na kłódkę — To keep silent and not reveal a secret. Literally: to hold one's mouth on a padlock.
- prosty jak drut — Very easy or straightforward. Literally: straight as wire.
- dusza towarzystwa — The most entertaining or lively person at a gathering. Literally: soul of society.
- policzyć na palcach jednej ręki — To be very few in number; countable on one hand. Literally: to count on the fingers of one hand.
- list gończy — An arrest warrant, especially a public wanted poster circulated to apprehend a fugitive. Literally: a chasing letter.
- biała trucizna — Refined sugar, especially when consumed in excess, likened to an addictive and harmful substance. Literally: white poison.
- studnia bez dna — An endless source of trouble or expense; something that consumes resources without limit or satisfaction. Literally: a well without a bottom.
- pi razy oko — A rough, approximate measure with little precision; give or take. Literally: pi times the eye.
- ptasi móżdżek — A stupid or scatterbrained person. Literally: bird's brain.
- pojechać do Rygi — To vomit. Literally: to go to Riga.
- uzbroić się w cierpliwość — To be patient or to gather one's patience. Literally: to arm oneself with patience.
- kończ waść, wstydu oszczędź — A plea to someone to stop and spare the speaker further humiliation, even if it means accepting defeat. Literally: end yourself, spare shame.
- światełko w tunelu — A sign of hope or improvement after a long period of hardship or darkness. Literally: small light in a tunnel.
- krzyżyk na drogę — Good riddance; a dismissive farewell wishing someone away. Literally: little cross on the road.
- robić dobrą minę do złej gry — To grin and bear it; to pretend a bad situation is acceptable. Literally: to make a good face at a bad game.
- zmieszać z błotem — To harshly criticize or verbally attack someone; to tear them apart. Literally: to mix with mud.
- rozłożyć ręce — To give up; to throw up one's hands in admission of defeat or inability to act. Literally: to lay down one's hands.
- bez owijania w bawełnę — Bluntly and directly, without softening or sugarcoating one's words. Literally: without wrapping in cotton.
- nie dać żyć — To make someone's life so difficult and burdensome that they cannot function normally. Literally: to not give life.
- strzyc uszami — To prick up one's ears; to listen intently. Literally: to crop ears.
- zamiatać pod dywan — To conceal or hide a problem rather than address it directly. Literally: to sweep under the carpet.
- cud miód — Something delicious, wonderful, or excellent. Literally: wonder honey.
- wąchać kwiatki od spodu — To be dead; to push up daisies. Literally: to sniff flowers from below.
- rany koguta — A mild exclamation expressing surprise, frustration, or emphasis. Literally: rooster's wounds.
- stracić nerwy — To lose one's emotional control and become agitated or frantic. Literally: to lose nerves.
- stracić głowę — To act without rational thought; to abandon self-control and sound judgment. Literally: to lose one's head.
- włożyć kij w szprychy — To obstruct or sabotage someone's plans or efforts. Literally: to put a stick in the spokes.
- wziąć z sufitu — To invent something without basis; to make something up or fabricate it. Literally: to take from the ceiling.
- manna z nieba — An unexpected blessing or fortunate arrival of something greatly needed. Literally: manna from heaven.
- stracić twarz — To suffer a loss of respect, dignity, or social standing, especially through shame or failure. Literally: to lose face.
- grać na zwłokę — To stall or delay deliberately in order to buy time until one is ready. Literally: to play for delay.
- zimne nóżki — A cold dish of meat in aspic or jelly. Literally: cold little feet.
- wziąć w łapę — To take a bribe or to accept money corruptly. Literally: to take in the paw.
- wziąć na ambit — To challenge someone to prove their courage or honor; to call someone's bravery into question. Literally: to take onto one’s pride.
- wziąć na bajer — To deceive someone or con them into believing something false. Literally: to take on a trick.
- wziąć na barki — To assume responsibility for something or take on a burden. Literally: to take on the shoulders.
- pijany jak świnia — Extremely intoxicated or drunk. Literally: drunk as a pig.
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