Meaning:
Lit. “the four letters”, which in Polish always stands for “dupa” – “the ass”. So the expression is an euphemism employed in order not to use the vulgar word. In a similar fashion “the f-word” is in English.
Lit. “the four letters”, which in Polish always stands for “dupa” – “the ass”. So the expression is an euphemism employed in order not to use the vulgar word. In a similar fashion “the f-word” is in English.
Lit. “to be yesterday’s”. A colloquial way to point that a person is in bad shape after alcohol overdose last day/night.
Lit. “to count sabres”. This phrase is mainly used in the context of politics and means: to estimate your own faction’s power before an important parliamentary voting. This might as well include convincing potential naysayers – with threats, promises or both.
Lit. “to hang dogs on someone” which means to slander, vilify, depreciate someone, to accuse this person of deplorable deeds. This expression can be applied to people as well as institutions, in various contexts, and will be understood by most Polish people.
Lit. “to hold one’s tongue behind the teeth” – to keep a secret, to keep one’s lips sealed. Used especially when there is a secret indeed. But can also mean a general quality of a laconic and/or distrustful person.