Category: Alcohol

Chodzić po ścianach

Meaning:

Lit. “to walk on walls”. This expression is used in various contexts and situations to convey lots of meanings. In the past, it seems to me, it’s been mainly used to describe a person that is in stressed out, cannot control her- or himself. Or people doing their very best to achieve something considered unrealistic. I’ve also seen instances of “chodzić po ścianach” referring to someone being extremely bored.

The meaning I’m mostly used to and it seems, a more popular nowadays, is this referring to people being completely drunk or intoxicated with some other drugs, especially if this state is reached at a house party be a couple persons in unison. The spirits (we’re not talking about a beer or two here) lift their spirits so high, that they gain superhuman powers, even if cannot remember it the day after. By the way, if you want to learn about fifty, often poetic, ways to say “drunk” in Polish, head to this page. It has them all.

Continue reading Chodzić po ścianach

Wypić nawarzone przez siebie piwo

Meaning:

Lit. “to drink the beer one has brewed”. This metaphor is used in several variants, but ultimately means the same: you need to face the consequences of your (often unwise) decisions or deeds. Funnily, it is sometimes directed at kids to teach them a sense of responsibility, even though you only can legally buy a beer in Poland once you turn eighteen. The meaning is somewhat similar to “to eat humble pie” but stresses consequences more – and humiliation less.

Continue reading Wypić nawarzone przez siebie piwo

Choroba filipińska

Meaning:

Lit. “Filipino disease”. It is a playful way to say that somebody is currently drunk or even, an alcoholic. This expression was brought to life in 2007 following a speech by former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski on an election rally. The politician made some comical remarks and his speech was not fully coherent.

Taking into account a couple other occasions on which Kwaśniewski had had similar problems, some journalists hinted that he was simply drunk. He himself rejected the accusations on a press conference and admitted taking a medication against a mysterious disease contracted during a visit to the Philippines, which he said causes the dizziness as a side-effect. Most of the public did not believe him and journalists have coined the expression and used it whenever a politician looks tipsy.

Continue reading Choroba filipińska

Między wódkę a zakąskę

Meaning:

Lit. “between the vodka and the… chaser(?)” preceded by a verb describing movement. The problem here is that the word “zakąska” in this context, or colloquially “zagrycha”, is not really a chaser as it is a bite of food you follow a shot of pure vodka with to kill its taste or/and reduce the risk of your stomach refusing to take it. It is usually a pickled cucumber, mushroom or a marinated herring but never a liquid which has another name in Polish: “przepitka”. You could simply call zakąska “a snack” but then you lose the connection to the alcoholic beverage.

Anyway, the clou of the expression is that you cut in between two inseparable parts or interrupt when one or more people are talking or disrupt another activity which is not really of your business. It is used as a means of rebuking or condemning an action and pointing a finger at the culprit.

Continue reading Między wódkę a zakąskę