Chłop jak dąb

Meaning:

Lit. “a man like an oak”. This expression is used to point that a guy is tall, strong, able bodied. Oaks are traditionally revered as the strongest trees and you can still find some impressive old specimens in Polish woods. Interestingly enough, some of them are given human names, for instance a certain Bartek that for many people is a symbol of Polish statehood.

Continue reading Chłop jak dąb

Kaleczyć język

Meaning:

Lit. “to cut/wound a tongue/language” as in Polish the “język” noun is used to convey both meanings. The expression is a metaphor used to describe someone speaking a language poorly and making many grammatical or lexical mistakes. You can hear it when Poles talk about a foreigner trying to use their language – or a Pole speaking bad English or German.

You could also say “skaleczył się w język” – he cut/wounded his tongue – no metaphor, just bloody facts. This sentence is pretty unequivocal due to the use of reflexive form of the verb with “się” (herself/himself).

Continue reading Kaleczyć język

Wiercić dziurę w brzuchu

Meaning:

Lit. “to drill a hole in stomach”. Fortunately it’s only a metaphor for someone’s relentless requests or supplications, the best example being children asking their mother of father to buy a new toy and then throwing a crying/screaming fit if they don’t comply. This phrase especially matches situations in which the pressure is exercised regularly over a long period.

Continue reading Wiercić dziurę w brzuchu

Sranie w banię

Meaning:

Lit. “shitting into head” as the “bania” is a slangy word for human head featured in some other expressions like “obić banię” – hit someone’s head in a brawl. You say “sranie w banię!” if you disagree strongly with someone’s opinion and want to stress that it does not stand to common sense and either the person incapable of seeing through some propaganda he or she’s been fed, or wants to cynically pass this propaganda on to you which simply will not happen.

As the expression is brief, very graphic, and even rhymes, it is a very impressive, while also extremely rude way to interrupt someone’s argument. The closest American/English translation would be simply: “bullshit!”.

Continue reading Sranie w banię