Meaning:
Lit. “to have a (strong) back”. In Polish, this expression has at least two metaphorical meanings. In most cases, this means: to have a strong political backing/support in your organisation, powerful friends that will help you in need.
Category: Politics
Jak woda po kaczce
Meaning:
Lit. “like water down a duck” is usually combined with the verb “spływać” – to flow down/away. The result means that a person is not at all concerned by a potentially adverse event.
Dostać kopa w górę
Meaning:
Lit. “to get a kick upward” means to get promoted at a company. Sometimes, meant ironically, this might mean the person in question now sits in a higher tier but practically has less political power in the organisation.
Przyspawany do stołka
Meaning:
Lit. “welded to the chair” – about a person only interested in keeping their high post at an organisation and the privileges related to that. Such a person spends long years holding such a position but not delivering any value to the company/government institution.
Robić (komuś) wodę z mózgu
Meaning:
Lit. “to turn (someone’s) brain into water”. A popular way to say that one person manipulates or lies to another in order to influence his/her opinion and benefit from their wrong decision. Often referred to business practices but also deceit in relationships.