Czeski film

Meaning:

Lit. “a Czech movie”, which is used to point that no one understands a certain situation, why something happens and who benefits from it. The expression was actually coined based on a specific movie: “Nikdo nic neví” or “Nobody Knows Anything”, a comedy from 1947 filmed before communists took over of Czechoslovakia. It became popular in Poland in the sixties alongside more recent movies coming from the southern neighbor which sometimes were too avant-garde to be clearly understandable.

The expression is sometimes used to describe a movie with a poor screenplay, in which the plot is unclear, however, this is rare and not justified.

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Sprzedać kosę

Meaning:

Lit. “to sell a scythe” which translates into cutting somebody with a knife. The expression comes from criminal slang which has referred to knives as scythes for at least half a century now. Anyone using this expression either has a criminal background or wants make such an impression badly – which is especially true for some rappers or football hooligans who normally tend to be ordinary or even good boys but feel to appear as grim reapers from time to time.

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Musztarda po obiedzie

Meaning:

Lit. “mustard after dinner” which means that a key/desirable element of your meal is being delivered too late and does not make any sense on its own, as no one eats spoonfuls of mustard. This can be roughly translated as “too little too late” and if somebody direct this comment at you, they no longer have use of what you bring now and are unhappy with your performance.

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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.

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Czarna mafia

Meaning:

Lit. “black mafia” which in Poland does not refer to an African criminal organization but to the Catholic Church. It is by far the largest religious community in the country and has a strong presence and influence on public life, especially in rural areas. Catholic priests wear black cassocks as their everyday work suits hence the expression. It has a strong negative overtone to it and is mainly used by quite numerous Polish anticlericals when criticizing the Church’s alleged wealth, hypocrisy and interference in politics.

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