Brać z kosmosu
Listen
What it means
Literally “to take from outer space.” Modern slang meaning to make up a number or fact out of thin air — to pull a figure from nowhere with no basis in reality. Often used to call out inflated prices or baseless claims.
Vocabulary
- brać — to take
- kosmos — outer space / cosmos
Grammar note
'Z kosmosu' uses the genitive after 'z' (from). The phrase is typically used with a direct object: 'brać ceny z kosmosu' (to pull prices out of thin air).
Cultural context
A very contemporary expression — you'll hear it in online discussions, consumer complaints, and political commentary. Captures the Polish talent for colorful exaggeration.
Beginner
Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!
More Polish idioms
- Literally "one's whole life flew past before the eyes," this phrase describes the vivid, involuntary …
- Literally "for an example," na przykład is the standard Polish phrase for "for example" or "for …
- Literally "in the last/recent times," ostatnimi czasy is a common temporal phrase meaning "lately," …
- Literally "in the manner of Judas," this adverb describes acting in a treacherous, backstabbing way …