Literally "moral hangover." Describes the feeling of guilt, shame, or regret after doing something wrong — not from alcohol, but from one's own behaviour. …

Literally "journalistic duck." Means a false news story, a hoax, or a fabricated report — "a canard," "a press duck," "fake news."

Literally "duck's rump." Describes a hairstyle where the hair at the back is styled to curl upward like a duck's tail — the Polish name for the ducktail or DA …

Literally "the little marriage calendar." Refers to the rhythm method of natural family planning — tracking fertile days on a calendar to avoid or achieve …

Literally "the philosopher's stone." The legendary alchemical substance said to turn base metals into gold and grant immortality — used figuratively for any …

Literally "milestone." Used both literally (a roadside marker) and figuratively for a significant achievement or turning point — "a milestone," "a landmark …

Literally "noble stone." The standard Polish term for a gemstone or precious stone — used both literally and figuratively for something rare and valuable.

Literally "cornerstone." The foundational stone of a building — used figuratively for the fundamental basis of something. "The cornerstone," "the foundation."

Literally "a candidate for the altars." Means someone who is being considered for sainthood, or more commonly, someone who behaves with such exceptional virtue …

Literally "kangaroo court." Means a mock trial or a biased, irregular proceeding where the outcome is predetermined — a sham of justice with no real fairness or …

Literally "cabbage head." An insult for someone who is stupid or dim-witted — "blockhead," "cabbage head," "numbskull."

Literally "karma comes back." Means what goes around comes around — your actions, good or bad, will return to you. Used both seriously and ironically.

Literally "to feed the troll." Means to engage with an internet troll, giving them the attention and reaction they seek — "don't feed the troll."

Literally "bargaining card." Means a trump card or leverage in negotiations — something you hold in reserve to gain an advantage. "A bargaining chip," "a trump …

Literally "coffee on the bench/table." Means to lay everything out plainly and directly, without beating around the bush — "let's get down to brass tacks," …

Literally "every monster will find an admirer." Means there is someone for everyone — no matter how strange or unattractive a person is, they will find someone …

Literally "every monster will find its fan." Means there's someone for everyone — no matter how strange, ugly, or difficult a person is, someone out there will …

Literally "everyone is the blacksmith of their own fate." Means you are responsible for shaping your own destiny — "every man is the architect of his own …

Literally "everyone is the blacksmith of their own fate." Means you are the master of your own destiny — your life is shaped by your own choices and efforts, …

Literally "every stick has two ends." Means there are two sides to every story, or every action has both positive and negative consequences.

Literally "everyone ploughs as best they can." Means everyone does things in their own way, with the means and abilities they have — "everyone does what they …

Literally "everyone scrapes their own turnip." Means everyone looks out for themselves, minds their own business — "every man for himself," "everyone tends …

Literally "when it comes to what comes to what." Means when it really matters, when push comes to shove — "when it comes down to it," "when the moment of truth …

Literally "when it comes to what to what." Means when push comes to shove — when the moment of truth arrives and things get serious, when a situation demands …

Literally "when you enter among crows, you must caw like them." Means when you join a group, you must adapt to their ways — "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." …

Literally "electoral sausage." Refers to cheap promises or handouts made by politicians before elections to win votes — "pork barrel politics," "electoral …

Literally "electoral sausage." Refers to empty campaign promises — cheap gifts, handouts, or populist pledges made by politicians to win votes, with no …

Literally "the guts are playing a march." Means your stomach is growling loudly from hunger — "my stomach is rumbling," "my belly is playing music."

Literally "the door handle has clicked shut." Means a decision has been made and cannot be undone — the door is closed, there's no going back. "The die is …

Literally "to swear like a cobbler." Means to curse constantly and colourfully — "to swear like a trooper," "to curse like a sailor."

Literally "the pharaoh's curse." Refers to the supposed curse on those who disturb ancient Egyptian tombs — used figuratively for any mysterious string of bad …

Literally "to pat poverty." Means to live in poverty, to scrape by with very little — "to be dirt poor," "to struggle to make ends meet."

Literally "kneel, nations." An ironic exclamation used when someone is showing off or boasting excessively — "bow down, everyone," said sarcastically about …

Literally "disaster of hunger." The standard Polish term for a famine — used both historically and figuratively for any severe shortage of food or resources.

Literally "disaster of abundance." The paradox of having too much of something — an overabundance that becomes a problem. "A glut," "too much of a good thing." …

Literally "brake block/pad." Used figuratively for a person or thing that slows everything down, blocks progress, or acts as a drag on others — "a dead weight," …

Literally "mutual admiration club." Describes a group of people who only praise each other and are blind to each other's faults — a clique of mutual …

Literally "adjustable key/wrench." The Polish term for an adjustable spanner or monkey wrench. Used figuratively for a versatile person or tool that can handle …

Literally "Swedish key." The Polish name for an adjustable spanner or monkey wrench — a versatile tool that can fit many different bolt sizes.

Literally "violin key." The treble clef in music notation — the symbol placed at the beginning of a staff to indicate the pitch of the notes. Also called 'klucz …

Literally "to lie as if reading from sheet music." Means to lie fluently, effortlessly, and convincingly — "to lie through one's teeth," "to lie like a rug."

Literally "lies have short legs." Means a lie won't take you far — it will be caught sooner or later.

Literally "I bow." A formal, old-fashioned greeting or farewell — "I bow to you," used as a polite hello or goodbye, especially by older generations. Can also …

Literally "to place an accent/emphasis." Means to emphasise something, to stress a particular point — "to put the emphasis on," "to highlight."

Literally "to place an accent/stress." Means to place emphasis on something — to highlight, stress, or draw attention to a particular point or aspect.

Literally "to lay one's head under the axe." Means to take a great personal risk, to put oneself in serious danger — "to put one's head on the block."

Literally "to put a line/mark." Means to mark something down, to keep a tally — often of debts, drinks owed, or favours. "To put it on the tab," "to keep …

Literally "to lay a rag on something." Means to not care at all about something, to dismiss it completely — "to not give a damn," "to not give a toss."

Literally "to lay a rag." Means to not give a damn, to not care at all — to dismiss something completely with total indifference.

Literally "to put on the tally/notch." Means to chalk something up to, to attribute something to a cause — to assign responsibility or blame to a particular …

Literally "to put on the shoulder blades." Means to defeat someone completely, to pin them down — "to floor someone," "to beat someone hands down." From …

Literally "to put on the shoulder blades." Means to pin someone to the mat, to defeat them completely — to overcome an opponent so thoroughly they are flat on …

Literally "to lay on the heart." Means to urge sincerely, to impress something upon someone — to appeal to someone's conscience or feelings with genuine …

Literally "to lay on the heart." Means to impress something strongly on someone, to urge them to take something seriously — "to impress upon someone," "to take …

Literally "to put on the table." Means to table something, to put a proposal or offer on the table — to present something formally for consideration or …

Literally "to lay pressure/emphasis." Means to emphasise, to stress, to insist on something — "to put pressure on," "to emphasise."

Literally "to place pressure." Means to emphasise, to stress, to put pressure on — used both for highlighting a point and for applying pressure to someone.

Literally "to lay in rows/flat out." Means to knock down many people or things at once — to floor them all, to defeat them wholesale. "To mow down," "to lay …

Literally "to lie as a shadow." Means to cast a shadow over something, to have a dark or negative influence on a situation — "to cast a shadow over," "to hang …

Literally "to lie down in a coffin." Means to be so exhausted, ill, or distressed that one feels close to death — "to be at death's door," "to be ready to drop …

Literally "to lie down like Rejtan." Means to make a dramatic, desperate protest — throwing oneself down to block something, refusing to move. A theatrical act …

Literally "to lie down like Rejtan." Means to make a dramatic, desperate last stand — to throw yourself in the way of something you oppose, even if it's futile. …

Literally "to lay as a corpse." Means to kill or knock down — to floor someone completely, to strike them dead. Used both literally and hyperbolically.

Literally "to lay one's ears back." Means to become submissive, to back down, to tuck one's tail between one's legs — like a dog flattening its ears in …

Literally "to lay one's ears back along oneself." Means to cower, to shrink back submissively — like a dog flattening its ears when scolded. To become meek and …

Literally "to put into ears." Means to whisper something into someone's ear, to plant an idea or rumour — "to put ideas in someone's head," "to whisper in …

Literally "a ball of nerves." Describes someone who is extremely anxious, tense, and wound up — "a bundle of nerves."

Literally "fatal woman." The Polish term for a femme fatale — a dangerously seductive woman who leads men to their ruin.

Literally "a woman of easy morals." A euphemism for a promiscuous woman or a prostitute — "a woman of loose morals," "a woman of easy virtue."

Literally "loving differently." A Polish euphemism for gay or LGBTQ+ people — "those who love differently." Used both neutrally and ironically depending on …

Literally "I love you." The most important three words in Polish — a direct, heartfelt declaration of love.

Literally "cat heads." The Polish term for cobblestones — the large, rounded paving stones used on old streets. Named for their rounded shape resembling a cat's …

Literally "Panoramix's cauldron." Refers to a magic potion or solution that fixes everything — a miraculous remedy or cure-all, like the druid Panoramix's magic …

Literally "bar code." The standard Polish term for a barcode. Used figuratively for anything that looks like a series of stripes — including a comb-over …

Literally "coconut business." Means a very profitable deal or venture — "a goldmine," "a lucrative business," "a sweet deal."

Literally "colleague by the brush." Means a fellow painter or artist — someone who shares the same craft or profession. The Polish equivalent of "a fellow of …

Literally "a colossus on clay feet." Describes something that appears powerful and impressive but has a fundamental weakness at its foundation — "a giant with …

Literally "wheel of fortune." The ancient symbol of fate's unpredictability — fortune raises some up and brings others down as the wheel turns. Used both …

Literally "rescue wheel / life ring." Both the literal lifebuoy thrown to drowning people and a figurative lifeline — something that saves you from a desperate …

Literally "flywheel." Both the mechanical flywheel that stores rotational energy and a figurative driving force — the engine behind something, the momentum that …

Literally "to scheme like a horse going uphill." Means to struggle and strain to find a solution, to rack one's brains — working hard to figure something out …

Literally "concert of wishes." A request programme — originally a radio/TV format where listeners dedicate songs. Used figuratively (often ironically) for a …

Literally "serological conflict." The medical term for Rh incompatibility between a mother and foetus — used figuratively and humorously for any deep, …

Literally "they're shoeing a horse, and the frog sticks out its leg." Means someone insignificant tries to imitate or insert themselves into something far …

Literally "a horse with its harness." Used to challenge someone — "I'll give a horse and harness to whoever can do X." Means good luck with that, I'd like to …

Literally "a horse with harness to whoever…" Means a prize or reward to anyone who can do something — implying it's so difficult that nobody will manage. "I'll …

Literally "end and full stop." Means that's the end of it, case closed, no further discussion — an emphatic declaration that something is finished and settled.

Literally "end of ends." Means in the end, ultimately, when all is said and done — "at the end of the day," "ultimately," "after all."

Literally "end of the world." Used both literally (apocalypse) and as a hyperbolic exclamation — "it's not the end of the world," or sarcastically "oh, the end …

Literally "end of this good thing." Means a pleasant situation is over — the fun is done, the good times have ended. "That's enough of that," "the party's …

Literally "end, period (full stop)." The Polish equivalent of "end of story, period." Used to signal that a decision is final and the conversation is over.

Literally "beauty contest." Used both literally and ironically — when something is described as 'not a beauty contest', it means looks or appearances don't …

Literally "even a horse would laugh." Means something is so absurd or ridiculous that it would make even a horse laugh — "enough to make a cat laugh," "utterly …

Literally "mechanical horse." A colloquial Polish term for a motorcycle or moped — "iron horse," "mechanical steed."

Literally "Trojan horse." A deceptive strategy where something harmful is concealed inside something seemingly beneficial — used both in the classical sense and …

Literally "finish, sir, spare yourself the shame." A famous line from Henryk Sienkiewicz's 'Potop' — said when someone is losing a duel and should stop before …

Literally "horse dose." Means an enormous amount — a dose so large it would be appropriate for a horse. "A massive dose," "a horse-sized portion."

Literally "horse health." Means robust, iron-clad health — the kind of constitution that never gets sick. "The health of a horse," "an iron constitution."

Literally "to kick someone who is lying down." Means to attack or criticise someone who is already down and defenceless — "to kick someone when they're down."

Literally "to kick-fight with a horse." Means to take on an opponent far stronger than yourself, to fight a losing battle — "to fight a losing battle," "to …

Literally "to kick the little table." Means to flip the table — to reject the rules of a game or negotiation entirely, to refuse to play by the established …

Literally "gold mine." Used both literally and figuratively for an extremely valuable source of something — "a goldmine," "a treasure trove."

Literally "a heap of years." Means a very long time — "ages," "donkey's years," "it's been forever." E.g. "nie widziałem cię kopę lat" — I haven't seen you in …

Literally "to kick the calendar." A colloquial euphemism for dying — "to kick the bucket," "to croak."

Literally "the crown won't fall from your head." Means doing something won't diminish you or hurt your dignity — used to encourage someone to do something they …

Literally "the crown won't fall off your head." Means it won't kill you, it won't hurt your dignity — used to tell someone that doing something humble or …

Literally "crowned head." Refers to a monarch or sovereign — a king, queen, or emperor. Used both literally and figuratively for anyone of the highest status.

Literally "hairy/shaggy thoughts." Means dirty, lewd, or indecent thoughts — "naughty thoughts," "dirty mind."

Literally "the shirt of Deianira." A gift that destroys the recipient — something given with good intentions that causes terrible harm. From Greek mythology: …

Literally "the dice have been cast." Means a decision has been made and cannot be undone — there is no going back. The Polish equivalent of "the die is cast."

Literally "bony old man." An affectionate or humorous term for a very thin, bony old man — a bag of bones. Also used as a mild insult for someone scrawny.

Literally "bone of discord." Refers to something that causes conflict between people — a bone of contention. Similar to 'jabłko niezgody' but with a more …

Literally "sacrificial goat." The scapegoat — someone who is blamed for the mistakes or sins of others and made to bear the consequences. "A scapegoat."

Literally "circle and cross." The Polish name for tic-tac-toe (noughts and crosses). Used figuratively for any pointless, going-nowhere situation — "going …

Literally "a circle of mutual admiration." Means a mutual admiration society — a group of people who constantly praise each other, often to the exclusion of …

Literally "stolen things don't fatten you." Means ill-gotten gains don't bring real benefit — what you steal or obtain dishonestly won't truly nourish or enrich …

Literally "a land flowing with milk and honey." Describes a place of abundance, prosperity, and plenty — paradise on earth. Directly from the biblical …

Literally "the land of eternal hunts." The Native American concept of the Happy Hunting Ground — used in Polish as a poetic euphemism for the afterlife or …

Literally "a land flowing with milk and honey." Means a land of abundance and prosperity — a place where everything is plentiful and life is good.

Literally "by Kraków bargain." Means splitting the difference, meeting halfway — a compromise where both sides give a little. "Let's split it down the middle," …

Literally "to steal the show." Means to outshine everyone else at an event, to attract all the attention — identical to the English "steal the show."

Literally "to circle around in the head." Means a thought, idea, or tune keeps coming back — going round and round in your mind. "To rattle around in one's …

Literally "mole's work." Describes secretive, underground activity aimed at undermining something from within — sabotage, subversion, or covert scheming. "Mole …

Literally "credit of trust." Means the benefit of the doubt — a degree of trust extended to someone before they have fully proved themselves. "A vote of …

Literally "blood is not water." Means family ties are strong and binding — you can't simply ignore or abandon your own blood. "Blood is thicker than water."

Literally "Rabbit's relatives and friends." From A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh — used ironically to describe a large, loosely connected crowd of acquaintances, …

Literally "to churn ice cream." Means to scheme, to run a shady operation, to be up to something dodgy — "to be cooking something up," "to run a racket."

Literally "to turn one's nose." Means to be fussy, to turn one's nose up at something, to express dissatisfaction or disdain — "to turn up one's nose," "to be …

Literally "to twist a rope for one's own neck." Means to dig your own grave — to take actions that will ultimately harm yourself, to create the means of your …

Literally "to twist a noose for one's own neck." Means to create problems for oneself, to dig one's own grave — acting in a way that will inevitably harm you. …

Literally "step by step." Means gradually, one step at a time — "step by step," "little by little."

Literally "crocodile tears." Insincere tears or false grief — crying to manipulate others while feeling no genuine emotion. Identical to the English "crocodile …

Literally "a drop wears away the stone." Means persistent, repeated effort eventually overcomes even the hardest obstacle — "constant dripping wears away the …

Literally "a drop wears away stone." Means that persistent, repeated effort eventually overcomes even the hardest obstacles — patience and perseverance win in …

Literally "a drop in the sea." Means an insignificantly small amount compared to what is needed — "a drop in the ocean."

Literally "a drop in the sea of needs." Means a drop in the ocean — a contribution so small relative to the need that it barely makes a difference.

Literally "the drop that overflowed the cup." The final straw — the last small thing that causes a situation to reach its breaking point after a long buildup. …

Literally "the cow that moos a lot gives little milk." Means those who talk the most often do the least — "empty vessels make the most noise," "all talk and no …

Literally "cow's pancake." A colloquial term for a cow pat — a flat disc of cow dung. Used figuratively for anything flat, messy, or worthless.

Literally "king of animals." The lion — used both literally and figuratively for whoever dominates a particular domain. "The king of the jungle."

Literally "king of life." Describes someone who lives extravagantly, enjoys every pleasure, and acts as if the world belongs to them — "living like a king," …

Literally "a kingdom for a horse." Means willing to give everything for something desperately needed in a critical moment — from Shakespeare's Richard III, …

Literally "experimental rabbit." A guinea pig — someone used as a test subject, often without full consent. "A guinea pig," "a lab rabbit."

Literally "short blanket." Describes a situation where resources are insufficient to cover all needs — if you pull the blanket up to cover your shoulders, your …

Literally "short ball." Means something is simple and straightforward — no complications, no room for manoeuvre. "Short and sweet," "plain and simple," "no …

Literally "speaking briefly." A discourse marker meaning "in short," "to put it briefly," "long story short." Used to introduce a concise summary.

Literally "a crow won't poke out another crow's eye." Means people of the same group protect each other and won't harm their own — "there's honour among …

Literally "bloody bathhouse." Describes a massacre, a scene of terrible carnage — "a bloodbath."

Literally "crystal." Used figuratively to describe a person of impeccable character and integrity — pure, transparent, beyond reproach. "A crystal-clear …

Literally "the cry of fashion." Means the latest trend, the height of fashion — "the last word in fashion," "the latest craze."

Literally "crooked snout." A rude expression for a person with an unpleasant face or attitude — "ugly mug," "crooked face." Also used to tell someone to mind …

Literally "the Lord's cross." Used as an exclamation of exasperation or to describe a heavy burden — something that is a real trial, a cross to bear. Also used …

Literally "a little cross for the road." A farewell gesture — making the sign of the cross over someone departing to wish them a safe journey. Used both …

Literally "Father Wojciech." Used ironically to describe someone who is excessively pious, moralistic, or self-righteous — a goody-two-shoes, a sanctimonious …

Literally "who would forbid the rich man." Said when a wealthy or powerful person does something extravagant or gets away with something — "money talks," "who's …

Literally "who would have thought." An exclamation of surprise at an unexpected turn of events — "who would have thought," "who'd have guessed."

Literally "whoever has a priest in the family, poverty won't prick them." Means having the right connections — especially in the Church — protects you from …

Literally "he who fights by the sword dies by the sword." Means those who use violence or aggression will eventually suffer the same fate — "live by the sword, …

Literally "he who fights by the sword dies by the sword." Means live by the sword, die by the sword — those who use violence or aggression will ultimately be …

Literally "he who doesn't risk doesn't drink champagne." Means nothing ventured, nothing gained — you have to take risks to enjoy the rewards. "No risk, no …

Literally "whoever is first is better." Means first come, first served — being first gives you the advantage. "First come, first served," "the early bird gets …

Literally "he who asks, doesn't go astray." Means asking for help or directions is never shameful — it's how you avoid mistakes.

Literally "he who rises early, God gives to him." The Polish equivalent of "the early bird catches the worm."

Literally "he who sows wind reaps a storm." Means sow the wind, reap the whirlwind — reckless or provocative actions lead to far worse consequences than …

Literally "he who sows the wind reaps the storm." Means reckless or provocative actions lead to serious consequences — "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind."

Literally "those who like each other quarrel with each other." Means that people who are close often bicker and argue — teasing and squabbling is a sign of …

Literally "whoever spends time with someone becomes like them." Means you are shaped by the company you keep — "you are who you hang out with," "lie down with …

Literally "who is this person / who goes there." An archaic-sounding phrase used to ask who someone is — often with a suspicious or challenging tone. "Who are …

Literally "whoever is alive." Means everyone, all people present — "everyone and their mother," "every living soul," "all and sundry." E.g. "uciekali kto żyw" — …

Literally "whoever is alive." Means everyone, all and sundry — used to describe a situation where absolutely everyone is involved or rushing somewhere.

Literally "one of these days / some day." Used to refer to an unspecified day in the past or future — "one day," "someday," "one of these days."

Literally "on some day." Means "one day" or "someday" — referring to an unspecified day in the past or future. A very common time expression in storytelling and …

Literally "to the honour of." A formal phrase used in dedications, toasts, and commemorations — "in honour of," "to the glory of."

Literally "as a warning." Means as a cautionary example, as a warning to others — used when presenting something as a lesson about what not to do.

Literally "cup in cup." Means exactly alike, identical — "the spitting image," "a carbon copy." Used especially of physical resemblance.

Literally "a bucket of cold water." Means something that abruptly kills enthusiasm or excitement — a harsh dose of reality. "A bucket of cold water," "a wet …

Literally "strike the iron while it's hot." Means to act at the right moment, to seize an opportunity before it passes — "strike while the iron is hot."

Literally "cuckoo on the brain." Means to have a screw loose, to be a bit crazy or eccentric — used affectionately or mockingly about someone who behaves oddly. …

Literally "cuckoo's egg." Means something unwanted or problematic that has been secretly placed in someone else's care — a problem dumped on someone who didn't …

Literally "to buy a cat in a sack." Means to buy a pig in a poke — to purchase or accept something without examining it first, only to discover it's not what …

Literally "to buy a cat in a sack." Means to buy or accept something without examining it first — to be deceived by not checking what you're getting. "To buy a …

Literally "the cock crowed." Means it's very early in the morning — before dawn, at the crack of dawn. Also used figuratively for a sudden awakening or a signal …

Literally "house hen." Describes a woman who stays at home and focuses entirely on domestic life — a homebody, a housewife in the traditional sense. Can be used …

Literally "the hen that lays golden eggs." A source of continuous wealth or profit that should not be destroyed out of greed — from Aesop's fable. "The goose …

Literally "pale little chicken!" A very mild, family-friendly expletive expressing surprise, frustration, or mild annoyance — completely safe to use in any …

Literally "water hen." The moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) — a common water bird. Used colloquially as a mild exclamation of surprise or frustration — a polite …

Literally "smoky hut / hen hut." A primitive, smoke-filled peasant dwelling without a chimney — smoke escaped through a hole in the roof. Used figuratively for …

A strong expletive expressing intense frustration, anger, or shock. One of the most powerful and widely recognised Polish curses — the equivalent of a very …

Literally "chicken face." A mild insult for someone with a blank, stupid, or expressionless face — "bird brain," "chicken face." Also used as a euphemistic …

Literally "chicken feet." The Polish term for crow's feet — the small wrinkles that form at the corners of the eyes with age. "Crow's feet."

Literally "chicken brain." Means a very small, dim, or forgetful mind — "birdbrain," "pea brain." Used to describe someone who is scatter-brained or not very …

Literally "to tempt fate." Means to take unnecessary risks, to push your luck — "to tempt fate," "to press your luck."

Literally "shod on all four legs." Means shrewd, cunning, and well-prepared for anything — "sharp as a tack," "nobody's fool," "not to be caught out."

Literally "a flower on a sheepskin coat." Describes something completely out of place, an absurd mismatch — "a square peg in a round hole," "completely out of …

Literally "April the weaver, for it weaves a little winter, a little summer." Means April weather is unpredictable and changeable — mixing cold and warm spells. …