A Polonized version of the English "What's going on?" or "What's up?". Used colloquially to ask what the deal is or what is happening.

Literally "about Marynia's [ass]." Used to describe a conversation that is about nothing important, trivial, or completely off-topic. "Talking about nothing in …

Literally "to smash (it) against the edge of an [ass]." Used to describe something completely useless, worthless, or a plan that has failed miserably. "Not …

Literally "by a small hair." Means "by a whisker" or "nearly." Used when something almost happened but didn't.

Literally "a beret's throw away." Means a very short distance. Similar to "a stone's throw."

Literally "talk of the wolf." The Polish equivalent of "speak of the devil." Used when someone you were just talking about appears.

Literally "to handle (someone/something) like an egg." Means to treat someone with extreme care, caution, or to be overly delicate. "To walk on eggshells."

Literally "to get by with (just) the taste." Means to have to do without something you desired, or to be left with nothing but the craving. "To be left …

A rhyming, dismissive phrase for empty promises. Often followed by "…a głupiemu radość" (and joy for the fool). "Empty promises," "fine words butter no …

Literally "to promise pears on a willow tree." Means to make impossible or unrealistic promises. "To promise the moon."

Literally "to throw mud at." Means to slander or defame someone's reputation. "To sling mud."

Literally "to wake up with one's hand in a chamber pot." Means to realize too late that a situation has gone wrong or that you've been left behind. "To be …

Literally "a little eye in the head." Refers to someone's favorite person or most prized possession. "The apple of one's eye."

Literally "from Annas to Caiaphas." Means being sent from pillar to post, or being bounced around between different authorities/offices without getting anything …

Literally "from the cap." Means something is random, nonsensical, out of the blue, or completely irrelevant. "Totally random."

Literally "from board to board." Means to read a book from cover to cover, or to know something thoroughly from start to finish.

Literally "your head doesn't ache from abundance." Means that having too much of something (especially something useful or free) is never a problem. "You can't …

Literally "from a Saxon to a Leszczyński." Describes a collection of things that are totally mismatched, inconsistent, or a chaotic mix of styles. "A …

Literally "of seven sorrows." A sarcastic way to describe someone who is incompetent, pathetic, or poorly skilled at what they do. "A pathetic …

Literally "from the great bell." Means something happens very rarely, only on very special or festive occasions. "Once in a blue moon."

Literally "to drain the little potatoes." A humorous, slightly childish, and very common euphemism for urinating. "To take a leak."

Literally "to separate the grain from the chaff." Means to distinguish between what is valuable and what is worthless.

Literally "to take away from one's own mouth." Means to deny oneself necessities (usually food or money) in order to give them to someone else. "To scrimp and …

Literally "torn away from reality." Describes someone who is out of touch with real life or living in a dream world. "Out of touch."

Literally "to check off with a pipe (fajka)." Means to do something just to get it over with, or to tick something off a list without much care. "To check …

Literally "a reheated cutlet." Refers to an old idea, story, or joke that is being presented as something new. "Old news," "rehashed ideas."

Literally "to reveal the cards." Means to reveal one's true intentions, plans, or secrets. "To show one's hand."

Literally "to put away in the storage room/lumber room." Means to discard something as obsolete, outdated, or no longer useful. "To consign to the scrap heap."

Literally "to refuse obedience." Used when a machine, tool, or part of the body stops working correctly. "To break down," "to fail," "to give out."

Literally "to decline through all the cases." Means to talk about something constantly, in every possible context, or to analyze it from every angle.

Literally "to judge away from honor and faith." Means to condemn someone utterly, to strip them of their reputation, or to treat them as an outcast. "To …

Literally "to throw off the ponytail/tail." A colloquial, slightly irreverent way to say "to kick the bucket" or "to die."

Literally "to turn the cat by its tail." Means to twist the facts, misinterpret someone's words to suit one's own argument, or to shift the blame.

Literally "to turn the cat by its tail." Means to twist facts, misrepresent a situation, or use a distorted argument to favor oneself. "To twist things around." …

Literally "a victim of fate." Describes a clumsy, helpless person who is constantly beset by minor misfortunes. "A loser," "a sad sack."

A dismissive, playful interjection used to downplay a mistake, an exaggeration, or a problem. "Oh, come on," "never mind that," "don't make a big deal out of …

Literally "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Expresses the principle of proportional revenge or retribution.

Literally "to pee on it." A very common colloquialism meaning to ignore something, to not care, or to "forget it." "To blow it off," "to screw it."

Literally "to bypass with a wide arc." Means to stay far away from someone or something, or to avoid a topic/place entirely. "To give something a wide berth."

Literally "ploughing on fallow land." Describes a very difficult, exhausting task that shows little to no immediate progress or results. "Uphill battle," …

Literally "the last board of rescue." Refers to the very last resort or the final hope in a desperate situation. "Last resort," "the final lifeline."

Literally "to sharpen one's appetite." Means to look forward to something with great anticipation or to build up desire for something. "To whet one's appetite." …

Literally "donkey's little meadow." Refers to a very easy, nursery slope for beginner skiers, or metaphorically, a basic level of any skill.

Literally "sheep's rush." Refers to herd mentality or following the crowd blindly without thinking. "Bandwagon effect."

Literally "to wrap (someone) around one's finger." Means to have total control or influence over someone.