How You Say?

On/Ona leje wodę!

English Phonemes: “nyeh lej VOH-d[ę]”

Literal Translation: He/She pours water!

Elegant Translation: He/She is pouring water!

English Equivalent: To waffle. To be noncommittal. 

When a pe…

Gdy kota nie ma, myszy harcują.

English Phonemes: “gdih KOH-tah nyeh mah MIH-[sz]ih har-TSOO-y[ą]”

Literal Translation: When cat not has, mice are playing.

Elegant Translation: When there is no cat, the…

Śmieje się jak głupi do sera!

English Phonemes: “SHMYEH-yeh shyeh yahk GWOO-pee doh SEH-rah”

Literal Translation: He/She/It laughs itself how idiot to cheese!

Elegant Translation: He/She/It laughs like …

Robimy dobrą minę do złej gry.

English Phonemes: “roh-BEE-mih DOHB-r[ą] MEE-n[ę] doh zwehy grih”

Literal Translation: We are making good face to bad game.

Elegant Translation: We are putting on a good f…

W Sam Akurat!

English Phonemes: “v sahm ah-KOO-raht”

Literal Translation: In alone exactly.

Elegant Translation: Exactly right.

English Equivalent: Nailed it. 

This is a neat little way to say that you di…

Jak kto głupi, to aż miło!!!

English Phonemes: “yahk ktoh GWOO-pee toh ah[sz] MEE-woh”

Literal Translation: If who stupid, then until nice.

Elegant Translation: When someone’s stupid, then it’s nice.

Eng…

Powiem prosto z mostu!

English Phonemes: “POH-wyehm PROHS-toh z MOHS-too”

Literal Translation: I will tell straight from bridge.

Elegant Translation: I will tell it straight from the bridge.

English Equi…

Co, myślisz o niebieskich migdałach?

English Phonemes: “tsoh MISH-lee[sz] oh nyeh-BYEHS-keeh meeg-DAHW-ahh”

Literal Translation: What, you are thinking about blue almonds?

Elegant Translation: What, are…

Ale naważyłem/naważyłam piwa!

English Phonemes: “AH-leh nah-vah-[Ż]IH-wehm(wahm) PEE-vah”

Literal Translation: Oh how I brewed beer!

Elegant Translation: Wow, did I brew some beer!

English Equivalent: Me…

Szukać dziury w całym.

English Phonemes: “[SZ]OO-kahch JYOO-rih v TSAH-wihm”

Literal Translation: To look for hole in whole.

Elegant Translation: To look for a hole in the whole.

English Equivalent: Nit-…

Nie mam sumienia.

English Phonemes: “nyeh mahm soo-MYEH-nyah”

Literal Translation: Not I have conscience.

Elegant Translation: I don’t have the conscience.

English Equivalent: I can’t in good conscience.

…

Tamten/tamta jest bez sumienia.

English Phonemes: “TAHM-ten/TAHM-tah nyeh mah soo-MYEH-nyah”

Literal Translation: That one is without conscience.

Elegant Translation: That person has no conscience. 

Engl…

Nie owijaj prawdę w bawełnę.

English Phonemes: “nyeh oh-VEE-yahy PRAHV-deh v bah-VEHW-neh”

Literal Translation: Not wrap up truth in cotton.

Elegant Translation: Don’t wrap the truth in cotton.

English E…

Czapka za kapelusz. 

English Phonemes: “[CZ]AHP-kah zah kah-PEH-loo[sz]”

Literal Translation: Cap for hat.

Elegant Translation: A cap for a hat.

English Equivalent: Six of one, half a dozen of another.

T…

Wezmę coś na ząb.

English Phonemes: “VEHZ-meh tsohsh nah z[ą]b”

Literal Translation: I will take something on tooth.

Elegant Translation: I will take something on the tooth.

English Equivalent: I will ni…

O ty skubańcu! 

English Phonemes: “oh tih skooh-BA[Ń]-tsooh”

Literal Translation: Oh you pecker!

English Equivalent: Hen pecker!

This is a gentle ribbing way to call someone out for being annoying, or e…

Kiedy pies szczeka to nie gryzie.

English Phonemes: “KYEH-dih pyehs [SZ][CZ]EH-kah toh nyeh GRIH-[ź]yeh”

Literal Translation: When dog barks then not bites.

Elegant Translation: When a dog is barking, i…

Przypomniała sobie babka dziewiczy wieczór.

English Phonemes: “p[sz]ih-poh-MNYAH-wah SOH-byeh BAHB-kah jyeh-VEECZ-ih VYEH-[cz]oor”

Literal Translation: She remembered herself grandmother virgin evening…

Pod żadnym pozorem.

English Phonemes: “pohd [Ż]AHD-nihm poh-ZOH-rehm”

Literal Translation: Under no pretext.

Elegant Translation: Under no pretense.

English Equivalent: Under no circumstances.

This is a h…

Wypchaj się sianem.

English Phonemes: “VIHP-haee shyeh SHYAH-nehm”

Literal Translation: Stuff self hay!

Elegant Translation: Stuff yourself with hay!

English Equivalent: Get lost! Beat it!

Another beautif…