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Post by jeanne on Oct 5, 2016 22:09:48 GMT 1
One doesn`t know - to laugh or to weep. One says this when a occurrence is so ridiculous you don't know whether to laugh at its ridiculousness, or to weep because it is so stupid or irrational... |
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 5, 2016 22:24:23 GMT 1
One doesn`t know - to laugh or to weep. One says this when a occurrence is so ridiculous you don't know whether to laugh at its ridiculousness, or to weep because it is so stupid or irrational... Yes! Yes! Yes! I suppose there is a similar saying in English but don`t know how it really sounds. |
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Post by jeanne on Oct 5, 2016 23:02:24 GMT 1
One says this when a occurrence is so ridiculous you don't know whether to laugh at its ridiculousness, or to weep because it is so stupid or irrational... Yes! Yes! Yes! I suppose there is a similar saying in English but don`t know how it really sounds. Yes, you are right, it is VERY similar: "I don't know whether to laugh or to cry..." Do you think that is really considered an idiom? It just sounds like a statement of fact...an expression of one's feelings. |
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 8, 2016 20:20:52 GMT 1
Yes! Yes! Yes! I suppose there is a similar saying in English but don`t know how it really sounds. Yes, you are right, it is VERY similar: "I don't know whether to laugh or to cry..." Do you think that is really considered an idiom? It just sounds like a statement of fact...an expression of one's feelings. No, it isn`t an idiom but I couldn`t resist after PiS rejected the citizen draft bill about abortion ban. |
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Post by jeanne on Oct 8, 2016 23:40:24 GMT 1
Yes, you are right, it is VERY similar: "I don't know whether to laugh or to cry..." Do you think that is really considered an idiom? It just sounds like a statement of fact...an expression of one's feelings. No, it isn`t an idiom but I couldn`t resist after PiS rejected the citizen draft bill about abortion ban. Ah yes, it makes perfect sense now why you chose it! May I mention once again how much I hate politics? |
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 16, 2016 1:37:44 GMT 1
An elephant has trodden on his/her ear.
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Post by jeanne on Oct 18, 2016 22:04:48 GMT 1
An elephant has trodden on his/her ear. They are not listening? |
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 19, 2016 18:31:25 GMT 1
An elephant has trodden on his/her ear. They are not listening? No, they are not able to listen.  More exactly, they are totally deprived of musical or singing talent. |
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Post by jeanne on Oct 19, 2016 19:57:40 GMT 1
More exactly, they are totally deprived of musical or singing talent. Oh, okay, that makes sense! I like that one. In U.S. we might say he/she has a tin ear. Or, they can't carry a tune in a basket. |
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 19, 2016 20:27:23 GMT 1
In U.S. we might say he/she has a tin ear. Or, they can't carry a tune in a basket. Beautiful!
The country woman didn`t have a problem, ..... ( so she bought herself a little pig). |
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Post by jeanne on Oct 19, 2016 21:38:26 GMT 1
In U.S. we might say he/she has a tin ear. Or, they can't carry a tune in a basket. Beautiful!
The country woman didn`t have a problem, ..... ( so she bought herself a little pig). Life was boring so she created a problem to make it more interesting? |
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 19, 2016 22:06:20 GMT 1
Beautiful!
The country woman didn`t have a problem, ..... ( so she bought herself a little pig). Life was boring so she created a problem to make it more interesting? Almost!!! In the saying the creation of the problem is not intentional, the problem comes as a surprise. |
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Post by jeanne on Oct 19, 2016 23:36:44 GMT 1
Life was boring so she created a problem to make it more interesting? Almost!!! In the saying the creation of the problem is not intentional, the problem comes as a surprise. These Polish sayings can be very obscure!! |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 7, 2017 23:33:01 GMT 1
Well...thanks for the celebration, but you did give me a ridiculously easy one so I would get it!  But still, a win is a win, even if it's a wimpy one! I gave easier riddles to people and they weren`t able to guess. So you must be a realy brilliant one, don`t deny it. You will have it like in a bank. PS. bank - financial institution. |
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Post by jeanne on Feb 7, 2017 23:46:17 GMT 1
Well...thanks for the celebration, but you did give me a ridiculously easy one so I would get it! But still, a win is a win, even if it's a wimpy one! I gave easier riddles to people and they weren`t able to guess. So you must be a realy brilliant one, don`t deny it. You will have it like in a bank. PS. bank - financial institution. Can you tell me what "it" refers to? |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 7, 2017 23:48:09 GMT 1
I gave easier riddles to people and they weren`t able to guess. So you must be a realy brilliant one, don`t deny it. You will have it like in a bank. PS. bank - financial institution. Can you tell me what "it" refers to? It may mean anything. |
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Post by jeanne on Feb 7, 2017 23:51:34 GMT 1
Can you tell me what "it" refers to? It may mean anything. Does it mean a "sure thing", like you can count on it? |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 7, 2017 23:55:03 GMT 1
Does it mean a "sure thing", like you can count on it?  |
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Post by jeanne on Feb 8, 2017 0:10:35 GMT 1
Does it mean a "sure thing", like you can count on it? Thanks for the celebration, but it wasn't that difficult. We say, "You can take that to the bank," like money in the hand is a sure thing... |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 0:25:09 GMT 1
Thanks for the celebration, but it wasn't that difficult. We say, "You can take that to the bank," like money in the hand is a sure thing... Wow, I didn`t know it. Thanks. Did I ever propose this?
Once in a Russian year. |
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Post by jeanne on Feb 8, 2017 0:34:08 GMT 1
Thanks for the celebration, but it wasn't that difficult. We say, "You can take that to the bank," like money in the hand is a sure thing... Wow, I didn`t know it. Thanks. Did I ever propose this?
Once in a Russian year. It's similar to our saying "Once in a blue moon." (a blue moon is a second full moon within the same month), so I'm guessing it means something that happens rarely. If I'm correct, why a Russian year? What's the significance of that? |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 1:03:46 GMT 1
It's similar to our saying "Once in a blue moon." (a blue moon is a second full moon within the same month), so I'm guessing it means something that happens rarely. If I'm correct, why a Russian year? What's the significance of that? Yes, two explanations for once in a Russian year - it could originate from the old Russian Julian calendar which was delayed by two weeks compared to Gregorian one and lasted 13 months. People imagined that the Russian year was longer. - Russian winter is severe and long. Hence, little time is left to do important things. |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 1:04:59 GMT 1
Idioms so far Make somebody into a horse - ? To drill somebody a hole in a stomach. ? A roll with butter. Don`t divide skin on the bear. To make eggs from somebody. Something is heaven and earth. 50 zlotys doesn`t walk. To read a book from plank to plank. 1. To tear cats with somebody. 2 To hit somebody from a leaf. To spit into your chin.  ? E.g., to buzz sb To have flies in one`s nose. Don`t call the wolf out of the forest. Throwing peas onto the wall. to let sb into raspberries. The wrap around cotton. You will go away on amphibian. Take yourself into the fist Intestines/bowels are playing a march I will be in the socket! An elephant stamped on someone`s ear To blow on the cold. A sinking person catches at a razor. Let the steam out of your mouth. To make bigos (hunter`s cabbage stew) With the flight of a lightning. To take sth for a good coin. Let the devils snatch it/you/him/her/them! One raisin. You can steal horses with him/her/them. to promise pears on a willow tree. to let sb go with bags/cases. He`s a guy with bones. What is the connection of gingerbread to a windmill? Somebody hasn`t dropped from under a magpie`s tail. He`s a guy with large eggs. One doesn`t know - to laugh or to weep. An elephant has trodden on his/her ear. The country woman didn`t have a problem, ..... ( so she bought herself a little pig). You will have it like in a bank. |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 1:05:46 GMT 1
To sit like in a Turkish sermon
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Post by jeanne on Feb 8, 2017 1:21:41 GMT 1
To sit like in a Turkish sermon Having never sat in a Turkish sermon, I have no point of reference, so I'm having a really difficult time with this one... |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 1:41:19 GMT 1
To sit like in a Turkish sermon Having never sat in a Turkish sermon, I have no point of reference, so I'm having a really difficult time with this one... It means to understand nothing of what is being said/lectured/presented. |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 16:53:01 GMT 1
To sell sb the Netherlands
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Post by jeanne on Feb 8, 2017 21:31:46 GMT 1
To sell sb the Netherlands To talk someone into doing something stupid? Here we say we sell them the Brooklyn Bridge. |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 8, 2017 21:43:35 GMT 1
To sell sb the Netherlands To talk someone into doing something stupid? Here we say we sell them the Brooklyn Bridge. Are you sure you got it right? I know this phrase because in Poland it functions as sell sb the Sigismund Column (in Warsaw) but it certainly doesn`t mean to talk someone into doing something stupid. |
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Post by jeanne on Feb 9, 2017 0:20:22 GMT 1
To talk someone into doing something stupid? Here we say we sell them the Brooklyn Bridge. Are you sure you got it right? I know this phrase because in Poland it functions as sell sb the Sigismund Column (in Warsaw) but it certainly doesn`t mean to talk someone into doing something stupid. Sorry, I didn't explain myself clearly...it means someone is gullible. If someone were very gullible and believed a "story", then we would say, "If you believe that, I know a bridge in Brooklyn you might like to buy..." |
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