26 września obchodzimy Europejski Dzień Języków. Z tej okazji przygotowałam wpis z idiomami, w których używamy nazw krajów lub narodowości.
1. It’s all Greek to me – This phrase is used when you don’t understand or have no knowledge on a topic (to dla mnie chińszczyzna) I tried to watch a TV show about physics last night, but I gave up. It was all Greek to me.
2. When in Rome do as Romans do – When you’re visiting a different country, you should behave like the people who live there (kiedy wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one)
I don’t eat seafood usually but on holiday, well, when in Rome…
3. Take French leave – To leave work without permission; an unauthorized, unnoticed, or unceremonious departure; act of leaving secretly or in haste (wyjść po angielsku, wyjść bez pożegnania, wyjść bez uprzedzenia, zdezerterować). The driver had taken French leave.
4. Pardon my French – This expression is used to apologise usually before, or after, we say something rude or impolite: a swear word (przepraszam za przekleństwa). Pardon my French, but I’m really angry!
5. Go Dutch – To split the bill in a restaurant between everyone who ate together (dzielić się wydatkami po równo, płacić po równo, płacić za siebie (np. w restauracji). Julie said she wouldn’t let a man pay for her meal on a first date. She prefers to go Dutch.
6. Dutch courage – Drinking a little alcohol to give you courage (bravery/confidence) before you have to do something (odwaga po pijanemu). I think I’ll have a glass of whiskey for Dutch courage before I ask that girl if she wants to dance with me.
7. Talk for England – When someone can talk for hours and hours (dużo mówić, dużo gadać, mówić bez końca, być gadułą). Jack is so talkative – he can talk for England!
8. A Mexican Standoff – This expression is used when two groups can’t agree on what to do next. Often used to describe a situation in business where there is gridlock (sytuacja bez wyjścia, impas). There seems to be a Mexican standoff in the talks as neither the buyer or seller can agree on a price.
9. Chinese whispers – This expression originally comes from a children’s game. It is often used as a metaphor for mistakes and inaccurate information which comes from rumours or gossip (głuchy telefon). All this talk about the President resigning is just Chinese whispers. There’s no truth to this rumour at all.
10. Not for all the tea in China – To say that you would not do something for all the tea in China means that you would not do it under any circumstances (za nic w świecie). I wouldn’t take that job for all the tea in China.
11. Indian Summer – A period in late autumn when the weather is unusually warm (babie lato)
Much as I love this Indian Summer, I wish we had this warm weather in the summer rather than in October.
12. Too Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians – this is often used to describe a company where there are too many managers and not enough people doing the actual work (sami szefowie i nikogo do pracy). The trouble with that company is that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
Który idiom, wyrażenie najbardziej Ci się podoba? Czy znasz jakieś inne idiomy, wyrażenia, w których używamy narodowości, nazw krajów?Jeśli podoba Ci się ten wpis, będzie mi bardzo miło, jeśli:
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