IDIOMY
Idiom
Translation
Examples
(all) hot and bothered
zmieszany, zakłopotany lub zły
Jim gets all hot and bothered when I mention his ex-girlfriend.
(not) give a toss
nie obchodzić, nie interesować (w przeczeniach)
I don't give a toss that you are tired. You are supposed to finish it today! (nic mnie nie obchodzi, że...)
(to be) a bit rusty
'przykurzony' (o umiejętnościach, znajomości np. języka itp.)
My apologies if my Spanish is a bit rusty, I hope you understand the intention of the message.
(with your) hands down
z palcem w nosie, z łatwością
Don't stay up all night, his tests are so easy you'll pass them with your hands down.
a babe in the woods
bezradny jak dziecko
When it comes to dealing with computers, he's a babe in the woods. He definitely needs someone to help.
a backseat driver
pasażer bez przerwy pouczający kierowcę samochodu
I hated travelling with my parents - my dad took it patiently but, to tell the truth, my mum was a terrible backseat driver.
a bad patch
zła passa
Last season we hit a bad patch of form and suddenly we were out of the Champions League.
a big noise
wielka szycha
This guy is said to be a big noise in drug trafficking. The police have been after him for a long time.
a big-head
zarozumialec, ważniak
Tom told me that all his friends are less intelligent than he is. He's such a big head!
a black look
gniewne, pełne nienawiści spojrzenie
Mary gave me a black look when I entered the office.
a blue movie/film
film pornograficzny
Blue movies are rated X, which means that only people of 18 and over can watch them.
a blue-eyed boy
ulubieniec
Tom was always jealous of his younger brother because he knew Jack was their mother's blue-eyed boy.
a bone of contention
przedmiot sporu, kość niezgody
The choice of place for holiday turned out to be a real bone of contention in their family this year.
a bundle of nerves
kłębek nerwów, bardzo nerwowa osoba
After all the problems I've had recently I'm just a bundle of nerves now.
a cold fish
ktoś niewrażliwy
He's such a cold fish - you can never see any emotions on his face.
a counsel of despair
akt rozpaczy
Her desicion to leave the country after she was fired was a counsel of despair.
a cutting/biting remark
cięta, złośliwa uwaga
Finally, I was fed up with his biting remarks about my size and I left him.
a day off (to have/take/get)
mieć wolne
I think I am overworked - I certainly need a day off!
a dog's life
psie życie
Without family and friends, it's a dog's life.
a drop in the ocean
kropla w morzu
We're grateful for your help although it's just a a drop in the ocean of our needs.
a far cry from sth
zupełnie inny, nie mający nic wspólnego
This house is a far cry from the one we were shown yesterday; it's much nicer.
a flash in the pan
słomiany zapał; fiasko; klapa
He wants to learn foreign languages, but it may be only a flash in the pan.
a gap year
rok przerwy pomiędzy szkołą średnią a studiami podczas którego podróżuje się i zdobywa doświadczenie
I'm considering taking a gap year, to develop myself and increase my self-confidence
a golden handshake
duża odprawa
Ms. Robinson retired early because her company offered her a golden handshake.
a little something
drobnostka, niedrogi prezent
I want to get a little something for Ben and visit him in the hospital.
a man of few words
ktoś małomówny
Michael is a man of few words, but when he speaks, people listen.
a pack of lies
stek kłamstw
What Jack told me about you is a pack of lies; I don't believe him.
a piece of cake
nic trudnego, pestka
Climbing that mountain was a piece of cake. No problem at all.
a ray of hope
promyk nadziei
1. There is a ray of hope for humanity afterall.2. Thank you so much for the ray of hope that shines in your message.
a sharp tongue
cięty język
I like her, but sometimes her sharp tongue irritates me so much.
a shot in the dark
strzał w ciemno, na chybił trafił
It was just a shot in the dark. I don't know what the correct answer is.
a sitting duck
łatwy cel
Old people who walk after dark in the dimly lit streets are sitting ducks.
a slap in the face
policzek
It was a real slap in the face when she didn't answer my phone calls.
a slip of the tongue
przejęzyczenie
It was just a slip of the tongue but in politics it may cost you your career.
a slowcoach
guzdrała
Jimmy! Hurry up, please! You're such a slowcoach! Can't you move faster?
a stag party/night
wieczór kawalerski
Forget about your wives! It's strictly a stag party.
a stone's throw
rzut beretem
Oh, come on! Go and get me some drinks, the shop is just a stone's throw from here.
a tough nut to crack
twardy orzech do zgryzienia
This project turned out to be a tough nut to crack.
a vicious circle
błędne koło
He thinks he is a failure so he drinks. The more he drinks the more he fails. It's a vicious circle.
a walk of life
sfera społeczna
He has friends from many different walks of life
Achilles heel
pięta Achillesa
Speaking in public is my Achilles heel; I'm simply too shy.
after your own heart
bratnia dusza
She loves books too - she's a woman after my own heart!
against all odds
pomimo wszystkich przeciwności
Against all odds, he won that contest and became a well-known actor.
agony column
"napisz do Kasi", kolumna z poradami dla czytelników
I just love to read the agony column in teenage magazines. Their problems are sometimes so weird.
all of a sudden
nagle
All of a sudden the lights went out.
all year round
przez cały rok
Most of the hotels are open all year round.
all's well that ends well
wszystko dobre, co się dobrze kończy
The weather was terrible when we arrived in France but after two days it changed completely and we had a wonderful holiday. All's well that ends well.
an arm and a leg
mnóstwo pieniędzy
That car is great but it cost me an arm and a leg.
an early bird
ranny ptaszek
My father is an early bird, he gets up at 5.30 every day.
as a matter of fact
prawdę mówiąc, w rzeczywistości
As a matter of fact, I love him very much.
as deaf as a post
głuchy jak pień
I'm afraid there's no point in talking to my grandfather; he's as deaf as a post.
as dull as ditchwater
nudny jak flaki z olejem
The guy I'm going to the wedding with is nice enough, but as dull as ditchwater. I had better take my walkman...
as fresh as a daisy
wyglądający i czujący się rześko
Although I came back late from the party last night I was as fresh as a daisy in the morning.
as hard as nails
twardy, nie okazujący emocji
My supervisor is very kind to me but my boss is as hard as nails.
as poor as a church mouse
biedny jak mysz kościelna
We have to help her; she's as poor as a church mouse.
as sick as a dog
bardzo chory
I was as sick as a dog after eating a hamburger from a fast food restaurant yesterday.
as stubborn as a mule
uparty jak osioł
I was trying to make my father go to a doctor at last but he's as stubborn as a mule.
ask for trouble
prosić się o kłopoty
Not wearing a seat belt is just asking for trouble.
at all costs
za wszelką cenę
We must win at all costs.
at death's door
na łożu śmierci
My poor grandmother is very ill now and I'm afraid she's at death's door.
at first sight
na pierwszy rzut oka
At first sight he seems to be a very competent person.
at heart
w głębi duszy
She said she trusted him but at heart she knew he was lying.
at large
na wolności, na swobodzie
There are fewer and fewer exotic species living at large.
at random
losowo
The burglar didn't have any plan - he just entered the shop and grabbed things at random.
at sb's expense
1. na czyjś rachunek; 2. czyimś kosztem
The trip is at company's expense.We are always making jokes at Mark's expense.
at short notice
w ostatniej chwili, bezzwłocznie
I'm so sorry I ask you for help at such short notice but I didn't realize this project would be so demanding.
at the crack of dawn
magara2