IDIOMY:

Gdybym miała po krótce opisać czym są idiomy w języku angielskim, powiedziałabym, że są to

powiedzonka, zwroty i związki frazeologiczne. Znajdują się tu takie powiedzonka jak: bułka z masłem,
pasować jak pięść do nosa, czuć się jak piąte koło u wozu, zrobić coś z palcem w nosie, to było
proste jak zabranie dziecku lizaka, czuć się jak dziecko we mgle, napalić się jak szczerbaty na
suchary, wyjść jak Zabłocki na mydle, raz na ruski rok itd.

Te powiedzonka nie mają dosłownych tłumaczeń, bo gdy wklepuje się te zdania w tłumacza
wychodzą niezłe kwiatki.

Np. a babe in the woods bezradny jak dziecko.

A co na to tłumacz google?

To w ogóle nie o to chodziło!!! Dlatego, żeby unikać takich wpadek w tłumaczeniach, należy się tych
zwrotów nauczyć, albo co najmniej się z nimi zapoznać.

(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/bzdur

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

There is a ray of hope for humanity after all.

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

he 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

hat 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 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 o brzasku, o świcie

We have to set off at the crack of dawn tomorrow - it gets scorching hot during the day and travelling
then is not possible.

at the eleventh hour w ostatniej chwili

We were so nervous that he would miss the train but he, as usual, arrived to the railway station at
the eleventh hour.

at the top of your voice na całe gardło

They are always discussing things at the top of their voices. It's so annoying.

at Times czasami, niekiedy

I think everyone gets a bit lonely at times.

be a wet blanket psuć nastrój

Please somebody make Jane change the subject! With her stories from her childhood, she can be a
real wet blanket.

be at one's best być w najlepszej formie

There is no doubt he is to win this race - he is at his best now!

be in force obowiązywać

Don't worry about that - that rule is no longer in force in our office.

be in the air nierealne, niepewne

The initial plans to publish this book in May are quite in the air.

be in the pay of sb być na usługach kogoś (tajnych)

Hmmm... I have the impression that some data have been leaking from the company since Hans was
employed here... Do you think he may be in the pay of our competitor?

be in the red mieć debet (w banku)

It has been announced that the company will still be in the red for the rest of this year.

be in two minds about sth być w rozterce, wahać się

Well, I don't know. I am still in two minds about buying this car. It's second-hand you know...

be left stranded być zostawionym samemu sobie (z kłopotami), utknąć

That party was a disaster! Everybody was having fun and I was left stranded with that boring guy who
sat next to me.

be on the air być na antenie

Quiet everybody! Three, two, one ... You are on the air!

be on the crest of a wave przeżywać dobry, pomyślny okres; być "na fali"

The Rasmus are currently on the crest of a wave, they are extremely popular among teenagers.

be out of order nie działać

I am sorry but this telephone is out of order. You have to go round the corner.

be quits (with somebody) być kwita

You give me 10 zloty and we're quits.

be rolling in money mieć mnóstwo pieniędzy, spać na pieniądzach

They dream of the day when they'll be rolling in money.

be under the illusion łudzić się

I think Mark's under the illusion that he will be the new director.

be worlds apart bardzo się różnić, coś jak pochodzić z różnych światów

I really like this book but I guess it is worlds apart from what the real situation is.

beat about/around the bush

owijać w bawełnę, unikać przejścia do sedna sprawy

playStop beating about the bush and tell me what the problem is!

play beat somebody black and blue

zbić kogoś na kwaśne jabłko

playTommy always threatens his little sister that he will beat her black and blue if she tells their
parents about his marks at school.

play before someone's (very) eyes

na czyichś oczach

playShe took my bicycle before my eyes; she didn't even ask me for it!

play bite/snap sb's head off

odpyskować

playI only asked if I could borrow the book. There's no need to bite my head off!

play blind date

randka w ciemno

playSheila is so desperate in her search for a husband - she's decided to have a blind date!

play Boxing Day

w Anglii - drugi dzień Świąt Bożego Narodzenia

playBoxing Day - the day after Christmas, which is a public holiday in the UK, or the first Monday after
Christmas if Christmas is on Friday or Saturday. It is called 'Boxing Day' because traditionally it was
the day when servants were given a 'Christmas box'

play budding scientist

obiecujący naukowiec

playThe Academy authorities think he is a budding scientist so he is pampered with grants and
scholarships.

play burst out laughing

wybuchać śmiechem

playThe movie was so funny that finally even Susan burst out laughing.

play by all means

wszelkimi sposobami, za wszelka cenę

playBy all means this guy should work for us - he is the best specialist I have ever seen!

play by all means

oczywiście

playBy all means we will try to answer any questions, so feel free to ask.
play by courtesy of

dzięki uprzejmości, za zgodą

playThese pictures are being shown by courtesy of CNN.

play by profession

z zawodu

playMy mother works as an English teacher but she's an economist by profession.

play call it a day

zakończyć coś, przerwać, fajrant

playWhy don't we call it a day and go home?

play catch sb red-handed

złapać kogoś na gorącym uczynku

playThe trial won't take long as the defendant was caught red-handed.

play change a fly into an elephant

robić z igły widły

playGee! She doesn't have an evening dress?! It's just friends' party - why does she have to change a
fly into an elephant!
play change hands

przechodzić z rąk do rąk

playThe heavyweight title is about to change hands once again.