IDIOMS

exp	exp	przykład
keep sth under one's hat	trzymać coś w tajemnicy	They tried to keep it under their hat but it soon became obvious that she is pregnant.
the other side of the coin	druga strona medalu	Fame has the other side of the coin as well.
make up one's mind	postanowić, zdecydować się	He finally made up his mind!
change a fly into an elephant	robić z igły widły	Gee! She doesn't have an evening dress?! It's just friends' party - why does she have to change a fly into an elephant!
easier said than done	łatwiej powiedzieć, niż zrobić	I know it's easier said than done but in my opinion you should challenge it.
on thin ice	na niepewnym gruncie	His rude answer put him on thin ice in the company.
hit the nail on the head	trafić w sedno	Right! Nothing to add! You've just hit the nail on the head!
it goes without saying	to oczywiste, nie ma dwóch zdań	Oh, Amy you should marry him! It goes without saying.
leave no stone unturned	poruszyć niebo i ziemię, zastosować wszystkie środki	I may need to leave no stone unturned but I will find this book!
put in jeopardy	narazić na niebiezpieczeństwo	As the Ambassador didn't want to put the staff in jeopardy, they were all dismissed and sent home.
cry for the moon	chcieć gwiazdki z nieba	Oh, come on! Be realistic! It's like crying for the moon! We cannot afford it.
promise wonders	obiecywać złote góry	She was very disappointed with the job. They promised wonders when they hired her but nothing came true...
self-made man	człowiek, który sam się dorobił, zrobił karierę	The idea of self-made man is one of the most important concepts in America.
read sb's hand	wróżyć z ręki	She wanted the Gypsy woman to read her hand and find out about her future.
shed blood	przelewać krew	Much blood was shed durning the war.
ups and downs	radości i smutki, zmienne koleje losu	Their relationship was full of ups and downs.
take sth for granted	przyjmować coś za rzecz oczywistą, naturalną	Never take love for granted. It has to be cherished to last.
put sb/be at a disadvantage	stawiać kogoś/być w niekorzystnej sytuacji	The fact that the company's office was moved to the different part of the town has put me at a disadvantage. Now I have to commute almost one hour to get there.
on the market	w sprzedaży, na rynku	At the moment this is the best camera on the market.
little by little	stopniowo	After the accident her strength returned little by little.
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.
if you like	jeśli masz na to ochotę	- Shall we stop for a rest? - Yes, if you like.
at all costs	za wszelką cenę	We must win at all costs.
at the top of your voice	na całe gardło	They are always discussing things at the top of their voices. It's so annoying.
burst out laughing	wybuchać śmiechem	The movie was so funny that finally even Susan burst out laughing.
catch sb red-handed	złapać kogoś na gorącym uczynku	The trial won't take long as the defendant was caught red-handed.
high and low	wszędzie	We've searched high and low for this book.
without fail	niezawodnie	The postman always comes at 10 o'clock without fail.
with the naked eye	gołym okiem	Bacteria are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
with a vengeance	z podwójną siłą	After a week of good weather winter has returned with a vengeance today.
gnash your teeth	zgrzytać zębami	1. Hell is so terrible that those who go there will weep and gnash their teeth. 2. Mary gnashes her teeth in frustration.
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.
a bad patch	zła passa	Last season we hit a bad patch of form and suddenly we were out of the Champions League.
after your own heart	bratnia dusza	She loves books too - she's a woman after my own heart!
in haste	w pośpiechu	I'm writing in haste to let you know that I won't come on Friday.
inside out	1. na lewą stronę, 2. (znać) na wylot	He's a real computer freak - he knows them inside out.
make amends	wynagradzać szkodę/szkody	He went to him and begged his forgiveness, saying he would do anything he could to make amends.
ease sb's mind	uspokajać kogoś	The doctor tried to ease his mind about his daughter's illness.
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.
out of print	wyczerpany nakład książki	I'm sorry but the book you've ordered is out of print.
get on sb's nerves	działać (komuś) na nerwy	Turn that music down! It's getting on my nerves.
have something on the brain	chodzić komuś po głowie	Do you know this song? I've had it on my brain all day.
rat race	wyścig szczurów	After years in the rat race she's finally decided to quit and spend more time with her family.
get the message	załapać, zrozumieć coś	He finally got the message and left Mary and John alone together.
ask for trouble	prosić się o kłopoty	Not wearing a seat belt is just asking for trouble.
pay tribute to sb/sth	wyrażać (komuś) swoje uznanie, oddawać hołd	In 1992, a concert was held at Wembley Stadium to pay tribute to Freddie Mercury from Queen.
in bulk	hurtowo	If you buy in bulk, it's 20% cheaper.
give somebody a ring	zadzwonić do kogoś	I'll give you a ring in the evening.
all year round	przez cały rok	Most of the hotels are open all year round.
all of a sudden	nagle	All of a sudden the lights went out.
as a matter of fact	prawdę mówiąc, w rzeczywistości	As a matter of fact, I love him very much.
be quits (with somebody)	być kwita	You give me 10 zloty and we're quits.
by courtesy of	dzięki uprzejmości, za zgodą	These pictures are being shown by courtesy of CNN.
on location	(o programie, filmie) w plenerze	The series was filmed on location in Sweden.
go to waste	marnować się	I can't bear to see good food going to waste!
on impulse	spontanicznie	When the weather is nice it's fun to go away on impulse.
trial and error	metoda prób i błędów	I found the answer by trial and error, which obviously took little more time.
snap one's fingers	pstrykać palcami	Music often inspires people to clap or snap their fingers.
let something slip	wygadać się	He let slip that he had been in prison.
heave a sigh	wzdychać (głęboko)	She heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the good news.
be under the illusion	łudzić się	I think Mark's under the illusion that he will be the new director.
not be sb's cup of tea	nie być w czyimś guście	In fact, horror films aren't my cup of tea.
make a fool of somebody/yourself	robić z kogoś/siebie głupka	Stop that before you make a fool of yourself!
a walk of life	sfera społeczna	He has friends from many different walks of life.
on your own initiative	z własnej inicjatywy	She realized that she had never done anything on her own initiative without the motivation of someone else.
in vain	na próżno	1. The doctors tried to save the dying man but in vain. 2. How can you say that our soldiers died in vain?!
be rolling in money	mieć mnóstwo pieniędzy, spać na pieniądzach	They dream of the day when they'll be rolling in money.
in writing	na piśmie	Please confirm the offer in writing next week.
the lesser of two evils	mniejsze zło	Sometimes we have to choose between the lesser of two evils.
come true	spełniać się	I wish my dreams would come true one day.
not have a clue	nie mieć pojęcia	I haven't a clue where she left her book.
change hands	przechodzić z rąk do rąk	The heavyweight title is about to change hands once again.
put pressure	wywierać presję	The press are putting pressure on the minister to resign.
for short	w zdrobnieniu	Her name's Diana or Di for short.
come in handy	przydawać się	Never throw away your notes - they may come in handy one day.
in black and white	na piśmie	This agreement is invalid, unless you bring it in black and white.
red tape	biurokracja	Because of all the red tape she didn't get her visa on time and had to cancel her holidays in Mexico.
commit a blunder	strzelić gafę	He committed a blunder asking Sue about her husband, while everybody knows that she is divorced.
plead guilty	przyznać się do winy	Having seen his face on security video-tape he couldn't use his alibi any longer and finally pleaded guilty.
red-letter day	szczególny dzień	Tomorrow is my red-letter day - I am getting promoted.
see pink elephants	widzieć białe myszki	Tim has a drinking problem. He drinks till he sees pink elephants.
a blue movie/film	film pornograficzny	Blue movies are rated X, which means that only people of 18 and over can watch them.
beat somebody black and blue	zbić kogoś na kwaśne jabłko	Tommy always threatens his little sister that he will beat her black and blue if she tells their parents about his marks at school.
nagging headache	uporczywy ból głowy	Jonathan is overworked. That's why he suffers from these nagging headaches so often.
nagging husband/wife	zrzędliwy mąż/żona	I have no idea how she can stand living with such a nagging husband as hers.
chew something over	przemyśleć coś	I can't give you the answer today. I simply need to chew it over.
dead-end relationship	beznadziejny związek	Mary is not happy with her marriage - actually, it is a dead-end relationship.
choose a soft option	pójść na łatwiznę	He gets on my nerves! Whenever there is something challenging, he always chooses a soft option.
go to somebody's head	uderzyć do głowy	Power and success went to his head - he no longer comes to our parties.
keep sth/sb at bay	trzymać na dystans, nie dopuszczać do siebie	He always tries to keep his troubles at bay when he is on holiday.
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.
on one's own account	na własne ryzyko	Well, you can try to run your own business, but remember that it will be on your own account.
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 the air	nierealne, niepewne	The initial plans to publish this book in May are quite in the air.
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.
ring the bell	brzmieć znajomo, kojarzyć się z czymś	I don't know where I might have met him, but the name rings the bell.
just in case	na wszelki wypadek	We still have plenty of time but let's take a taxi just in case.
have a narrow escape	cudem uniknąć czegoś, o mały włos	He had a narrow escape when he slipped on the stairs.
out of date	przestarzały, staroświecki	I don't like this design - it is absolutely out of date to me.
blind date	randka w ciemno	Sheila is so desperate in her search for a husband - she's decided to have a blind date!
a day off (to have/take/get)	mieć wolne	I think I am overworked - I certainly need a day off!
noughts and crosses	kółko i krzyżyk	Noughts and Crosses is a very popular game among students sitting on lectures.
call it a day	zakończyć coś, przerwać, fajrant	Why don't we call it a day and go home?
safe and sound	cały i zdrowy	To everybody's relief, he returned safe and sound from the storm.
at large	na wolności, na swobodzie	There are fewer and fewer exotic species living at large.
have a finger in every pie	wtrącać się we wszystko	I can't stand her any longer! She has to have a finger in every pie! Can't she just mind her own business?
at first sight	na pierwszy rzut oka	At first sight he seems to be a very competent person.
put one's foot down	sprzeciwić się	My boss wanted me to work on weekends but I was brave enough to put my foot down.
be in force	obowiązywać	Don't worry about that - that rule is no longer in force in our office.
make a fuss about sth	robić zamieszanie z jakiegoś powodu	Gosh! It is just a broken glass. Don't make a fuss about it.
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.
learn sth by heart	nauczyć się na pamięć	There is no rule why these words collocate, you just need to learn them by heart.
by all means	wszelkimi sposobami, za wszelka cenę	By all means this guy should work for us - he is the best specialist I have ever seen!
once and for all	raz na zawsze	I tell you once and for all - I am tired of your complaining about your job! There is nothing else you can do.
be out of order	nie działać	I am sorry but this telephone is out of order. You have to go round the corner.
for the sake of	dla czegoś/kogoś	I know that this treatment is unpleasant but you should try it for the sake of your health.
take a shortcut	pojść na skróty	I wouldn't rely on him - he always thinks how to take shortcuts in everything he does.
pull somebody's leg	nabierać, drażnić się	Mary had me fooled for a while, but finally I realized she was just pulling my leg.
beat about/around the bush	owijać w bawełnę, unikać przejścia do sedna sprawy	Stop beating about the bush and tell me what the problem is!
sell like hot cakes	sprzedawac sie bardzo szybko	The album of this new Irish rock group sells like hot cakes - people ask for it everyday.
go for a song	sprzedać bardzo tanio	This car went for a song - the owner was leaving the country and wanted a quick sale.
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
get up on the wrong side of the bed	wstać lewą nogą	You'd better avoid Mark today - he got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
whistle in the dark	dodawać sobie odwagi	Totally alone in this big house we joked about nightmares, whistling in the dark perhaps.
a cold fish	ktoś niewrażliwy	He's such a cold fish - you can never see any emotions on his face.
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.
pop the question	oświadczyć się	After seven years of dating, I finally popped the question to my girlfriend.
chicken out	stchórzyć	I wanted to ask Mary out but I chickened out at the last moment.
on cloud nine	bardzo szczęśliwy, w siódmym niebie	She has been on cloud nine since she was promoted.
at heart	w głębi duszy	She said she trusted him but at heart she knew he was lying.
at random	losowo	The burglar didn't have any plan - he just entered the shop and grabbed things at random.
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.
have sth at one's fingertips	mieć coś w małym palcu	You can always go and ask Tom of anything concerned with maths, he just has it at his fingertips.
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.
shoot the breeze	paplać	She can sit with her friend for hours doing nothing but shooting the breeze!
by all means	oczywiście	By all means we will try to answer any questions, so feel free to ask.
for the time being	na razie	That is all what we can offer for the time being but the service is still developing.
in a month of Sundays	na "święty nigdy", nigdy w życiu	He will never bring you these CDs, not even in a month of Sundays - just forget it.
in bad taste	w złym guście	Their house is decorated in such bad taste - where did they get the idea of buying these mock rococo chairs to the living room?
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 on the air	być na antenie	Quiet everybody! Three, two, one ... You are on the air!
go off the air	zejść z anteny	This program was very popular so the information that it went off the air caused a wave of protest.
out of stock	nie być dostępnym w sprzedaży	I'm so sorry but this camera is out of stock now. Can I propose a different model within the same price?
throw somebody in at the deep end	rzucić kogoś na głęboką wodę	You want to learn Spanish? There's no better way than to throw yourself in at the deep end - go to Spain.
be worlds apart	bardzo się różnić	I really like this book but I guess it is worlds apart from what the real situation is.
the tip of the iceberg	wierzchołek góry lodowej	The problems we've already experienced are just the tip of the iceberg, I'm afraid.
come what may	niech się dzieje co chce	I don't care that he is going to be there with his new girlfriend! I will be at the party tonight come what may.
first and foremost	nade wszystko	We need peace and stability first and foremost - these are the most important things.
come to terms with sth	pogodzić się z czymś	She can't come to terms with the fact that she was fired for being late all the time.
for all the tea in China	za nic na świecie	Oh, come on! I am not going to ask him such question! Not for all the tea in China!
Boxing Day	w Anglii - drugi dzień Świąt Bożego Narodzenia	Boxing 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'
to paint the town red	świetnie się bawić (zwykle chodząc od baru do baru)	Let's paint the town red, boys! That was a difficult test and we all did well. We need to celebrate it.
to put sb's back up	denerwować, drażnić	The way he discussed things with her really put her back up.
to call a spade a spade	nazywać rzeczy po imieniu	Stop moaning that that you don't like the idea! Just go to your boss and call a spade a spade!
to put the brakes on	przestać coś robić	I think we will have to put the brakes on spending so much money on leisure activities.
with bated breath	ze wstrzymanym oddechem	They waited for the news with bated breath.
square meal	porządny, solidny posiłek	No wonder you feel sick! All you've been eating recently are those instant soups! Get yourself one square meal a day and you will be fine.
give-and-take	kompromis	You can't insist on having that your way. There must be some sort of give-and-take.
put sb through hell	zrobić komuś piekło na ziemi, spowodować cierpienie	Our boss put us through hell before he admitted that actually it wasn't our fault that we had failed with the deadline.
to give sb five	przybić piątkę	That was great! Give me five!
to hold water	być sensownym, dać się udowodnić (pozytywnie)	This theory was easy to abolish - the arguments simply didn't hold water.
hush money	łapówka	Many politicians are believed to accept hush money.
to eat sb's words	odszczekać coś, przyznać się do błędu	The President went too far. I think that public opinion will force him to eat his words.
in sb's birthday suit	nago	He was a very controversial figure - he happened to appear on stage in his birthday suit.
to take the floor	przemawiać, zabrać głos w dyskusji	We know the opinion of the prosecutor. Let the defence take the floor now.
spitting image of sb	uderzająco podobny do kogoś	Believe it or not but he is the spitting image of Dan Ackroyd.
budding scientist	obiecujący naukowiec	The Academy authorities think he is a budding scientist so he is pampered with grants and scholarships.
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.
to know sth like the back of sb's hand	znać jak własną kieszeń	I can be your guide in this city - I grew up here so I know the place like the back of my hand.
to be as sober as a judge	zupełnie trzeźwy, trzeźwy jak świnia	You may not believe me but I know what I saw - I was sober as a judge when it happened.
to stick sb's neck out	narażać się, podejmować ryzyko	Jack says he is not a coward, he just doesn't like to stick his neck out if it isn't absolutely necessary.
hide-and-seek	zabawa w chowanego	Let's play hide-and-seek! I'm seeking first...
to fly off the handle	wyjść z siebie, wściec się	I swear - one more remark like this and I will fly off the handle!
to labour the point	rozwodzić się nad czymś, wałkować coś	Don't even bother asking him! He will labour the point for ages, and I think you need the answer pretty fast.
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.
to be after sb's own heart	o podobnych poglądach, upodobaniach	This guy is after my own heart - I think it is worth making friends with him.
to burn rubber	wciskać gaz do dechy, palić gumy	He has got another ticket! He simply can't drive if he doesn't burn rubber!
(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...)
take a hike!	spływaj!	He got so annoying that finally I told him to take a hike.
Stand and deliver!	pieniądze albo życie!	'I said - stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya!' (Metallica "Whiskey in the Jar")
to be at one's wits' end	odchodzić od zmysłów	She was at her wits' end when she learnt that the avalanche was in the area where her kids usually went skiing.
easy come easy go	łatwo przyszło, łatwo poszło	I've lost the money you gave me last week - well, easy come easy go.
to keep sb's fingers crossed	trzymać kciuki	Good luck! I will keep my fingers crossed.
without a shadow of a doubt	bez cienia wątpliwości	I can guarantee that - without a shadow of a doubt this car is the best in its class on the market.
it's a foregone conclusion	to jest z góry przesądzone	Who was to win this match was a foregone conclusion. The team is the national representation after all...
get straight to the point	przejść do sedna	Carol! Could you just get straight to the point? You want to borrow some money, right?
to stab sb in the back	wbić komuś nóż w plecy	I thought I can trust him! And he went to the head office and told them everything - he stabbed me in the back!
dead easy	dziecinnie proste	Listen! Reported Speech is dead easy - I can explain it to you if you want...
a tough nut to crack	twardy orzech do zgryzienia	This project turned out to be a tough nut to crack.
it isn't up to scratch	poniżej oczekiwań, niewystarczająco dobry	He rejected this market analysis. He said it wasn't up to scratch.
to be killing sb	dobijać, dawać się we znaki	I had my first horse - riding lesson yesterday and today my back is killing me...
to be back on one's feet	pozbierać się po chorobie, stanąć na nogi	He took a doctor's leave for a week, but he's back on his feet now.
in the middle of nowhere	w szczerym polu	Tom didn't take the map with him so after several hours of going in circles we ended up in the middle of nowhere.
off the beaten track	na odludziu, poza 'utartym szlakiem'	His cottage is off the beaten track, so you may need explicit instructions how to get there.
to pick sb's brains	zasięgnąć rady (kogoś kto się na tym zna), skonsultować coś	Terry, I need to pick your brains about the computer software - I've heard you are an expert.
(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.
to brush up	'odkurzyć', podszlifować (umiejętności, jezyk itp.)	My French has got a bit rusty, I'm afraid. I will need to brush it up before the holidays.
to get the hang of sth	'zaczaić' coś, załapać (jak coś działa, lub na czym polega)	And then, as I finally got the hang of this new system, everything turned out to be so easy.
to have a clue	mieć o czymś pojęcie	This new secretary is cute and really tries to do her best but, honestly speaking, she doesn't seem to have a clue what it is all about.
to have sth on the tip of sb's tongue	mieć coś na końcu języka	Gosh! I had the answer on the tip of my tongue but of course it wasn't enough to pass the exam...
to slip sb's mind	zapomnieć czegoś, wylecieć z pamięci	I felt so terrible when I bought her these roses... It slipped my mind that she is allergic to them!
a slip of the tongue	przejęzyczenie	It was just a slip of the tongue but in politics it may cost you your career.
to shoot oneself in the foot	strzał w stopę (samobój)	He shot himself in the foot when he decided to cut on public spending - he lost the support immediately.
to rock the boat	szkodzić np. firmie, w której samemu się pracuje	I don't know what he is up to but he rocks the boat! Somebody should tell him it will do him no good.
to miss the point	nie zrozumieć czegoś, spudłować	Well, I don't know what to think about him - he seems to be quite clever but his last speech proved that he missed the whole point of this campaign.
show-off	popis, mający na celu zdobycie poklasku	Don't worry. We still have the chance. His lawyer's defence speech was nothing more but a rhetorical show-off.
to rip sb off	'zedrzeć z kogoś' (cenowo)	Don't go to that hairdresser over there. It's nothing special but they will rip you off!
to be loaded	być nadzianym	Look at the car he is driving! This guy has to be pretty loaded...
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 slowcoach	guzdrała	Jimmy! Hurry up, please! You're such a slowcoach! Can't you move faster?
to read sth from cover to cover	przeczytać coś od deski do deski	This novel was so thrilling that I simply read it from cover to cover during one night!
It's a must	to konieczność (koniecznie trzeba zobaczyć, przeczytać, etc)	This movie is a must! It's a breakthrough in Hollywood business.
a cutting/biting remark	cięta, złośliwa uwaga	Finally, I was fed up with his biting remarks about my size and I left him.
the root of the problem	źródło problemu	The root of the problem is that they don't learn enough to pass this exam.
a man of few words	ktoś małomówny	Michael is a man of few words, but when he speaks, people listen.
to keep one's nose to the grindstone	pracować bez wytchnienia	Just try to keep your nose to the grindstone and you'll certainly pass the final exam.
hands are tied	mieć związane ręce, nie móc nic zrobić	I would really like to help you but my hands are tied... I have to wait for Mark's decision.
a sharp tongue	cięty język	I like her, but sometimes her sharp tongue irritates me so much.
the first pancake is always spoiled	pierwsze koty za płoty	Don't worry! The first pancake is always spoiled. Just try again.
let sleeping dogs lie	nie wywołuj wilka z lasu	Just don't tell her that he's back in town. I suppose it's better to let sleeping dogs lie.
in good faith	w dobrej wierze	The information is provided in good faith, however we accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
have your cake and eat it	wilk syty i owca cała; mieć ciastko i zjeść ciastko	You can't have your cake and eat it. If you want high quality you have to pay for it.
give sb their due	oddawać komuś sprawiedliwość	Mike's not very talkative , but to give him his due, you can always count on him.
poke/stick your nose into sth	wtykać nos w	She's always poking her nose into other people's business.
in the interim	tymczasem	I'll be back in few minutes. In the interim please read the extract from the novel.
to whet sb's appetite	zaostrzać apetyt	The trip was marvellous. We had a great time and the whole experience whetted our appetite for more.
(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.
to keep sb's ear to the ground	dowiadywać sie co w trawie piszczy	I have no idea what they are up to, but I will keep my ear to the ground. Once I learn what they plan, I'll let you know.
hindsight is always 20-20	mądry Polak po szkodzie	Now I know I should have stayed in that job, but hindsight is always 20-20 - I couldn't have known it when I was leaving.
steer away from	trzymać się z daleka	If I were you I would steer away from this guy. He is a womaniser - don't waste your time with him.
off your own bat	z własnej inicjatywy	Don't say I told you to do it, you did it off your own bat and I had nothing to do with it.
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...
good riddance (to bad rubbish)	baba z wozu, koniom lżej	So, I hear Rupert has left you? Well, good riddance: he gave you nothing but trouble anyway.
to have mixed feelings	mieć mieszane uczucia	I have mixed feelings about Mark. I like him but I think he has some dark secrets.
to pluck up courage	zbierać się na odwagę	After few days Mike decided to pluck up courage and ask Helen out.
to save something for a rainy day	odkładać coś na czarną godzinę	Don't spend all your money just like that! You'd better save some for a rainy day.
to have a sweet tooth	lubić słodycze	Kelly has a sweet tooth. She can eat candies and chocolates all day long.
last but not least	rzecz równie ważna (mimo, że wymieniona na końcu)	And last but not least, I would like to thank my parents for all the support they give me.
to muddy the waters	zaciemniać obraz	For some reason they want to muddy the waters. I think their business is not quite legal...
a sitting duck	łatwy cel	Old people who walk after dark in the dimly lit streets are sitting ducks.
to work for peanuts	pracować za marne grosze	Sarah says she doesn't mind working for peanuts as long as she can see that her work is appreciated.
to hold the guns	mieć wszystkie atuty w ręku	Well, it's hard to come up with any reasonable argument in this discussion if he holds the guns.
the cupboard is bare	kasa jest pusta	I would love to go with you sailing but this month the cupboard is bare.
loony bin	psychiatryk, wariatkowo	Gee... Sometimes when I listen to her opinions I can't help thinking that she qualifies for some loony bin...
to chase the dragon	palić opium lub heroinę	When the police entered the abandoned factory hall, they found a dozen of young people chasing the dragon there.
to hit the jackpot	wygrać los na loterii, zgarnąć całą pulę	'How does it come that he can afford such a car if he works at a construction site!? He must have hit the jackpot or something!'
gallows humour	wisielczy humor	The 'Pythons' are famous for their gallows humour.
gold rush	gorączka złota	The most famous gold rush was The California Gold Rush that began in 1848.
the end justifies the means	cel uświęca środki	Many people strongly oppose the machiavellian approach that the end justifies the means.
to be down in the dumps	mieć depresję, 'doła'	Well, you can try to ask her out but she is down in the dumps and I can't promise that she will answer the phone first of all...
keep a straight face	zachowywać powagę, nie wybuchać śmiechem	Toby can't tell jokes. He never keeps a straight face and starts laughing right before the punch line.
When hell freezes over!	prędzej kaktus mi tu wyrośnie!	No way! Next time I'll talk to her is when hell freezes over!
pretty penny	niezła sumka	He hit the jackpot and quite unexpectedly got pretty penny on his bank account.
to play ducks and drakes	puszczać kaczki na wodzie	'It's incredible! I can't find any single pebble here!' 'Oh, probably some kids were playing ducks and drakes here and they threw them all to water.'
to sling mud at sb	obrzucić kogoś błotem	This presidential campaign was nothing more than mud slinging.
time please!	zamykamy! (in a pub)	Time please! These were the last drinks. Please come back tomorrow.
from the bottom of one's heart	z głębi serca	I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help.
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.
of one's own accord	z własnej woli, inicjatywy	I didn't ask him to clean up my car - he did it of his own accord.
to be well off	być dobrze sytuowanym, bogatym	I think they must be well off - judging from their house and the car in the backyard...
to stand a chance	mieć widoki na powodzenie	I'd apply for this job if I were you, I think you stand a chance.
have an eye for/on the main chance	myśleć o własnej korzyści; mieć własny interes na uwadze	Jerry doesn't bother about other people and only has an eye on the main chance.
to mind one's own business	pilnować własnego nosa, interesu	Why don't you stop criticizing me?! Mind your own business!
to be in the know	być wtajemniczonym w coś	I should ask Roger; he's the boss and he's in the know.
to repay in kind	odpłacić, odwdzięczyć się	If you help a neighbour, he may repay in kind.
in fits and starts	nierówno, nieregularnie, sporadycznie, zrywami	He isn't very persevering; he only works in fits and starts.
to break the news to sb	zakomunikować komuś przykrą wiadomość	I had the unpleasant duty of breaking the news of John's death to his wife.
to have one's heart in one's mouth	mieć duszę na ramieniu; drżeć ze strachu	When I think of my exam tomorrow, I have my heart in my mouth.
to lose heart	stracić wiarę w coś	Don't lose heart because you cannot solve the problem straight away.
to have one's heart in the right place	mieć dobre serce	He has not a very pleasant manner, but his heart is in the right place.
faint heart never won fair lady	do odważnych świat należy	It's high time we made a decision! C'mon, faint heart never won fair lady.
to land/fall on one's feet	spaść na cztery łapy	Jim is a type of a guy that, no matter what, seems to land on his feet.
my lips are sealed	nie pisnę ani słowa	I won't tell anyone you love Henrietta. My lips are sealed.
bite/snap sb's head off	odpyskować	I only asked if I could borrow the book. There's no need to bite my head off!
to one's heart's content	ile dusza zapragnie	There's a new restaurant on the corner. For just $10 you can eat to your heart's content.
have one foot in the grave	być jedną nogą w grobie	You know this old lady that lives on second floor? She has one foot in the grave but still behaves as if she were 20. ;-)
Every cloud has a silver lining.	nie ma tego złego, co by na dobre nie wyszło	Oswald was very depressed after being fired but he found another job in just few days. Well, every cloud has a silver lining.
the grass is greener on the other side of the fence	wszędzie dobrze gdzie nas nie ma	When you look at other homes, the grass is often greener on the other side of the fence.
to get cold feet	stchórzyć, rozmyślić się	They'll be married next week; if Chester doesn't get cold feet.
a golden handshake	duża odprawa	Ms. Robinson retired early because her company offered her a golden handshake.
figure of speech	przenośnia; zwrot, wyrażenie retoryczne	When I said it was a battle to the death it was just a figure of speech.
an early bird	ranny ptaszek	My father is an early bird, he gets up at 5.30 every day.
the black sheep (of the family)	czarna owca (w rodzinie)	Everybody says he's the black sheep of the family - he left home when he was 17 and became a singer.
green with envy	zielony z zazdrości	When they see my new boyfriend, all the girls will turn green with envy.
leap year	rok przestępny	Year 2004 is a leap year, with 29 days in February.
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.
white lie	niewinne kłamstewko	White lies are sometimes inevitable in order to protect other people's feelings.
Fort Knox	bank rezerw federalnych, przenośnie: bardzo dobrze strzeżone miejsce	My house is now like Fort Knox but I had to do it - I was burgled three times last month.
to see red	wściec się	When Chris told me he'd crashed my car, I just saw red.
the Big Apple	New York City	I'm planning to visit the Big Apple this year.
to take the floor	zabrać głos	The Prime Minister will take the floor in budget discussion on Wednesday.
to frame / to be framed	wrabiać kogoś	"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is my favourite movie from the nineties.
excuse my French	sorry za słówka	I really wanted to provide the pronunciation to this fucking word "ophthalmologist" but it turned out to be impossible, excuse my French.
greasy spoon	speluna z tanim żarciem	I'm broke, today we have to eat at this greasy spoon at the corner.
to get on like a house on fire	świetnie sie dogadywać	Tom and Jerry get on like a house on fire. They've been friends for years.
to play truant	chodzić na wagary	More and more children are caught playing truant.
make oneself at home	rozgościć się	Frank! So many years! Come in and make yourself at home. Something to drink?
to get hot under the collar	dostać piany, wściec się	When he saw his girlfriend winking at the guy sitting next to her, he simply got hot under the collar.
to turn a blind eye	przymknąć na coś oko; udawać, że się nie widzi czegoś	The farmer knew that the boys from the neighbourhood stole his apples but he simply turned a blind eye to it.
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 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.
to add fuel to the fire/flames	dolewać oliwy do ognia	Michael is furious at me. Telling him that I took his book will only add fuel to the fire.
couch potato	ktoś, kto preferuje siedzący tryb życia - cały dzień siedzi na kanapie, je chipsy i ogląda telewizję ;-)	Our 9-year-old son is a real couch potato who wants to spend all his free time watching television.
over the counter	bez recepty	I'm afraid you can't buy this medicine over the counter, you must have a prescription.
to kill two birds with one stone	upiec dwie pieczenie na jednym ogniu	By enrolling her son in a hobby class Mary has killed two birds with one stone. Not only is he learning something useful but he is also watching less TV.
to kill somebody with kindness	zagłaskać kota na śmierć	My husband is killing me with kindness. Sometimes I just need to be left alone and he wants to spend all day with me.
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.
to run errands	robić, załatwiać sprawunki	I have to run errands for my parents after my school.
to toe the line	podporządkować się	Two members have been expelled from the party as they didn't toe the party line in voting.
to play something by ear	robić coś spontanicznie, improwizować	If our plan fails, we can always play it by ear. It might work.
to be into something	być czymś zainteresowany, lubić coś	Don't ask me about Manga - I am not into it at all.
to go over with a fine-tooth comb	przeczesać coś	She went over her boyfriend's stuff with a fine-tooth comb just to make sure he does not date anybody else.
make oneself scarce	zmyć sie po cichu	The atmosphere in the room was getting more and more tense, so I made myself scarce on the first possible occasion.
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?
a slap in the face	policzek	It was a real slap in the face when she didn't answer my phone calls.
to call sb names	wyzywać kogoś	He called her names when she refused to date him, which only proved that it was actually a right decision...
that's my funeral	to mój problem, nic ci do tego	'You eat too much! You will put on weight!' 'That's my funeral...'
on horseback	wierzchem	Travelling on horseback took days and one could never be sure that they would reach their destination.
to be not much of a ...	nie za dobry ...	Ugh! She is not much of a singer, I'm afraid.
leg it	biegiem!	What are you waiting for?! Leg it to the nearest newsagent's and buy this issue - there is an article about your uncle Tim!
the grapevine	poczta pantoflowa	I heard on/through the grapevine that you are moving to Warsaw, is that true?
to serve him/her right	dobrze (jemu/jej) tak!	Frank's girlfriend has left him?! Serves him right! He behaved like a shmuck!
to go up in smoke	spełznąć na niczym	We wanted to visit my friends that weekend but it turned out that Terry had to work on Saturday and our plans simply went up in smoke.
Get stuffed!	wypchaj się!	I tried to be nice to him but finally he went too far! I simply told him to get stuffed...
to bury the hatchet	zakopać topór wojenny	Of course this old quarrel is long forgotten! Why don't Kate and Mike bury the hatchet at last?
to pick up the pieces	naprawić coś, uporządkować	After the fire in the factory, it took weeks to pick up the pieces and get production back to normal again.
to throw the book at someone	udzielić komuś reprymendy	My boss threw the book at me for not correcting the report properly.
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.
to take one's time	nie śpieszyć się, robić coś powoli	We don't need these articles to be translated tomorrow, so relax, take your time and submit them next week.
to have the last word	mieć ostatnie słowo	My father always likes to have the last word in any discussion.
to take something into account	wziąć coś pod uwagę	Remember to take his age into account when deciding what kind of work to give him.
a blue-eyed boy	ulubieniec	Tom was always jealous of his younger brother because he knew Jack was their mother's blue-eyed boy.
to be in the pink	być zdrowym	My sister is finally back in the pink after having a bad cold for two weeks.
for a change	dla odmiany	She always seemed rather serious so it was nice to see her laugh for a change.
not my scene	nie moja "działka"	I don't like heavy metal music. It's not my scene.
to fall for someone	zakochać się	Julie goes to this pub every night because she has fallen for its barman.
to kill time	zabić czas	I only read magazines in doctors' waiting rooms to kill time.
to have a heart of gold	mieć złote serce	Mr Brown has a old

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