Angielskie idiomy i przysłowia

A-B C-D E-G H-J C-D K-M N-P Q-S T-Z

Call a spade a spade

Nazwywać rzeczy po imieniu.

Call the shots

Wydawać rozkazy. Mówić ludziom co mają robić.

Can of worms

Puszka Pandory.

Can't dance and it's too wet to plow

(USA) Powiedzenie oznaczające, że nie ma się możliwości robienia czegoś innego, dlatego robi się to co się robi.

Can't hold a candle

Coś gorszego.

Card up your sleeve

Mieć asa w rękawie. Mieć paln i ukrywać go do właściwego momentu.

Carpetbagger

Człowiek pozbawiony zasad etycznych oraz skrupułów. Pilityk, który nie jest powiązany z miejscem, które chce reprezentować

Carrot and stick

Zachęta wraz z groźbą.

Carry the can

Ponosoć winę za coś czego się nie zrobiło, albo jest sie częściowo odpowiedzialnym.

Cash in your chips

Może oznaczać 'umierać'. Sprzedawać coś ponieważ uważa się, że wartość tego czegoś może spaść.

Cast doubt on

Rzucić wątpliwość. Poddać w wątpliwość.

Cast your mind back

Jeśli ktoś cię o to prosi oznacza to, że należy sięgnąć pamięcią wstecz i przypomieć sobie jakieś wydarzenie.

Castles in the air

Niepraktyczne plany, które nigdzy nie zadziałają.

Cat among the pigeons

Stwarzać problemy, zamieszanie.

Cat got your tongue?

Dlaczego nie mówisz, kiedy powinieneś?

Cat nap Top

Krótka drzemka.

Cat's whiskers

Coś wspaniałego.

Catch as catch can

Zdobyć coś w każdy możliwy sposób.

Catch someone red-handed

Złapać kogoś na gorącym uczynku.

Chalk and cheese

Nie mieć ze sobą nic wspołnego (o ludziach i rzeczach)

Change horses in midstream

Zmiana planów lub przywódców, nawet jeśli wiąże się to z ryzykiem.

Change of heart

Zmiana poglądów lub uczuć w stosunku do czegoś lub kogoś.

Change tack

Zmiana metody.

Change your tune

Zmiana poglądu lub sposobu jego prezentacji.

Charity begins at home

Rodzina jest najważniesza i należy się na niej skoncentrować.

Chase rainbows

Dążenie do czegoś czego się nidgy nie osiągnie.

Cheap as chips

(UK) taniocha.

Cheap at half the price

Cheap shot

Strzał poniżej pasa.

Cheat death Top

Uniknąć śmierci.

Cheek by jowl

Być bardzo blisko związanym (ludzie i rezczy).

Cherry pick

Wybierać rzeczy, które wspierają opinię, ignorując te, które jej zaprzeczają.

Chew the cud

Rozmyślać, przeżuwać.

Chew the fat

Swobodnie z kimś rozmawiać.

Chickenfeed

Coś małego i nieznaczącego.

Chinese walls

Mury chińskie, coś co ma na celu zahamowanie przepływu informacji

Chinese whispers

(UK) Ropowszechnione plotki, które są wyolbrzymione.

Chip off the old block

Dziedziczyć charakter po rodzicach.

Chip on your shoulder

Mieć problem na ramieniu, czuć, że zostało się skrzywdzonym.

Clean as a whistle Top

Czysty jak łza.

Clean bill of health

Być kompletnie zdrowym.

Clean break

Oderwać się, odłamać od czegoś całkowicie.

Clean hands

Czyste ręce.

Clean sheet

Czysta kartra (żadnych spraw kryminalnych, żadnych wykroczeń).

Clean slate

Zaczynać od nowa bez uwzględniania rzeczy z przeszłości.

Clean sweep

Wygrać to co było do wygrania.

Clear as mud

Coś zagmatwanego.

Cliffhanger

W sporcie, wyborach oznacza to bardzo bliski wynik. Coś czego nie można przewidzieć.

Close but no cigar

(USA) Sukces ale jeszcze nie pełny.

Close call Top

Zbyt podobne aby wybrać.

Close the stable door after the horse has bolted

Starać sie naprawić problem po tym jak po wydarzył

Close to your heart

Bliski sercu

Closed book to me

Coś czego sie nie rozumie lub na czego temat się nic nie wie.

Cloud cuckoo land

Obłok dla tych, którzy nie są realistyczni.

Cloud nine

Bardzo szcszęsliwy

Cloud of suspicion

Cień podejrzenia.

Cloud on the horizon

Problemy na horyzoncie.

Clutch at straws

łapać się brzytwy, ostatnie nadzieji.

Coals to Newcastle

(UK) Robienie czegoś niepotrzebnego (użycie z 'bring').

Cock and bull story

Kłamstwo, w które nikt nie wierzy (użycie z 'be').

Cold feet

Mieć pietra.

Cold fish

Zimny jak głaz (użycie z 'be').

Cold light of day Top

trzeźwe spojrzenie na rzeczywistość ( użycie z 'see').

Cold shoulder

Być niemiłym. ( użycie z 'give')

Cold turkey

Nagłe rzucenie nałogu.

Collateral damage

Przypadkowe straty ludzkie lub materialne.

Collect dust

Gromadzić kusz.

Come clean

Przyznanie się do winy.

Come hell or high water

Kiedy ktoś top mówi oznacza to, że ta osoba zrobi to za wszelką cenę.

Come out in the wash

Mieć dobry rezultat.

Come out of your shell

Stać siebardziej śmiałym, otwartym.

Come rain or shine

Pogoda nie powstrzyma.

Come to grips

Zająć się problemem.

Come up roses

Wyjść dobrze, mieć dobre rezultaty.

Come up smelling of roses

(UK) wyjść z opresji z dobrą reputacją.

Come what may

Niech się stanie co się stanie.

Come with the territory

O obowiązkach. Przychodzą razem z teretorium.

Comfort zone

Miejsce w którym ludzie czują się wygodnie.

Constitution of an ox

Być odpornym na zmęcznie, wysiłek, alkohol, itp. (używane z 'have').

Cook someone's goose Top

Rujnować czyjeś plany.

Cook up a storm

Tworzyć zamieszanie lkub żarliwą dyskusję.

Corner a market

Podbić rynek.

Couch potato

Ktoś leniwy spędzający czas przed telewizorem jedząc chipsy.

Could eat a horse

Móc zjeść konia.

Couldn't give two hoots

Kompletnie coś olać.

Cover all the bases

Zapezpieczyć się na każdą ewentualność.

Crash a party

Popsuć przyjęcie.

Cream of the crop

Najlepszy.

Creme de la creme

Najlepszy.

Crocodile tears

Krokodyle łzy.

Cross to bear

Krzyż do dźwigania (używane z 'have').

Cry wolf

Wznosić błędny alarm.

Cry your eyes out

Płakać bez opamiętania.

Cry-baby

Płaksa.

Curiosity killed the cat

Ciekawość zabiła kota.

Curve ball

(USA) Coś zludnego.

Cut and dried

Przedyskutowane i nie na czasie (użycie z 'be').

Cut it fine

Zrobic coś w ostatniej chwilii.

Cut off your nose to spite your face

Zrobić coś głupiego w pośpiechu lub złości.

Cut the Gordian knot

Rozwiązać problem w prosty sposób.

Cut the mustard Top

(UK) Spełniać wymogi.

Cut to the chase

Przejść do sedna sprawy.

Cut your coat according to your cloth

Kupowanie rzeczy na które człowieka stać.

Cut your teeth on

Zjeść zęby na czymś.

Cute as a bug

(USA) coś miłego i przyjemnego.

Cutting edge

Coś nowoczesnego.

Daft as a brush

(UK) któś głupi (użycie z 'to be').

Dark horse

Któś zagadkowy (użycie z 'be').

Daylight robbery

Rozbój w biały dzień.

Dead air

Milczenie.

Dead and buried

Załatwione i zapomniane.

Dead as a dodo

Nieżywy.

Dead as a doornail

Nieżywy, bez życia.

Dead duck

Niewypał.

Dead from the neck up Top

Głupi.

Dead heat

Ten sam rezultat w biegach, wyścigach.

Dead in the water

Coś co nie robi postępu.

Dead man walking

Ktoś kto będzie mieć kłopoty.

Dead meat

Zimny, sztywny

Dead men's shoes

If promotion or success requires replacing somebody, then it can only be reached by dead men's shoes' by getting rid of them.

Dead to the world

If somebody's fast asleep and completely unaware of what if happening around them, he or she's dead to the world.

Dear John letter

A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a Dear John letter.

Death of a thousand cuts

If something is suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or death by a thousand cuts, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.

Death warmed up

(UK) If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death warmed over' is the American form)

Demon weed

Tobacco is the demon weed.

Derring-do

If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.

Devil finds work for idle hands

When people say that the devil finds work for idle hands, they mean that if people don't have anything to do with their time, they are more likely to get involved in trouble and criminality.

Devil is in the detail

When people say that the devil in the detail, they mean that small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.

Devil's advocate

If someone plays Devil's advocate in an argument, they adopt a position they don't believe in just for the sake of the argument

Diamond in the rough Top

A diamond in the rough is someone or something that has great potential, but isn't not refined and polished.

Die is cast

If the die is cast, a decision has been made that cannot be altered and fate will decide the consequences.

Different kettle of fish

If something is a different kettle of fish, it is very different from the other things referenced.

Different ropes for different folks

(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.

Different strokes for different folks

(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.

Dime a dozen

(USA) If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.

Dip your toes in the water

If you dip your toes in the water, you try something tentatively because you are not sure whether it will work or not.

Dirty dog

A dirty dog is an untrustworthy person.

Discerning eye

If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something.

Discretion is the better part of valour

This idiom means that it is often better to think carefully and not act than to do something that may cause problems.

Do a Devon Loch

(UK) If someone does a Devon Loch, they fail when they were very close to winning. Devon Loch was a horse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the Grand National race.

Do a runner

(UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.

Do the running

(UK) The person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. ('Make the running' is also used.)

Do their dirty work

Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'.

Do's and don't's

The do's and don't's are what is acceptable or allowed or not within an area or issue, etc.

Dog and pony show

(USA) A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.

Dog days Top

Dog days are very hot summer days.

Dog eat dog

In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself.

Dog in the manger

(UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.

Dog tired

If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.

Dog's dinner

Something that is a dog's dinner is a real mess.

Dog's life

If some has a dog's life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.

Dog-eared

If a book is dog-eared, it is in bad condition, with torn pages, etc.

Doggy bag

If you ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant, they will pack the food you haven't eaten for you to take home.

Doldrums

If a person is in the doldrums, they are depressed. If a project or something similar is in the doldrums, it isn't making any progress.

Don't catch your chickens before they're hatched

This means that you should wait until you know whether something has produced the results you desire, rather than acting beforehand. ('Don't count your chickens until they've hatched' is an alternative.)

Don't give up the day job

This idiom is used a way of telling something that they do something badly.

Don't judge a book by the cover

This idiom means that you should not judge something or someone by appearances, but should look deeper at what is inside and more important.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

This means that if you are given something, a present or a chance, you should not waste it by being too critical or examining it too closely.

Don't take any wooden nickels

(USA) This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.

Don't upset the applecart

If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb the way things are done because it might ruin things.

Don't hold your breath

If you are told not to hold your breath, it means that you shouldn't have high expectations about something.

Don't wash your dirty laundry in public

(UK) People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)

Done to death

If a joke or story has been done to death, it has been told so often that it has stopped being funny.

Donkey's years

This idiom means 'a very long time'.

Doormat Top

A person who doesn't stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a doormat.

Double Dutch

(UK) If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.

Double take

If someone does a double take, they react very slowly to something to show how shocked or surprised they are.

Double whammy

A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or when two setbacks occur at the same time.

Double-edged sword

If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword; it cuts both ways.

Doubting Thomas

A Doubting Thomas is someone who only believes what they see themselves, not what they are told.

Down and out

If someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.

Down at heel

Someone who is down at heel is short of money. ('Down in heel' is used in American English)

Down for the count

If someone is down for the count, they have lost a struggle, like a boxer who has been knocked out.

Down in the doldrums

If somebody's down in the doldrums, they are depressed and lacking energy.

Down in the dumps

If someone's down in the dumps, they are depressed.

Down in the mouth

If someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy or depressed.

Down the drain

If something goes down the drain, especially money or work, it is wasted or produces no results.

Down the pan

If something has gone down the pan, it has failed or been ruined.

Down the tubes

If something has gone down the tubes, it has failed or been ruined.

Down to the wire

(USA) If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.

Drag your feet

If someone is dragging their feet, they are taking too long to do or finish something, usually because they don't want to do it.

Drag your heels

If you drag your heels, you either delay doing something or do it as slowly as possible because you don't want to do it.

Draw a blank Top

If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don't get any useful information.

Draw a line in the sand

If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond which things will be unacceptable.

Draw a long bow

If someone draws a long bow, they lie or exaggerate.

Draw the line

When you draw the line, you set out limits of what you find acceptable, beyond which you will not go.

Draw the shortest straw

If someone draws the shortest straw, they lose or are chosen to do something unpleasant.

Dress to kill

When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.

Dressed to the nines

If you are in your very best clothes, you're dressed to the nines.

Drink like a fish

If someone drinks like a fish, they drink far too much alcohol.

Drive a wedge

If you drive a wedge between people, you exploit an issue so that people start to disagree.

Drive someone up the wall

If something or someone drives you up the wall, they do something that irritates you greatly.

Drop in the bucket

(USA) A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won't make any noticeable difference.

Drop in the ocean

A drop in the ocean implies that something will have little effect because it is small and mostly insignificant.

Drop the ball

If someone drops the ball, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities seriously enough and let something go wrong.

Drunk as a lord

(UK) Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.

Dry as a bone

If your lawn is as dry as a bone, the soil is completely dry.

Dry spell

If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as they normally are.

Duck soup

(USA) If something is duck soup, it is very easy.

Duck to water

If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you have a natural affinity for it.

Ducks in a row

(USA) If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.

Dull as ditchwater

(UK) If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)

Dunkirk spirit

(UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.

Dutch auction

If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is accepted by everyone.