Translation glossary: Idiomy i przyslowia

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Hanna Burdon

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Ściany mają uszy.

Walls have ears.

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Łatwo przyszło, łatwo poszło.

Easy come, easy go.

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Ćwiczenie czyni mistrza.

Practice makes perfect.

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Cel uświęca środki.

The end justifies the means.

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chodzić u kogoś na pasku / chodzić na czyimś pasku

be under sb's thumb

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Cicha woda brzegi rwie.

Still waters run deep.

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Ciekawość to pierwszy stopień do piekła.

Curiosity killed the cat.

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Co dwie głowy to nie jedna.

Two heads are better than one.

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Co nagle to po diable.

Haste makes waste.

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Co z oczu to i z serca.

Out of sight, out of mind.

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Czas to pieniądz.

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czcza pogróżka

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Dobrymi chęciami piekło brukowane.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

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dolać oliwy do ognia

add fuel to the flames

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Dzieci i wariaci zawsze mówią prawdę.

Children and fools tell the truth.

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Dziel i rządź.

Divide and rule.

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Gadał/Przemówił dziad do obrazu, a obraz do niego ani razu.

It's like talking to a (brick) wall.

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Gdy kota nie ma, myszy harcują.

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

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Gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą.

You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

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Gdzie dwóch się bije, tam trzeci korzysta.

Two dogs strive for a bone and a third runs away with it.

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Gdzie kucharek sześć, tam nie ma co jeść.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

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Gra jest warta świeczki.

The game is worth the candle.

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gra niewarta świeczki

game not worth the candle

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Grosz do grosza, a będzie kokosza.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

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Historia lubi się powtarzać.

History repeats itself.

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jak Kuba Bogu, tak Bóg Kubie

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jak piorun z jasnego nieba

like a thunderbolt out of the blue

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Jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma.

Beggars can't be choosers.

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Jak sobie pościelesz, tak się wyśpisz.

As you make your bed, so must you lie in it.

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Jeśli wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

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Jedna jaskółka wiosny nie czyni.

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

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Każdy sobie rzepkę skrobie.

Every man for himself.

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Kłamstwo ma krótkie nogi.

A lie has no legs.

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kopać się z koniem

be on a hiding to nothing

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On a hiding to nothing

Meaning

To be faced with a situation which is pointless, as a successful outcome is impossible. This is usually expressed in terms of a sporting contest in which one of two outcomes is foreseen, either a hiding or nothing. The 'to' in the phrase indicates alternative outcomes, as in terms like '6 to 1' or 'dollars to doughnuts'.

The phrase has two applications. One scenario would be that of a team which is expected to win easily but has the betting odds so strongly in their favour that no kudos or reward, i.e. 'nothing' would be gained from victory. The other is that of a weak contestant who is expected to be beaten, i.e. get 'a hiding'.

Origin

The phrase is known from the early 20th century and originated as horse racing parlance. The earliest record of it that I can find is from Arthur Binstead's novel Mop Fair, 1905, or, to give it its glorious technicolor name, Mop Fair. Some Elegant Extracts from the Private Correspondence of Lady Viola Drumcree, the Fatherless Daughter of Feodorovna, Countess of Chertsey:

"They will, like the man who was on a hiding to nothing the first time Tom Sayers saw him, ‘take it lying down’."

Two citations that demonstrate the two possible scenarios given above come from The Times and The Sunday Times, from the 1970s:

1975 - The Sunday Times "The Indian batsmen were on a hiding to nothing. They could not win."

1977 - The Times "Derby know they are on a hiding to nothing at Fourth Division Colchester, who have a reputation as giant-killers."

See also - Catch 22.

Kropla, która przepełniła czarę.

The last straw that broke the camel's back.

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Kruk krukowi oka nie wykole.

Dog does not eat dog.

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Kto jest bez winy, niech pierwszy rzuci kamieniem.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

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Kto mieczem wojuje, ten od miecza ginie.

He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.

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Kto pierwszy ten lepszy.

First come, first served.

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Kto pod kim dołki kopie, ten sam w nie wpada.

What goes around, comes around.

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Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje.

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

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Kto się raz sparzył, ten na zimne dmucha.

Once bitten, twice shy.

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Kto sieje wiatr, zbiera burzę.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

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Kto szuka, nie błądzi.

Better to ask the way than go astray.

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Kuj żelazo póki gorące.

Strike while the iron is hot.

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kupić kota w worku

buy a pig in a poke

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Lekarzu, lecz się sam.

Physician, heal thyself.

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Lepiej późno niż wcale.

Better late than never.

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