CZECH IDIOMS: Can you guess the meanings?
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- čas přidán 16. 05. 2024
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CZECH IDIOMS: Can you guess the meanings?
00:00 Intro
01:07 Get 50% off of italki during Black Days
03:10 Být platný jak mrtvému zimník
03:50 Přijít s křížkem po funuse
04:35 Vymámit z jalové krávy tele
05:37 Hrom do police
06:14 Hodit šavli
06:53 Zvládat (něco) levou zadní
07:59 Jak se do lesa volá tak se z lesa ozýva
08:56 Zameť si před vlastním prahem
10:01 Sežral to i s navijákem
11:04 Natáhnout bačkory
12:16 Ani ň
13:04 Chlubit se cizím peřím
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Levá zadní refers to (an animal's) left hind leg, as in "not your most dexterous extremity". It mainly means "to perform something with extreme ease."
Equivalent to "I can do this in my sleep."
"I can do it with one hand tied behind my back"
I wonder if it’s something German, because we have almost exactly the same in Sweden 🇸🇪 “Han klarade det med vänster tån” (he could do it w his left toe)
@@jammmy30 very likely with the shifting of empires and Swedish invasion(s)
@@kookarini Man, you are sooo right! They have been doing some digging near Greifswald and they found that people from what now days is Bavarian+Czech lands had armies that fought northerns (Scandinavians) in astronomical numbers. Scientists put armies at around 5000 soldiers. And that was already in the Bronze Age!
Can you imagine that our lands were so closely in touch (sometimes war but mostly trade) already thousands and thousands years ago?!
I'd say easy peasy lenom squeezy...
"Hook, line and sinker" actually seem like the perfect analogy, they basically just refer to a fish eating not just the worm, but also a lot of the fishing gear, the only difference seems to be that american fish stop after the hook, line and sinker, while czech fish eat all the way to the "reel" or "naviják"
The "forest" translation is very machine-like. Human would translate something like "as one calls into the forest, so the forest echoes back". And that would give you the precise idea - how others behave to you is just a mirror of your attitude towards them. Usually used in a context of misbehaving.
This stuff must be common for people who lived near Germans or it’s just something Very old, because many of these sayings are almost spot on translation to Swedish. Like this one is “som man ropar får man svar” if you scream you will get the answer in the same manner. Ok, for us it’s probably not so much forest saying but more like fjords. Like if you shout something friendly to the other side than you will get a friendly shout back from the other side of the fjord.
@@jammmy30 You are right - although Czech is a Slavic language, it is significantly influenced by German. And I like to imagine Vikings shouting greetings across the fjords ♡
@@martindurrer9044 In read recently published on our official state Tv page some info about how northerns ( Scandinavians ) fought with people from lands of what now is Bavaria and Czekia in battles that involved around 5000 men, already in early Bronze Age! Can you imagine how much we have to upgrade now our thoughts about that time? I mean it requires absolutely massive states and very complex strictures to support armies like these. And also how close of a contact it must have been between these people and Scandinavians, partly through war but mostly through trade, peace and marriages.
@@jammmy30 I conferred with the German Commission. There were some that kinda sorta had German (Bavarian) equivalents. The forest one was familiar. The best was the Bavarian for "Vymámit z jalové krávy tele." The German is, "Wenn du dem Teufel deine Schwiegermutter verkaufen kannst."
@@BlownC5Z Cas sell own mother-in-law to devil?
6:25 - Existují dva možné důvod, proč zrovna *hodit šavli* :
1.) Prvním je, že se při zvracení člověk díky křeči prohne (předkloní) a z boku pak vypadá jako šavle.
2.) Zvratky opouštějí ústa po balistické křivce, která má opět podobu šavle.
6:25 - There are two possible reasons for *throwing the sabre* :
1.) The first is that when vomiting, the cramp causes the person to bend (bend over) and then from the side it looks like a sabre.
2.) The vomit leaves the mouth following a ballistic curve, which again takes the form of a sabre.
A co třetí důvod. Polykač šavlí (mečů) ?
Díky, hned je ráno veselejší :)
Hlasuju pro dvojku 😀
@@adamduda2869 Jop, vsadil bych na tenhle důvod, ale tak nějak předpokládám, že ty 2 zmíněné důvody byly spíš myšleny jako vtípek :)
"S křížkem po funuse"
The minister carried the cross at the front of the funeral. He had to be there and he had to arrive on time. If he arrived late or without a cross, no funeral could take place.
No. It simply means to come too late.
@@janpruha3133 Yes, but based on what? That the minister who came “s křížkem po funuse” WAS too late.
@@ondrej1893 Přijde s křížkem po funuse - a co teprve když pak pláče na špatným hrobě. :-) Jen chybovala jen v tom, že přikládala tomu křížku příliš křesťanský význam. V tom úsloví má ten křížek prostě jen funkci podstatné ceremoniální propriety, která se používala v čele pohřebního průvodu, když ještě bývalo zvykem je konat. V některých jazycích mají obdobný idiom typu "přijít s omáčkou po mase".
I believe that someone is 'jako hrom do police' means that s/he is like an elephant in a china store.
Natahnout backory is to kick the bucket.
Z jalovy kravy tele sounds like squeezing blood out of a turnip, but your interpretation is also valid, someone who can talk or beg anything out of others.
taky jsem si vzpomel hned na slona...))) v porcelanu
@@petex3909 Das ist auf Deutsch genauso.
Serbian has the exact same one with feathers and it has the same meaning too :) "Kititi se tuđim perjem"
Hi Jennifer,
Sir_Mac here, as always!
"Přijít s křížkem po funuse" - To do something, what would be useful, but it is too late, and because of that, it is obsolete...
""Vymámit z jalové krávy tele" - To do something impossible by the art of persuading.
"Být jako hrom do police" - To move without control, to destroy, spilli or create any other disaster by your undecent movement.
"Zvládat něco levou zadní" - To do something with such an ease, so you don't need to fully concentrate or use both hands to do it. "Levá zadní" reffers to left back paw" (like of a dog, a cat, etc.) ... So literal translation would go "To do something using your left back one."
"Zameť si před vlastním prahem" - Before giving any criticism, ensure yourself that you are perfect at the branch you want to criticise others.
"Chlubit se cizím peřím" - lit. To brag yourself with a feathers of someone else." - To want to be rewarded, credited or acknowledged for a work, which has been done by someone else.
This is actually perfect explanation! Well done.
"Levou zadní"
It means "to manage it with left back extremity" (so I guess left leg in humans?) - that would normally be extremely difficult as your left leg isn't trained for fine craftsmanship, but you managed it, so it means this task was a piece of cake for you. You did it while not needing to put your full focus or energy to it, or you far exceeded the required result.
Chlubit se cizím peřím.... "cizím" in this situation should be translated as "somebody's else's" "not yours" :)
See also- Insta people taking pics in front of exotic cars that don't belong to them ;-)
Yeah the English and Czech expressions for "foreign", "strange", "other" and "zahraniční", "cizí", "zvláštní", "jiný" just don't really line up. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole😅
@@afiiik1 "Foreign" matches "cizí" pretty well for official uses: Foreign Police, Cizinecká policie. Permanent Residence of Foreigners, Trvalý pobyt cizinců. It gets a bit less exact when we start adding CZ prefixes. "Odcizení občanského průkazu," does not mean your ID card was taken to another country. Origin of "cizí" is extremely proto-Slav and probably earlier from PIE as there are cognates with non-Slav languages like HU.
"International" and "Zahraniční" very often match up as commonly used: International Business, Zahraniční obchod. International News, Zahraniční zprávy. Zahraniční is a newer word than cizí and is generally the official CZ translation of "International." One generally maps well to the other.
EN "Strange" maps well to CZ "zvláštní." There is a false cognate with the FR "etranger."
"Different" and "jiný" also map well.
Words are neither round nor square, pick your hole wisely.
@@BlownC5Z I get what you are saying, but what I wanted to point out is that these words and their equivalents can be confusing for Czech and English learners. For example "Don't talk to strangers." Would be translated as "Nemluv s cizími lidmi." Nikoli "Nemluv se zvláštními lidmi."
"To jsou cizí problémy." - "Those are other people's problems." Not "those are foreign problems.
I think it is useful to map out all the possible meanings and connotations of these words to wrap one's head around how to use them.
@@BlownC5Z or peaple in work presenting work of coleagues as theys own,...
Jen, in regard of this topic, I can recommend a movie called “Saturnin” to you. You could learn a lot I suppose… It is even published as an audiobook on Spotify…
Except for the auntie Catherine used to say proverbs rather then idioms... But Jen did not bring only idioms so after all it might come of use to her. :)
@@toruvalejo6152 You R correct ;) but useful movie in this regard anyway...
@@thelwq No question about it - but to appecaiate beautiful Czech it is better to read the book. ;)
Oh yeah, I think Jen has exactly this kind of sense of humor that she would appreciate Saturnin.
And her Czech is probably good enough to understand even those little linguistic nuances. :)
@@toruvalejo6152 both books in fact. I was so surprised by the quality of the follow-up.
"He ate it hook, line and sinker" is pretty much the same. Not only by the meaning, but also by the meantioned fishing tools. When you go up from the bait, you go hook, line, sinker, rod and reel (naviják). So technically in czech he ate the whole fishing rod :-D
I'd translate "natáhnout bačkory" as "kick bucket".
I always remember The Bucket List
"Pop your clogs" in the UK.
Skvělé! Moc jsem se nasmála :D Jen tak dál! Čeština ti jde levou zadní. Určitě se u zkoušky nebudeš chlubit cizím peřím ani nevědět ani ň :D Hlavně si dej pozor, aby jsi nepřišla pozdě a nepřišla s křížkem po funuse. Pak by ti mohlo být platné jako mrtvému zimník. Při učení je třeba zatnout zuby a nevykašlat se na to :D :D :D Pozor také na přejídání u učení a koukání televizní zprávy, z toho by jeden hodil šavli. Držím ti palce. Je vidět, že češtinu nebereš na lehkou váhu :)
To mě připomnělo když moje slovenská žena chtěla nedávno použít ten druhý idiom z Tvého videa, a povýšila to nechtěna na velice aktuální verzi, když pronesla: "Přišel s rouškou po funuse". :-)
no ale prísť s krížikom po funuse používame aj my. to bol asi normálny brebt
@@michalbednar7955 No jasně že jo. Když ona ale má těch přebreptů spousty. Jenom pár příkladů:
Venku je nečas, prší, fouká hrozný vítr. Žena se vrací z večerní procházky se psem domů a zcela vážně pronesla: "Tam se všichni Češi žení!"
Při podobné příležitosti o pár dní později při návratu pronesla: "Fúká ako z konve."
Už nevím při jaké příležitosti a čím jsem jí zlobil, ale snažila se mě spacifikovat následující větou: "Neser hada bosou nohou!"
No tohle asi je nějaká slovenská verze :-): "Ten sršeň po něm šel jako ujo po flusanci."
Rozebírali jsme našeho psa Casey a to že ona opravdu má nízký práh bolestivosti. Celé se jí to v hlavičce nějak chuděrce pomíchalo (ženě, ne psovi) a totálně mě rozsekalo když pronesla: "Já mám jako Casey snížený puch sebezáchovy".
"Lepší vrabec v holube, ako ...." Ako co už jsem se nedozvěděl, protože v té chvíli jsem umřel smíchy.
"Mohl by jsi to prošmějdit. Vždyť Ty jsi přece takový šmejd." - Tady mělo snad být šmejdil. Tedy alespoň doufám! :-)
Jednou si takhle jdeme na túře lesem, a najednou se mě žena ptá: "A keby som si zlomila nohu, uděláš mi faš?" Tady Vám možná nedojde co tím bylo myšleno. Nevím jak se jí tam ta faš připletla, ale to co měla původně na mysli byla dlaha. Představa jak si žena zlomí nohu a já vytahuji z batohu kuřecí maso a začínám jí připravovat masovou faš mě opravdu dost rozesmála.
No a naposledy mě rozesmála když jsme byli na houbách. Tam pronesla následující větu, která je naprosto vpořádku, není to žádný přeřek, ani žádná záměna. Opravdu vyjádřila to co měla. Jenom mě to zase hrozně moc pobavilo: "Já jsem taky mala začíatočnické štastie, keď jsme spolu začali chodit na húby. I keď i dnes najdiem viac húb ako Ty. Pravda ne všetky sú jedlé." :-)
the forest one is easy to remember - it just means echoes, if you call into forest, it echoes back to you - so karma
"Karma je zdarma" is totally the new "Jak se do lesa volá, tak se z něho ozývá" or "Kdo jinému jámu kopá, sám do ní padá"
@@makinka0cp Karma je něco nadpřirozeného, nečekaného, nějaké vyšší pravidlo. Mě to přijde trošku jiný význam, než "volání do lesa". To naznačuje reakci okolí, která se dá očekávat.
@@makinka0cp Mimochodem to přísloví s jámou je původně z Bible :-) Sirachovec 27:26
Opět vtipně podané :-) Držím palce!
"levou zadní" (obvykle ještě "s prstem v nose" :D ) znamená že to je/bylo něco jednoduchý... -easy peasy lemon squeezy, v podstatě :)
That's right. One can also say 'I can do this with my eyes closed, or blindfolded.' Czechs could say 'poslepu;' which I think is also used in this context.
you actually did pretty well! And it's quite funny to see how the perception of czech people reflect in you guesses :-)
Amazing look at those idioms, just makes you wanna think about how random foreign people see them. You know, how does it really translate with only their effort! I love it ! Keep up great work Jen :))
A beauty of work. Thank you.
I really love this video. Good idea! 🙂
Yeah! She’s back! :) ps. Your Brighton Beach accent was awesome!
You are really creative:-D It´s really making me thing about the oddness of some of those..
Jako za mě dobrý! Líbilo se mi jak to vidíš a jakým způsobem jsi se k tomu dopracovávala! 😁😊 Byla to zábava. Byla jsi někdy fakt blízko například s tím - Zameť si před vlastním prahem - to byla dobrá dedukce... 😀😊
You just nailed "ani ň", big gratulation! :D
Wow, truly impressive. I find helpful when you use an english idiom. It makes me look at czech idioms from a different perspective. Also, we do love forrests 😊
Yeah, we love forests! I think it goes back to our pagan times, when old Slavs' sacred places/places of worship were located in forests.
Můj zeť Kanaďan. Učí se docela hezky česky. Až při vyprávění nějaké historky užasnul tan slovy: "Když viděl jak to dopadá, vysral se na to a vzal nohy na ramena- prostě hodil flintu do žita"
Nu zeť se zeptal: "Čí nohy vzal na ramena? V takové situaci? A proč zahazoval pušku? Kde ji vzal?" :-)
Vaše snaha o vysvětlení si významu idiomů mě vážně pobavila, ale pořád jsem se musel dívat na ten nádherně vyřezávaný kus nábytku v pozadí a přemýšlel, jak asi celý vypadá a jestli jste si ho s manželem dovezli z USA/Japonska nebo už ve vašem bytě byl, když jste si ho pronajali/koupili.
Fun video, thanks for that!
In a few cases I know these differently than how you describe them even in the "real meaning" part so here is my take:
"Hrom do police" is usually said about someone unintentionally doing harm while trying to achieve something trivial. For example you get a visit and the visitor topples a shelf while trying to take off their coat. Or insults you while trying to compliment you.
"levou zadní" - this is about translation of the idiom - refers to left rear leg in case of a four-legged animal, or in case of a human it means with your left leg. I guess it's kind of idiom inside an idiom.
"Zameť si před vlastním prahem" - I know it to be used against a person who criticizes a behavior they're practicing themselves. Literally meaning "you have no business reminding me of dust in front of my threshold, you have plenty in front of yours".
Jen, I really enyoied this video. You are awesome!
Thank you Petr!
Most entertaining, thanks! :D
Btw. Jak se do lesa vola, tak se z lesa ozyva is not really that much about karma but more about interactions. For example, if someone calls you names you won't help him and instead start calling him names as well.
Jak se do lesa volá - tak se z lesa ozývá:
- the exact general meaning is: How do you behave to the people - so the peole behave (exactly same) to you! = if you behave good - the other are good you too - if you behave like bitch - the are bitchy to you too
- very same meaning of another Czech idiom:
Oko za oko - zub za zub = eye for an eye - teeth for the theeth
(but in this case only in the sense of revenge = its an angry reaction to what BAD already happend to you from another peron(s)
There's also "kdo jinemu jamu kopa, sam do ni pada" that in general sense talks about karma but is more specifically aiming at those plotting against someone else or preparing a ruse to get someone in a bad situation/position
Hey Jen, great video! Just a few pointers to help you out, if you would love to get some :) You know we Czechs need to explain stuff... :D :D
Hrom do police:
We always used it as "Ty jsi jak hrom do police" meaning you are really clumsy and all over the place, kind of freaking out while packing and making a mess. Or making a mess while cooking! Seems everyone uses it differently :)
Zvládat levou zadní:
It means to do stuff effortlesly. That its so easy you can do it with your left (non dominant) rear (meaning leg, not arm). The activity is just so easy to you you can do it with your left leg, not even using your arm. We use it when you nail a test or something, "Jen, zvládneš ty testy z češtiny levou zadní!"
Jak se do lesa volá tak se z lesa ozývá:
As you do to me, I do to you. Meaning if you are rude as hell, people will be rude to you and you deserve it.
Zameť - your pronounciation is wrong, you say zaměť. The E is not soft, the T is. Say it like za-me as in met, past tense of meet, and then a soft T, like you would sweet talk a baby or a cat in Czech, saying ťu ťu ťu :D
Chlubit se cizím peřím:
Its taking merits for someone elses work. Always used in that meaning as I remember.
All in all, I love this video. I feel the same as you do when looking at English and its idioms and just being like "What the hell... how do they come up with this stuff." Nice to see perspective that czech idioms are just as weird :D
EDIT:
Also wanted to add, "natáhnout" is used both ways, both to put on boots or slippers and to stretch stuff. Not just slippers though, it is used with rainboots, heavy army boots and so on. Not used with other articles of clothing, though... It is also used as "to take a nap". "Jdu se natáhnout" means "I am going to take a nap" :) ALSO also, just realised, its also used for someone falling down :D "Natáhnul jsem se" might mean "I fell down". "Jsem se uplně natáhnul na tom ledu" meaning "I totaly fell down on the ice". "She fell down running after the bus" could be said as "Natáhla se když dobíhala autobus."
""Ty jsi jak hrom do police" EN: "Like a bull in a china shop."
@@steamedbuns6197 Well, it sure is an opinion... lets let her say it wrong instead. That will surely help her when she tries for the citizenship. I am sure they wont mind pronouncing things wrong at all, that would be rude, after all...
"Jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá" = "What goes around comes around"
I would rather refer it to "you reap what you sow" which is actually also sometimes used in Czech: "Co zaseješ, to sklidíš"
@@nyksiss V amplifikované podobě: seje vítr, sklízí bouři.
pri "natahnout backory" jsem dostala nekontrolovatelny zachvat smichu.
Dobra prace, Jen, velmi dobra prace.
I think a lot of these were just impossible to understand because of wrong translation. They would make more sense translated correctly.
For example "Mazaný jako liška" would be literaly translated to "Lubricated as a fox", but would be correctly translated to "Cunning as a fox", which we all understand :D
I just proposed to my American English teacher (though it's a C1 class and I'm definitely C2) we should do idioms. As he's trying to learn Czech as well, it's going to be an interesting topic to discuss, for both sides of the classroom. Great minds think alike. :-)
Ahoj super! I am slovak and watch from Slovakia and I have a good laugh at your videos.
You’re learning Czech idioms in here and I am learning some new, English ones. But you were so close with pretty much all of these idioms, it’s like you don’t even need a teacher.
As someone with Czech mother, It's really intresting to know what people think about our idioms
there's actually an expression almost identical to "natáhnout bačkory" in english - "to pop your clogs" :)
Definitely one of the funniest episodes. I did LOL. A lot.
Thank you very much for your videos. I am a huge fan of your work.
Could you recommend any websites or books with practical information for Americans who want to move to Czechia? Does the Embassy in Prague offer any help?
Thank you.
I am imagining a Czech mother telling everybody to natáhnout bačkory. 😀
It's lovely to hear you speak more Czech. What an adventure. 😁
By the way the setup of this video looks really pretty.
British English (Northern): "Pop your clogs"
Hi Jen, the Old Quibbler at your service again! :) I like your enthusiasm to learn idioms - as they are difficult to guess - but the speed of catching the meaning revelas how close your thinking got to menatlity of the other nation and it can help a lot. Thumbs up! ;) So this time only small corrections or explanations to get deeper under the surface.
1) "Hrom do police" - is not only a cursing - putting it like: "Je (on/ona/ono) jako hrom do police!", is evaluating someone as very hot-headed and very cumbersome at the same time. Another similar idiom but reffering only to cumbersomeness is: "Je jako slon v porcelánu.".
2) "Hodit šavli" - the vomit nicknamed as "šavle" refers to the shape which vomit has got in a moment it leaves someone's mouths (curved down like a sabre). ;) Kalousek once commented president Zeman's drunk swaying (after spree in russian embassy) while crown jewels were brought out from vault by words: "I heard that the sabre was almost accrued to the crown jewels today."... Funny or sad - I leave to your own consideration.
3) "Zvládnout něco levou zadní." - means to handle something easily as "piece of cake" rather then multitasking. Another idiom of this kind says: "Zvládnout to s prstem v nose/zadku." - "To handle thing while having a finger in a nose/ass.", (his own finger in his own nose/ass of course - it needs some skill - althought in someone else's nose/ass it would be skill of another level...). :D
4) "Jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá." - mum of Forrest's Gump used to say: "Stupid is as stupid does.", which in fact I never fully comprehended but the meaning might be close to: "You get back same what you did." (no matter if good or bad).
5) "Zameť si před vlastním prahem." - in fact full (and more clear) version is: "Než začneš jiným vyčítat nepořádek, zameť si před vlastním prahem.". There is another (quite archaic) version of idiom related to such behaviour: "Pro třísku v oku souseda nevidí trám v oku svém." - "For a sliver in neighbour's eye he does not see a fess in his own eye." - simply lack of (self)critical distance.
6) "Spokl to i s navijákem" - you got it right so I only add that "spolknout něco" metaphoricaly means "to buy it", but addition of "winch" means that someone "bought it" so unquestionaly that except he swallowed bait and trap altogether. Czech idiom refers to fishing - so caught fish swallowed the bait, the fishing line, the fishing pole and also a winch - thus bait worked extremely well (or the fish was extremely silly as she did not realize what she swallows - or both).
7) "Natáhnotu bačkory" - refers to the fact that if someone falls dead he usually stretch his legs and if death came unexpected he most probably was home wearing his "home-shoes" (slippers) so he "streteched his leg in slippers" - abrreviated as "he stratched slippers". No deep thoughts in it. ;)
So it si all for today I guess. Besides - you do not need to change your accent - you rather need to grasp Czech intonation - if you make it your accent will adapt itself. Keep up a good work and buy! ;)
Tak toto stálo za to. Hlavne prst v nose/zadku to totálne zaklincoval.
@@FeroVlkolinsky přesně :D
Dear Jen, I love so much what you do. I watch your videos with enormous pleasure. I read some comments and I realized that young people cannot know the origin of our idiom "hodit šavli". This idiom is at least 60 years old. Its origin is following: There was a Sovietic (Armenian) composer who composed a balet Gaiané, which includes special dance "Sabre Dance". Vere quick and violent dance with many sharp movements. As it was usual at that times, Czech radio played big portion of Russian/Sovietic music, including, pretty often, Sabre Dance . Somebody who vomited, suffering a lot, realized that his movements were quite similar to Sabre Dance. Idiom became very popular soon.
Dear Jen, I have a further idiom for you: "Je hrozná kosa!!" Guess, what does it mean and why.
kúl :) tak i já se dnes naučil docela dost! i idiomy angličtině (jedno jestli UK či US) jsou pro mě často španělskou vesnicí :D
Hrom do police is expression pointing out, that someone is very clumsy
Hi, Jen. I was watching your video. On my backgroound was playing some chrismas music. And than it hit me. Most people like you know nothing about our fairytails. And honestly Czech fairytails are awesome. I do not know where to start when I want to talk about it. Czech republic is sometime considered as fairytail hegemony since we produce like ten fairytails every year. But for you as new person you need just to know important one like "Three Wishes for Cinderella", "The Emperor and the Golem" and simillar. Uff this to big theme for youtube commets.
Hi Jane, you rly suprised but your touch about idioms, thx for this rly funny video. And yes, you take some shots even idioms are ... very often no logical part of language. :) gl
"Cizí peří" has its origin in one of Aesop´s fables about crow, that wanted be as beautiful as peacocks, so she collected their feathers and tried to ornate herself with them.
Brilliant again. Forwarded to my son. Jak se do lesa vola... What you shout into the forest echoes back. And "leva zadni" comes from the perception of a 4-limb creature using front limbs more skillfully and most of the world being right-handed. So "levou zadni" equals with no effort at all. To pull on the slippers = to kick the bucket. I love your videos.
Tyhle videa s idiomy mě opravdu moc baví. Budou i videa s českými pořekadly?
"Chlubit se cizím peřím" was when Babiš came to Brno to show off his super awesome mananing skills when vaccination center was opened, but in reality, he had nothing to with it. It was all managed by Brno council with their own people and own bugdet. Babiš just came to take a picture of himself to brag on social networks.
He received quite a hate for it though.
Sorry jako.
Tady máš taky jeden: "na hrubý pytel hrubá záplata" (a rough patch on a rough sack).
Význam: podobné jako "jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá", jak se k někomu chováš, tak se bude chovat on k tobě (a naopak). Obvykle jako vysvětlení, proč se někdo k někomu choval hruběji / neuctivěji / drsněji, než by se dalo čekat.
Meaning: Similar to "jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá", the way you treat someone, you will be treated back (and vice versa). Usually used as an explanation of (your) ruder behavior as a reaction on (his/her) rudeness. Or self-apology to someone bystanding when the reaction was ruder than bystander expected.
"Natáhnout bačkory"
It originally was "Natáhnót brdečka". "Brdečko" is the Haná dialect name of the strut to which the sides of a harnessed horse are attached. When the horse died in the pull, he stretched his legs, and thus the struts. "Brdečka" were then shortened to "brčka" and then "brka" - quills .
"Brdečka" were also called "paprče", but someone misheard or misunderstood the dialect and heard "papuče", which means "bačkory". So when we say that someone pulled on their slippers, we actually use the Haná dialect and we remember the old part of the horse harness.
I always wondered why we say "natáhnout bačkory". It makes total sense now. Thanks for the explanation of its origin, Ondřeji!👍🏼
@@Katka07 You are welcome, I just put together the Czech internet sources😀👍
Hi Jen, I have a little idea for you next time. It might be nice to see that you try to say some Czecht oungue twisters (short sentences which are hard to pronounce). I've never heard anything like this in English, but I expect that there are also lot of sentences which are hard to say even for native speakers. We have lots of those senteces and I think it could be great video :-)
I can give you few examples:
Od poklopu ku poklopu kyklop kouli koulí
nejkulaťoulinkatější
sklapla pixla, pixla sklapla. Splaskla kapsa, kapsa splaskla.
Královna Klára na klavír hrála.
Pštros s pštrosicí a pštrosáčaty šli do pštrosačárny.
Koza nezaneřáděná
I think it could be fun. Thank you for your videos. I like them very much
hrom do police is actually more like someone who is clumsy and keeps knocking things over
Exactly! On je jak hrom do police! Very clumsy or not able to use diplomacy, not acting gently.
neboli slon v porcelánu.
"Hrom do police" je vždy označení člověka, ne nadávka nebo kletba. "(On) je jako hrom do police" = nešikovný, neohrabaný, rozbíjí věci.
Ve spojení "levou zadní" je nevyslovená (ale automaticky vnímaná) noha. "Tohle zvládnu levou zadní (nohou)" = je to pro mě velmi snadné. Brnkačka!
"Ani ň" - v češtině na ň začínají především slova "něco", "nic", "někdo", "nikdo". Takže "ani ň" = nic, dokonce ani to "ň" z toho "ňic".
Držím palce!
Perfect! You are great... really ! What about: "tady chcípnul pes"
Dělat něco levou zadní - není to levá ruka někde vzadu, ale levá noha (jako třeba u zvířat jsou přední nohy a zadní nohy pravé i levé, tak u člověka se předpokládá, že levá zadní noha bude ještě nešikovnější než levá ruka). Takže dělat něco levou zadní končetinou znamená, že to zvládl velice lehce, bylo to pro něj hodně lehké, proto se to mu to podařilo udělat i tou nemožnou končetinou. Je šikovný.
it was google translation? Cos quite few of them been somewhat off IMO. Like "zvladat levou zadni" seems to me be more like" manage by or with ones left hind limb" ( hind leg would be more precise but ppl dont have front and hind legs).
6:15 V hospodě zaťal sekeru a venku hodil šavli
a doma natáhl brka,...
Others explained idioms or even added some more, so i will be little odd and just recommend two old czech sitcoms (if not already seen) that might be interesting or enlightening.
Retro sitcom Vyprávěj (do tell) maps the period from 1964 to 2005 with a family story.
And comedy sitcom Hospoda (the pub) that shows some raw czech humor.
It might be a challange because its czech spoken.
We also have some good movies (not hollywood level though).
I like your videos and czech enthusiasm and im looking forward to your next videos.
5:36 It is also activation frase for Gizmoduck in czech dubing of Duck tales (90s version ) :-)
You are definitely more successful than me when I am trying to guess a meaning of various english idioms :-D An another easy one for you: ,,Nenápadný jak tikající bomba v kredenci" :-)
"Čumí na to jak tele na nový vrata" is a well-known idiom (Incredulous, flabbegasted when encountering something completely unknown), což navodí další idiom "valit bulvy". But occasionally one can hear a slightly different variation: "Čumí jak holá prdel z houští", which has a somewhat different meaning... 🙂
Kouká jak půl chleba z tašky 😁
@@rtepsutlaf Směje se jak puklej meloun...😄
Akorát to není idiom, ale přirovnání.
"To je jak: Pojď na mě z boku!" :-D
@@johnnyz.9684 Spousta idiomů je založených na přirovnání, tedy analogii či metafoře.
"Hrom do police" is more about person being careless or reckless to point where it leads to collateral damage.
"Levou zadni" is more along line of "I/he can do that with blindfold" or "it's pieve of cake"
left rear is not about cars but about left rear leg at terapod animals - it reflects fact most of humans are right handed so do things by left hand is way harder and emphasized by rear left.
So imagine squirrel is used to do something by her front right limb but something is so easy for her so she can do it by her left rear without any problem
Vymámit z jalové krávy tele - Sell ice to eskimoes. Does that work?
Synonym: "Chytrý jako rádio"
Good one
Well Jalová krava mean that cow is virgin, not have sex with bull or be inseminatet so get calf- tele out of it is inposibel task
@@Mirinovic In English: Heifer
@@BlownC5Z "Chytrý jak rádio" (clever like a radio) or "sežrat Šalamounovo hovno" (eat Solomon's shit) means that the person advise other people without being asked to do so and he/she thinks he/she is very clever.
7:59 "Jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá." A good way how to translate this ideom that I heard of is "Play stupid games, win stupid pricezes." It is not perfect, but I think it gets the sentiment right.
10:01 žr =/= ř . I do get, that it might be difficult to pronounce, but fundamentaly those are 2 separate phones (hlásky), just awkwardly placed one after the other. The same would go for words like "viržínko".
Ahoj.Hanáce bele,só a bodó..😉❤️
I think that a near-identical expression would be the English "not one iota", because the letter "iota" (or Hebrew letter yod) was a tiny mark that resembles an apostrophe, and so came to be equated to "not one little bit".
Hey Jen, how do I explain to my English husband “se/si”? (Divame se na televizi. Udělám si oběd.) I’m czech myself but I can’t figure out how to teach him when to use it. Any help would be appreciated!
Jste chytrá.Celkem vám to šlo.
Vaše dedukce je obdivuhodná.
You are very inventive :-) Jak se do lesa volá... is more descriptive in slovak, because we have "hill/mountain" not a "forest" so the echo is implied directly. "Levá zadní" is of course leg. "Žrát" (to gorge) is pronounced zh-r-aat. "Ržát" means to neigh. "Ani" is pronounced with ň, too. "Ani ň.." is used almost exclusively in the context of speaking, i.e. to crush someone's arguments so completely, or reproach someone so effectivetly, or behave so boldly (and rightfully) that they give up any resistance and "Neřeknou už ani ň". "Vymámit" does not mean extract but rather "to persuade by eloquence and trickery to give you something". "Mam" is delusional attraction, "mámivý" means seductiive (also of a thing/idea).
No tak hora v slovenčine má tiež význam ako synonymum lesa, nie len synonymum kopca.
Hrom do police means clumsy. When somebody rushes in and knocks over something, one may exclaim "Co to děláš? Jsi jak hrom do police!´
Some were idioms mixed with slang . Those are hard to get since slang differs by region and even Czechs themselves have hard time understanding it. But you did pretty good.
10:00 - V tomto případě bych to trošku vysvětlil proč zrovna "sežrat i s navijákem" a upřesnil. Kromě houbařů jsme národ i rybářů. Máme docela hodně rybníků a hodně lidí u nás rybaří. Idiom je zkrácený a v delší podobě by mohl znít "Sežrala (ryba) návnadu i s prutem a navijákem.".
Člověk nemusí být naivka, aby něco "sežral i s navijákem", podstatné je, že daným nepravdivým informací uvěří a úspěšně oklamán.
Příklad: Zloději vytvoří rozruch na druhé straně města a policisté jim to sežerou i s navijákem a nechají nehlídanou banku... Jenže pak v bance zloději zjistí, že se mýlili, protože to byla od policistů návnada, kterou jim zloději sežrali i s navijákem...
10:00 - In this case, I would explain a little why just "eat included a reel" and specify. In addition to mushroom pickers, we are a nation of fishermens too. We have quite a lot of ponds and a lot of people fish here. The idiom is shortened and in a longer form it could sound like "She (a fish) ate bait included a rod and a reel."
One does not have to be a babe to "eat included a ree", the important thing is that they believe the given false information and are successfully deceived.
Example: Thieves create a commotion on the other side of town and the police eat it with a reel and leave an unguarded bank ... But then the thieves find out in the bank that they were wrong, because it was a bait from the police that the thieves ate with the reel...
Good guesses, to be honest I didnt know most of them and I live here my whole life.
- je jako hrom do police - very clumsy person. usually it means you (would) prefer that person to not doing anything for good.
- hodit šavli - to throw saber (singular!). do you know the shape of sabre? and the shape of such 'stream'. sorry for making you pull up that picture, but I guess you could get idea now ;)
- zvládat něco levou zadní - you got it right from totaly different angle! wow! :D levá zadní means actually left leg in this one. left hand is usually less handy and leg definitely is not the best to use as hand. but some people can do it just like that ;)
- jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá - how it is shout into the forest that way forest shouts back. its about echo ;) (we have gipsies but still we are not indians :p)
- zameť si před vlastním prahem - you basically got it right. you just got me with american counterpart. i need to consult how its in english with me cousin..
- chlubit se cizím peřím - to flatter yourself with other persons achievments. its about stealing ideas. work and such.
and try yet these, please:
táhnout se, jak smrad
je to ještě malý pivo
ráno moudřejí večera
lepší vrabec v hrsti, než-li holub na střeše
kdo jinému jámu kopá, sám do ní padá
mlátit loňskou slámu
:)
Re: "Natáhnout bačkory" - The Bavarian Commission wasn't sure on this one in German. But they did have a funny story: Many in the Commission are Paramedics and Firefighters and arrive first on the scene of an accident. In order not to alarm the family or others, when they make the call over the radio they ask, "Hat er die Schuhe an oder aus?" aka "Does he have his shoes on or off?" Shoes On = Alive, Shoes Off = Dead.
Very funny 😄 It would be great to do it from the other side, to have laugh how we Czechs are dumb to know your idioms 😄
We have an idiom similar to the "calf from a barren cow", it's "he could sell refrigerators/iceboxes/ice cubes to Eskimos", I remember that one as a kid.
or snow :-)
@@martindurrer9044 That's pretty much the ultimate.
I think most of those were translated quite questionably, almost too word for word, but not quite... I think the multiple ways you can translate certain Czech words into English was confusing. I get that it was the point of this video to try it without any help at all, but I'd rather see you trying to guess what our funny nation means with their idioms when someone translates them for you to English to somewhat keep the wording and meaning, without explaining it to you :)
For example "levou zadní" refers to doing something using left hind leg (somewhat of an animal body analogy), which you can't really just guess. The same way in "chlubit se cizím peřím" it's not foreign feathers, which is a possible translation, but it's "someone else's feathers". It was kinda the same with "natáhnout bačkory" - natáhnout can mean both stretch and pull on and choosing one over the other can make even less sence then with the right option, because let's face it, pulling on one's slippers hints absolutely nothing about them dying xD
Overall the video was fun, but as I said I think it's more interesting guessing what idioms mean, than guessing how to translate them without losing the meaning entirely.
Dobrý šunky
Jen dying czech mum in english using brooklyn accent is funny and accurate. 😂
Best comment.
Natáhnout bačkory není ve smyslu obout si je, ale prostě umřít - tedy ležet vodorovně, mít natažené nohy v bačkorách (domácí obuvi).
Popřípadě je možné těma bačkorama i zaklepat.
@@breznik1197, přesně tak. Ve stejném vyznamu. Zaklepal bačkorama - zemřel.
I love how you gave the mom in „natáhnout bačkory“ kind of a Brooklyn accent.
Edit: Shoot. I paused the video to comment and only then I found out you noticed, too.
Ten francouzák s tím psem na začátku, tak ten byl super.😂
Notification: "hodit šavli" is a singular, thus you don't"throw sabres" but you "throw a sabre" (sabre is the stuff coming out describing a bow similar to a sabre). "Zvládat levou zadní" doesn't mean to get something "in the left rear" but to get it "with the left rear (leg)" - that results from using the instrumental alias 7. case - you don't have to say the word leg, because it's clear that you use something (a kind of instrument) to get the thing done. Anyways, your video is super funny - I'm going to watch it until the end with pleasure!
Ok, so "Sežral to i s navijákem" is actually quite close to the english one, cause "naviják" here actually referes to the reel on the fishing rod, so it's pretty much the same as the english one, it just uses a different part of fishing rod.
And by the way, "Bought the farm" is actually not really weird, once one knows it's supposed origin. It has comes from military slang and there are several theories about it, but the most common ones refer to a farmer being compensated for a damage on his property caused by a military plane accident, either by suing the government or by direct compensation, which allowed the farmer to pay off the mortgage on the farm. As these accidents were more often than not fatal for the pilot (often still in training), he has "bought the farm" with his life.
Wow, thank you for explaining this one! Never heard it before, but it's very plausible. One is never to old to learn new tricks.
Greetings from Germany ♥️
@@danielahoti4109 You're welcome :) Honestly I wouldn't even know about it if not for a random piece of filk music (yes, filk, as in - sci-fi folk :D ).
Co třeba:
Koupit něco za pět prstů
Pro les nevidí stromy
Kam vítr tam plášť
Mezi slepými (je) jednooký králem
Slepice, která snáší zlaté vejce
Mít za lubem
je to za humny
These were hilarious.
Ouuuu nice video but idioms it´s low level. ;) im from Pilsen and our accent is very different, but for learn it´s perfect.
Plzeňština use lots of sleng word and make a new word for everything.
Can you make a video from Czech Sleng ? In small country is different accent as like british with canada accent.
Hi, have you considered making another review of a czech movie? I've seen a lot of suggestions by your fans (including me 😃) and seeing your point of view is always interesting. But if you don't feel like doing it, of course don't do it
Zdravím, Jen! Opět skvělé video o idiomech! Co zkusit tenhle: "Kolik třešní, tolik višní!" (Češi, psst!)
To je takový překladatelský oříšek
CZ - PL
Jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá
- Jak Kuba Bogu, tak Bóg Kubie
Natáhnout bačkory - kopnąć w kalendarz (kopnout v kalendář)
Ani ň - the shortest idiom I ever saw!
That was interesting! :)
My understanding about the idiom ‘to buy the farm’ is that the family of a farmer who died (whether in military action or in a way that would make life insurance available, e.g.) would then have enough money to pay off the mortgage! :)