Hey there! This is TOP episode 300. 7 English Idioms You’re Probably Already Using… in Polish
You read English. You understand English. You’ve been learning for years, but when it’s time to speak—your mind just freezes, and the words don’t come out. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve been exactly where you are. I’m Ola Mierniczak, and this is the Teacher Ola Podcast. I’m here to help you finally speak out loud—the words, the ideas, the English that have been stuck in your head for too long. This isn’t about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary. This is about your voice. Your words. Your real English.
Hey, thank you so much for joining! Today we’re gonna talk about 7 useful idioms – and what’s cool about them is that they actually exist in both English and Polish. So chances are, you kinda know them already, right? But let me show you how to actually use them in real life. Not in some textbook-y way, but in a way that sounds natural.
Before we get into that. I have a huge announcement! Remember SAY IT OUT LOUD? SIOL online course PLUS Speaking Club! It’s coming back!!!!!! The course starts in SEPTEMBER but you can join right now. The course starts on the 18 of September but if you join now you can start learning from the online course and you can grab the access to that course at an early-bird price! To join the course visit the website: siol.pl.
And that’s not it! If you want to have that Speaking Club experience you can join a very special event that takes place in the middle of August. This is ONE SPEAKING CLUB. One Speaking Club will give you a taste of how it feels, how it looks like to practise speaking English with me and a bunch of other fantastic people who are on the same mission! You want the same thing. You want to open your mouth and just like that ask a question, disagree with someone, clarify, order food, ask for details, give directions, run that meeting at work, go to that conference, and so on and so forth. You get the idea! Speak. Speak English with real people.
In order to join that experience, ONE SPEAKING CLUB go to teacherola.com/one and complete the form. Because I must say ONE SPEAKING CLUB is not for everybody, it; not an open webinar. I don’t do them anymore, at least for now. But the thing is I want to hear from you! I want to give you space, a safe space for speaking. Because that’s what works. Of course, you might need to organise your grammar, your vocabulary, practice your pronunciation, of course, but! Without speaking it all goes to waste! So join us in August on the 17th! ONE SPEAKING CLUB teacherola.com/one.
Let’s take a look at those 7 idioms that sound the same in English and Polish!
One. Be on your last legs. Być na ostatnich nogach.
Alright, first one, to be on your last legs. Literally, it means you’re like… almost dead. But don’t worry, people use it way more often to talk about being exhausted. Just like we do in Polish!
For example, after a long day at work, you can say:
Honestly, I’m on my last legs, I just wanna crash.
TWO. To break the ice. Przełamać lody.
Next one – break the ice. You know this one. It’s what we all try to do when it’s a bit awkward, and we wanna get people talking.
For instance:
At the meeting yesterday, I told a stupid joke just to break the ice.
Or maybe:
As a teacher, you always do your best to break the ice with a new group.
THREE. Look for a needle in a haystack. Szukać igły w stogu siana.
Okay, idiom number three: it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Meaning something’s basically impossible to find. People use it when they’re frustrated. Like when they’re trying to find something and it’s just hopeless.
For example:
Finding that file on my computer? It’s like a needle in a haystack.
Four. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Niedaleko pada jabłko od jabłoni.
Next up: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This one’s about family. When someone’s similar to their parents in a good or bad way.
So you might say:
Oh, she’s just like her mum, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Or jokingly:
He’s stubborn? Well… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?
FIVE. Time flies.Czas leci.
Fifth one:time flies. So obvious, but we all say it. When you feel like time’s just gone so fast.
Example?
Can you believe it’s July already? Time flies.
Or maybe:
The kids are growing up so fast… time flies, seriously.
SIX. Burn bridges. Palić mosty.
Next idiom: burn bridges. This is a bit more serious. You say it when someone cuts ties completely. Like, they do something that makes it impossible to go back to a relationship, job, whatever.
So you can say:
I left that company, but I didn’t wanna burn bridges.
Or:
He burned bridges with his ex – they don’t talk at all now.
So yeah, think twice before you burn your bridges.
SEVEN. Don’t cry over spilled milk. Nie ma co płakać nad rozlanym mlekiem.
Last one, don’t cry over spilled milk. Basically: stop complaining about something that’s already happened. It’s over. Move on.
For example:
I missed the train, but I’m not gonna cry over spilled milk.
Or:
Yeah, the project failed, but let’s not cry over spilled milk.
It’s a really nice way to tell someone gently to… well, get over it.
Here you have it. 7 English idioms that sound almost the same in Polish and THAT makes them super easy to learn and use! You can drop them in everyday conversations, and trust me, people will understand you straight away. No weird looks. No “what do you mean?” Sort of… natural, right?
Alright, that’s it from me for today. Time flies, so let’s practice.
Let’s practice! Listen to these sentences and repeat them out loud:
Honestly, I’m on my last legs – I just wanna crash.
At the meeting yesterday, I told a stupid joke just to break the ice.
Finding that file on my computer? It’s like a needle in a haystack.
He’s stubborn? Well… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?
Can you believe it’s July already? Time flies.
The kids are growing up so fast… time flies, seriously.
I left that company, but I didn’t wanna burn bridges.
He burned bridges with his ex – they don’t talk at all now.
I missed the train, but I’m not gonna cry over spilled milk.
Yeah, the project failed, but let’s not cry over spilled milk.
Alright, before we finish – just a quick but important reminder! There are TWO separate events coming up and I don’t want you to mix them up. Ready? Let’s go:
Event number one:
ONE SPEAKING CLUB – that’s a one-time event happening in August, on the 17th of August. This is your chance to actually try speaking with me and a small group of people.
To join, go to: teacherola.com/one. Simple as that. Fill out the form, apply and I’ll see you in August! One Speaking Club.
Event number two:
SAY IT OUT LOUD course – this is the full program. The full experience. We officially start on the 18th of September, but you can join now and start learning straight away, plus, you’ll grab that early-bird price!
To join the full course, go to: siol.pl.
So again – two different things:
ONE SPEAKING CLUB – 17th of August – teacherola.com/one
SAY IT OUT LOUD course – starts 18th of September – siol.pl
Got it? Perfect! Save the dates, check the links, and I’ll see you very soon.
And grab your free worksheet at teacherola.com/300.
That’s it for today. Thank you for listening!
I’ll see you next time. I believe in you, I know and you know that you can speak English. Stay fearless, take care, and say it out loud!
I’m your Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to Teacher Ola Podcast.
Bye for now!