idioms

Discussion in 'General Language' started by dzurisova, Dec 11, 2008.

  1. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    When looking at the idioms in this link

    http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech_la ... dioms.html

    one can see that they are written in the infinitive

    "to throw" "to walk"

    I would assume but just want to clarify that the general use is not in these forms. Am I right?

    EX:

    Znát něco jako své boty.
    To know something like one's own shoes.
    To know something like the back of one's hand.

    I assume when using this most Czechs would say Znám to jako své boty or znaš to jako své boty. (I'm thinking the své changes as well, but I'm not sure how)

    Is that right?
     
  2. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    I'm sure you are right, Katko, all those verbs would be conjugated in conversation.

    I like the one....chodit kolem horké kaše.
    Nikdy neříká, co si opravdu myslí. Chodi pořád kolem horké kaše a mám se snažit odhadnout co se snaží říct.
     
  3. Alena

    Alena Well-Known Member

    It's the same as 'Beat around the bush', I think
     
  4. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    Ok, my best translation at this:

    Never say what you think is true. Always walk around hot porridge and I aspire myself to forcase what one aspires to say. :?

    In the words of Oh Brother Where Art Thou - "That don't make no sense" :)
     
  5. Karel_lerak

    Karel_lerak Well-Known Member

    Nikdy neříká, co si opravdu myslí. Chodí pořád kolem horké kaše a já se mám snažit odhadnout, co se snaží říct.

    My translation (not sure about "beat about the bush" - taken from a dictionary):

    He/she never says what he/she really thinks. He/she beats about the bush, and I should guess what he/she wants to say.
     
  6. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    Thanks, can I have a literal word for word translation please?
     
  7. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Katko, here is the literal, word for word, translation. Karel reminded me that I did not clarify a gender.

    Ona neříká nikdy, co si opravdu myslí. Chodi pořád kolem horké kaše a mám se snažit odhadnout co se snaží říct.

    She never says what she really means(is thinking). She always walks around the hot porridge and I have to try to guess what she's trying to say. :D
     
  8. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    Yes, typically it is conjugated, but it needn’t be. It’s like in English. The infinitive forms are used as the basic dictionary forms.

    Not exactly. The Czech verb “mít” is of different meaning when used as a modal verb:

    mít = should, ough, be supposed to…
     
  9. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    So would it be better to use musim (I must try to guess)??
     
  10. Karel_lerak

    Karel_lerak Well-Known Member

    musím se snažit - I have to try
    mám/měl bych se snažit - I should try

    "mám" is not as strong as "musím"
     
  11. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    Another confusing idiom taken from Radio Prague:

    "příliš vysoko - carry their noses too high - meaning they are conceited"

    Slovnik.cz translates příliš as exceeding or too much. So there is nothing in this idiom of the word nose. Is it ALWAYS implied or only implied in the article about noses by Radio Prague? If I were to say it to someone would they know that I'm saying they are conceited? If I were to say it about someone would that be "příli vysoko" and the listener would know I'm saying "she's conceited"?
     
  12. Nikl

    Nikl Active Member

    Carry their noses too high = I would say, they are snobby :wink:
     
  13. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    I believe there was some mistake on the radio.
    It's allways - Nosí nos příliš nahoru / Nosí nos moc vysoko etc...

    There has to be word "nos" in this idiom.
     
  14. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    Thanks (or I recently learned Cheers me deers :) )

    Yet I'm still confused about the word příliš. Is it a verb or an adjective? It looks like a verb in the "ty" form but that wouldn't translate to "too high".
     
  15. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    "Příliš" je příslovce (adverb).
     
  16. Sova

    Sova Well-Known Member

    Yes, it's an adverb. It modifies either an adjective or another adverb (why do I have "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here" running through my mind--here's the text of the video for those who have trouble following along).

    Generally an adverb can modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb, but in the case of příliš, I think it can only modify adjectives and adverbs.

    I think the simplest translation of příliš is "too," as in "too fast, too furious," or "too slowly," etc. In some cases, perhaps, the translation "too much" makes more sense.

    Indubitably ... :)
     
  17. Polednikova

    Polednikova Well-Known Member

    Definitely snobby or as we would probably say in the UK, stuck-up. Another variation would be "She walks round/acts/behaves like she's got a bad smell under her nose!"
     
  18. dzurisova

    dzurisova Well-Known Member

    We mostly say in the States "she carries her head too high" or "she's got a big head" or "she is big-headed". However, we do have one idiom that means the same and relates to the nose: "she's got her nose stuck in the air"

    Thanks Sova, it was fun to go back to elementary school for a moment. :)
     
  19. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    No, it could modify even the verbs or adverbials (= group of words function as an adverb).

    verb:
    příliš pracovat = to work too much/hard/long…, to overwork
    příliš si důvěřovat = to be overconfident

    adverbial:
    příliš z cesty ~ too far from the way

    “Too” or “over-” is the best translation when it is used as an intensifier, but it doesn’t work for the basic adverb. You have either to use something like “overly, excessively, to excess, to a fault” or to insert another adverb (příliš z cesty = too from the way → too far from the way).

    There is also doublet form “přílišně”.

    And pay attention to the negation, it could revert/modify the meaning of “příliš”.

    nemít na výběr = to have no choice
    nemít příliš na výběr = to have little choice
     
  20. Ctyri koruny

    Ctyri koruny Well-Known Member


    Oh that's wonderful, I only wish it were that simple.
     

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