Language/Czech/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions
Hi Czech learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn some useful and fun Czech idiomatic expressions that will help you sound more natural when speaking Czech. We will also explore some cultural background that will help you understand the context in which these expressions are used.
Idiomatic expressions
Idiomatic expressions are phrases that have a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words used. Learning idiomatic expressions is an important part of mastering a language, as it helps you to become more fluent and expressive in everyday conversations. Here are some of the most common Czech idiomatic expressions:
Být na koni
This expression literally translates to "to be on a horse", but its meaning is closer to the English expression "to be in the driver's seat". It means to be in a position of power or in control of a situation.
| Czech | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Být na koni | beet na kohni | To be in control/in power |
- Person 1: Myslím, že jsem udělal dobře. (I think I did well.)
- Person 2: Ano, to bylo skvělé, jsi úplně na koni. (Yes, that was great, you are totally in control.)
Mít někoho rád/a jako kůže na těle
This expression literally translates to "to like someone like one's own skin", but it is used to describe someone whom you cannot stand or who rubs you the wrong way.
| Czech | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mít někoho rád/a jako kůže na těle | meet nyekoho raad-ah yakoh kooh-zheh na tay-leh | To hate someone's guts/to find someone unbearable |
- Person 1: Ty noví kolegové jsou zvláštní. (Those new colleagues are strange.)
- Person 2: Jo, já vím, já mám ten pocit, že Tomáši nemůžu vystát, mám ho rád/a jako kůži na těle. (Yeah, I know, I have this feeling that I can't stand Tomáš, I find him unbearable.)
Jít na draka
This expression literally means "to go to the dragon" and it is used to convey the idea of being grounded or being sent to one’s room, as a form of punishment.
| Czech | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jít na draka | yeet na drah-ka | To be grounded |
- Person 1: Neudělal jsem si úkoly. (I didn't do my homework.)
- Person 2: To není dobré, jdi na draka! (That's not good, go to your room!)
Být z ruky
This expression literally translates to "to be from one's hand", but it is used to describe something that is done quickly and efficiently.
| Czech | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Být z ruky | beet z roo-kee | To be done quickly and efficiently |
- Person 1: Jak dlouho ti to trvalo? (How long did it take you?)
- Person 2: Nepočítal jsem to, ale bylo to být z ruky. (I didn't count, but it was done quickly and efficiently.)
Dělat si hlavu
This expression literally translates to "to make a head for oneself", but it is used to describe a situation where someone is overthinking, worrying excessively or stressing out over something.
| Czech | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dělat si hlavu | day-lat si hlah-voo | To overthink/stress out |
- Person 1: Proč nechodíš na ples? (Why don't you go to the dance?)
- Person 2: Musím učit a dělám si z toho hlavu. (I have to study and I'm overthinking it.)
Conclusion
Learning idiomatic expressions is a fun and effective way to improve your language skills, and to sound more like a native speaker. Keep in mind that cultural background is essential to understand the context in which these expressions are used. To further improve your Czech Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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