#topic: movement

[polish-idioms-explained]

Jak słoń w składzie porcelany

register: general tone: derogatory

direct translation: like an elephant in a china (porcelain) store

free translation: like a bull in a china shop

Meaning: To act clumsily. The meaning in Polish is usually restricted to physical clumsiness, and does not extend very often to inflicting damage as a result of poor decision-making.

Example: Jasiek od rana zbił wazon i dwa talerze. Ten chłopak rusza się jak słoń w składzie porcelany.

[polish-idioms-explained]

Szczupakiem / na szczupaka

register: colloquial

Direct translation: like a pike (fish) / in a pike-ish manner

Meaning: an epithet to describe an abrupt jump: rzucić się szczupakiem (to lunge like a pike), skoczyć szczupakiem (to jump like a pike), polecieć na szczupaka (to dive/fall like a pike).

Context: Both the instrumental case and na + genitive case construction are often used in names of styles and manners of doing something. E.g. in swimming: breaststroke - płynąć żabką, dog paddle - płynąć pieskiem.

Example:

Marcin rzucił się szczupakiem w kierunku piłki.