po ptŏkach

Silesian

Etymology

Literally, “[the] birds [are] lost”.

The phrase alludes to the practice of sending birds into mineshafts to test for the presence of asphyxiants such as carbon monoxide or methane. If present, the birds would exhibit symptoms earlier than humans, protecting human life. Compare English canary in a coal mine.

Phrase

po ptŏkach

  1. (idiomatic) a day after the fair (too late to change what has already happened)

Descendants

→ Polish: po ptokach

Further reading

  • Bogdan Kallus (2020) “po ptŏkach”, in Słownik Gōrnoślōnskij Gŏdki, IV edition, Chorzów: Pro Loquela Silesiana, →ISBN
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