Czech idioms: 40 phrases locals actually use

Understand what Czechs really mean when they say someone "has butter on their head." 40 everyday idioms with literal breakdowns, real example sentences, and the English equivalent. For learners past the basics who want to sound less like a textbook.

Subject language

Czech

Study language

English

Who it's for

For intermediate learners who can already hold a basic conversation in Czech and keep hitting phrases that make no literal sense. If you've heard "to je pro mě španělská vesnice" and wondered why anyone's talking about a Spanish village, this set is for you. You don't need advanced grammar — just curiosity about how Czechs actually talk.

What's inside

40 of the most common Czech idioms — the kind you hear in pubs, offices, and on TV. Each card gives you:

the idiom and its real meaning, plus the closest English equivalent;
a natural example sentence with an English translation;
a short note unpacking the literal image ("to throw your rifle into the rye" = to give up).

The selection sticks to living, spoken idioms — no dusty literary proverbs nobody uses.

How to study

Idioms stick best in context, so read each example aloud and picture the literal scene: the camel made from a mosquito, the butter melting on someone's head. Ten minutes a day with spaced repetition is plenty — the vivid images do most of the work. Once these feel natural, broaden your base with "100 essential Czech words to start with" or "Everyday Czech: getting through the day."

mít máslo na hlavě

to have a guilty conscience; be in no position to criticize

Nekritizuj ostatní, sám máš máslo na hlavě. (Don't criticize others when you're guilty too.)

Literally "to have butter on your head" — it melts in the sun and gives you away. Said of someone with something to hide.

házet flintu do žita

to give up; throw in the towel

Po prvním neúspěchu neházej flintu do žita. (Don't throw in the towel after the first setback.)

Literally "to throw your rifle into the rye" — you missed once, so you ditch the gun.

dělat z komára velblouda

to make a mountain out of a molehill

Nedělej z komára velblouda, není to taková tragédie. (Don't make a mountain out of a molehill, it's not that bad.)

In Czech the mosquito turns into a camel, not a mountain.

mít se jako prase v žitě

to live in clover; be in pig heaven

V nové práci se má jako prase v žitě. (In his new job he's living in clover.)

Literally "to live like a pig in the rye" — food up to your ears.

lít jako z konve

to rain cats and dogs; pour down

Vezmi si deštník, leje jako z konve. (Take an umbrella, it's pouring down.)

A "konev" is a watering can — Czech rain pours from a can, not from cats and dogs.

chodit kolem horké kaše

to beat around the bush

Nechoď pořád kolem horké kaše a řekni to. (Stop beating around the bush and just say it.)

Literally "to walk around the hot porridge" — too hot to touch.

mít hlavu v oblacích

to have one's head in the clouds

Ten student má pořád hlavu v oblacích. (That student always has his head in the clouds.)

zabít dvě mouchy jednou ranou

to kill two birds with one stone

Když pojedeš autem, zabiješ dvě mouchy jednou ranou. (If you drive, you'll kill two birds with one stone.)

Czech kills two flies with one blow, not two birds with a stone.

být v sedmém nebi

to be over the moon; in seventh heaven

Po té zprávě byla v sedmém nebi. (After the news she was over the moon.)

tahat někoho za nos

to pull someone's leg; lead someone on

Nevěř mu, jen tě tahá za nos. (Don't believe him, he's just pulling your leg.)

Czech pulls you by the nose, English pulls your leg.

mít kliku

to be lucky; luck out

Měl jsem kliku, že jsem stihl vlak. (I lucked out and caught the train.)

Colloquial. "Klika" is also a door handle, so "to have a handle" means to have luck.

nemastný neslaný

bland; neither one thing nor the other

Ten film byl nějaký nemastný neslaný. (The film was kind of bland and forgettable.)

Literally "neither greasy nor salty" — no flavour, no character.

je to pro mě španělská vesnice

it's all Greek to me

Účetnictví je pro mě španělská vesnice. (Accounting is all Greek to me.)

For Czechs the baffling thing is a "Spanish village"; for English it's a Greek text.

mít plné zuby

to be fed up; sick and tired of

Mám už plné zuby té nekonečné práce. (I'm fed up with this never-ending work.)

Literally "to have full teeth" — no more will fit.

lámat si hlavu

to rack one's brains

Celý den si láme hlavu, jak to vyřešit. (He's been racking his brains all day over how to fix it.)

hodit něco za hlavu

to put something behind you; not dwell on it

Hoď ty starosti za hlavu a odpočiň si. (Put your worries behind you and rest.)

Literally "to throw it behind your head" — leave it in the past.

mít něco na jazyku

to have something on the tip of one's tongue

Mám to jméno na jazyku, ale nevybavím si ho. (The name's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't recall it.)

být v bryndě

to be in a fix; in hot water

Bez peněz jsme teď pěkně v bryndě. (Without money we're really in a fix now.)

A "brynda" is watery slop — sitting in it is no fun.

blesk z čistého nebe

a bolt from the blue

Ta zpráva přišla jako blesk z čistého nebe. (The news came like a bolt from the blue.)

Czech says "lightning from a clear sky" — almost the same picture.

hrát někomu do karet

to play into someone's hands

Tvoje mlčení mu jen hraje do karet. (Your silence only plays into his hands.)

From card games — dealing your opponent the winning hand.

nosit dříví do lesa

to carry coals to Newcastle

Radit jí o vaření je jako nosit dříví do lesa. (Giving her cooking tips is like carrying coals to Newcastle.)

Literally "to carry wood into the forest" — a pointless surplus.

vzít nohy na ramena

to take to one's heels; leg it

Když uviděl psa, vzal nohy na ramena. (When he saw the dog, he took to his heels.)

Literally "to put your legs on your shoulders" and run.

mít pod čepicí

to be sharp; have brains

Ta holka má pod čepicí, zvládne to. (That girl's sharp, she'll manage.)

Literally "to have something under your cap" — brains in place.

dát si dvacet

to take a nap; catch forty winks

Po obědě si rád dám dvacet. (After lunch I like to catch forty winks.)

Literally "to take twenty" minutes of sleep — English counts forty winks.

Questions and answers

How many idioms are in the set?

40 common Czech idioms, each with its meaning, an example sentence, and a note on the literal image.

What level do I need?

Roughly intermediate (A2–B1). You should be comfortable with basic Czech sentences; the idioms themselves are explained in plain English.

Do the cards show the English equivalent?

Yes. Every idiom is glossed with the closest English idiom or meaning, so you're never guessing.

Is there pronunciation?

Idioms are whole phrases, so there's no IPA — but each comes with a full example sentence you can read aloud.

Is it free?

Yes, the set is free to study.

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