Polish parliament
A deliberative but indecisive institution.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Our team meetings often feel like a Polish parliament.”
“This project group is a Polish parliament because nobody can agree on the first step.”
“The committee spent three hours arguing without reaching a single decision, turning the meeting into a total Polish parliament.”
“The family dinner became a Polish parliament when everyone suggested a different vacation spot but refused to vote on a final choice.”
“The legislative session devolved into a chaotic Polish parliament, characterized by endless procedural disputes that effectively paralyzed any meaningful progress on the proposed reforms.”
The idiom derives from the legislative procedures of the Sejm, wherein the early governing rules granted an absolute veto to every nobleman held to be a member. This requirement for total unanimity ensured that a single dissenting voice could dissolve a session and nullify any legislation previously passed, a parliamentary structure that favoured total paralysis over the inconvenience of compromise.
- 01
polish a turd
To work on a time-consuming and ultimately pointless or impossible task; to try to perfect what is inherently bad.
- 02
polish off
To finish completely, especially a food (polish the plate with one's tongue) or liquor.
- 03
you can't polish a turd
Something inherently unfavourable or unpleasant cannot be improved.
Last updated August 10, 2026