Biedny jak mysz kościelna
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What it means
Literally “poor as a church mouse.” Means extremely poor — the Polish equivalent of the English “poor as a church mouse.”
Vocabulary
- biedny — poor
- mysz — mouse
- kościelny — church (adjective) / of the church
Grammar note
'Jak' introduces the comparison. 'Mysz kościelna' — 'kościelna' is a feminine adjective agreeing with 'mysz.' The church mouse is poor because churches offer little food.
Cultural context
Shared across many European languages. In Poland, the Catholic church's omnipresence makes the image especially vivid.
Beginner
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