• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “to take an example,” this idiom means to follow someone’s example, to model your behaviour on someone else, or to learn from what someone does. It is usually used positively — encouraging someone to imitate good behaviour — though it can occasionally be used sarcastically. Parents use it to push children to emulate a sibling or peer; teachers use it to point to a model student.

  Vocabulary

  • brać — to take (imperfective)
  • przykład — example
  • brać przykład z kogoś — to follow someone's example (take an example from someone)

  Grammar note

  The verb 'brać' is imperfective, indicating a repeated or ongoing habit of following someone's example. The person being emulated is expressed with the preposition 'z' + genitive: 'brać przykład z brata' (to follow your brother's example). This is a transitive phrase; 'przykład' is in the accusative as the direct object.

  Cultural context

  This is a very common, neutral phrase used across all registers from children's speech to formal advice. It is not idiomatic in a surprising way — the meaning is fairly transparent — but it is a fixed phrase that learners will encounter constantly. The English equivalent is 'to follow someone's example' or 'to take a leaf out of someone's book'.

  Beginner

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!