Budzić się z ręką w nocniku
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What it means
Literally “to wake up with one’s hand in the chamber pot.” Means to suddenly realize you’ve made a terrible mistake or landed in an embarrassing situation — a rude awakening.
Vocabulary
- budzić się — to wake up
- ręka — hand
- nocnik — chamber pot / potty
Grammar note
'Z ręką w nocniku' — 'ręką' is instrumental after 'z'; 'nocniku' is locative after 'w.'
Cultural context
A very colloquial and humorous expression. The image is deliberately undignified.
Intermediate
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