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  What it means

  Literally “where the devil can’t manage, he’ll send a woman.” Means that a determined woman can succeed where even the devil fails — used to describe someone (usually a woman) who is unstoppably persistent or cunning.

  Vocabulary

  • diabeł — devil
  • posłać — to send (perfective)
  • baba — woman / old woman (colloquial)

  Grammar note

  'Nie może' — negated modal verb. 'Pośle' is the future perfective of 'posłać'. 'Babę' is the accusative of 'baba'.

  Cultural context

  Ambiguous in tone — can be a compliment to women's tenacity or a sexist jab depending on context. Widely known regardless.

  Intermediate

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