Jak słoń w składzie porcelany
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What it means
Literally “like an elephant in a porcelain shop.” Describes someone who is clumsy, tactless, or causes chaos wherever they go — “like a bull in a china shop.”
Vocabulary
- słoń — elephant
- skład — shop, store, warehouse
- porcelana — porcelain, china
Grammar note
'W składzie' uses the locative of 'skład' after 'w'. 'Porcelany' is genitive of 'porcelana' — genitive of material/type.
Cultural context
The Polish version uses 'skład' (shop/warehouse) rather than 'sklep' — a slightly old-fashioned word that gives the phrase a classic feel.
Beginner
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