Kolos na glinianych nogach
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What it means
Literally “a colossus on clay feet.” Describes something that appears powerful and impressive but has a fundamental weakness at its foundation — “a giant with feet of clay.”
Vocabulary
- kolos — colossus, giant
- gliniany — clay (adjective)
- nogi — legs, feet
Grammar note
'Na glinianych nogach' uses the locative plural of 'gliniane nogi' after 'na'.
Cultural context
From the Book of Daniel (2:31–33) — Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue with a golden head and clay feet. The image entered Polish through the Bible and is widely understood.
Intermediate
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