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  What it means

  Literally “to twist a whip for oneself.” This vivid idiom means to behave in a way that will eventually lead to your own punishment or trouble. It is used when someone creates a rule or a situation that they will later regret because it will be used against them.

  Vocabulary

  • kręcić — to twist / wind / spin
  • bat — whip
  • bicz — scourge / whip (synonym)

  Grammar note

  The reflexive pronoun 'siebie' (oneself) is used after 'na' to show the action is directed back at the speaker. 'Siebie' does not have a nominative form and is used for all persons (me, you, him, etc.).

  Cultural context

  The imagery comes from the manual labor of twisting fibers together to make a whip. It carries a sense of irony—working hard on something that will ultimately cause you pain.

  Intermediate

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