Lizać rany
Listen
What it means
Literally “to lick one’s wounds.” Just like an animal retreating to a safe place to clean its injuries after a fight, this idiom describes a person or a group withdrawing after a defeat to recover, rethink their strategy, and wait for their “pain” (emotional or financial) to subside. It implies a temporary period of quiet and healing before trying again.
Vocabulary
- lizać — to lick
- rana — wound
- porażka — defeat / failure
Grammar note
'Rany' is the accusative plural of 'rana'. Since it is a feminine noun, the accusative plural ending is '-y'. The verb 'lizać' is imperfective, emphasizing the process of recovery.
Cultural context
This is a universal metaphor that is very common in Polish sports reporting and political analysis after an election loss.
Beginner
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