• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “to swallow like a pelican.” This describes someone who is incredibly gullible and believes everything they are told without question. Just as a pelican gulps down large fish whole, a gullible person “swallows” lies, fake news, or tall tales immediately and without skepticism.

  Vocabulary

  • łykać — to swallow / gulp
  • pelikan — pelican
  • naiwny — naive

  Grammar note

  The verb 'łykać' is used here metaphorically. In Polish, verbs of eating and swallowing are frequently used to describe how people process information or deception.

  Cultural context

  This idiom is particularly popular in the age of the internet and social media. It is often used to criticize people who share unverified information or fall for obvious scams.

  Intermediate

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