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  What it means

  Literally “to have milk under one’s nose,” this idiom is used to describe someone who is very young, immature, or inexperienced. The image refers to a young person (usually a boy) who hasn’t even started shaving yet, or perhaps a child who just finished drinking milk. It is often used dismissively by older people to suggest that someone is too “green” to be taken seriously in a particular situation.

  Vocabulary

  • mleko — milk
  • nos — nose
  • młody — young
  • doświadczenie — experience

  Grammar note

  The preposition 'pod' (under) requires the instrumental case when describing a static location. Therefore, the masculine noun 'nos' remains 'nosem.'

  Cultural context

  This expression is similar to the English "wet behind the ears." It specifically targets the "young and cocky" demographic and is a common way for seasoned professionals to talk about new interns or recruits.

  Beginner

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