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  What it means

  Literally “to have one’s own [things] behind the ears,” this idiom means to have a history of misdeeds, secrets, or things to be ashamed of. It is used to suggest that someone is not as innocent as they appear and has “skeletons in the closet.” You might hear this when discussing a politician’s past or a troublemaking acquaintance who is acting like they’ve done nothing wrong.

  Vocabulary

  • ucho — ear
  • za — behind
  • swoje — one's own (things/doings)
  • przewinienie — offense / misdeed

  Grammar note

  'Uszami' is the instrumental plural form of the irregular noun 'ucho' (ear). The preposition 'za' requires the instrumental case when describing a static location (behind), making this a great example of plural case endings.

  Cultural context

  The origin likely comes from the idea of dirt or stains hidden behind the ears—places that are hard to see but prove someone hasn't washed properly. It is the perfect equivalent to the English "to not be a saint" or "to have a few things on one's conscience."

  Intermediate

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