Niedźwiedzia przysługa
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What it means
Literally “a bear’s favour.” A favour that caused more trouble than it was worth — well-intentioned help that made things worse.
Vocabulary
- niedźwiedź — bear
- niedźwiedzi — bear's (possessive adjective)
- przysługa — favour / service
Grammar note
'Niedźwiedzia' is the feminine nominative of the possessive adjective 'niedźwiedzi', agreeing with 'przysługa' (feminine noun).
Cultural context
Based on an old fable in which a bear, trying to help his sleeping master by shooing away a fly, kills him with a rock. The image stuck.
Intermediate
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