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  What it means

  Literally “to marry the scythe,” this phrase comes from traditional Polish agricultural life, where the act of preparing a scythe blade for harvest — peening it on an anvil and honing the edge — was described as “ożenić kosę,” joining blade to stone as if in a union. Figuratively, it means to make thorough, skilled preparations before undertaking a demanding task, ensuring tools and abilities are fully ready.

  Vocabulary

  • ożenić — to marry (off), to join together (transitive perfective)
  • kosę — scythe (accusative of 'kosa')

  Grammar note

  The transitive 'ożenić' (to marry off) takes a direct object in the accusative: 'kosę.' This contrasts with the reflexive 'ożenić się' (to get married oneself).

  Cultural context

  Scythe preparation was a skilled and respected craft in Polish village life; a well-set blade was a mark of a careful, competent farmer, and a dull or poorly balanced scythe was a source of shame.

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