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  What it means

  Literally “to clip [someone’s] wings.” This means to discourage someone, destroy their enthusiasm, or limit their freedom to act and grow. It’s often used when someone’s ambitious plans are thwarted by criticism or harsh reality.

  Vocabulary

  • podciąć — to undercut / trim / clip
  • skrzydło — wing
  • zapał — enthusiasm / zeal

  Grammar note

  'Podciąć' is a perfective verb. 'Skrzydła' is the accusative plural. You would usually use the dative to indicate whose wings are being clipped (e.g., "Podciąłeś **mi** skrzydła" — You clipped **my** wings).

  Cultural context

  This is a very common expression in educational and artistic contexts, where a "bad" teacher might be accused of clipping a student's wings.

  Intermediate

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