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  What it means

  Literally “to hide one’s head in the sand,” this idiom describes the act of ignoring a problem or refusing to acknowledge a difficult reality. It suggests a futile attempt to avoid trouble by simply looking away, much like the mythical behavior of an ostrich. Poles use this when criticizing someone who lacks the courage to face a crisis or take responsibility for a situation.

  Vocabulary

  • schować — to hide / to put away (perfective)
  • głowa — head
  • piasek — sand
  • unikać — to avoid

  Grammar note

  The preposition 'w' (into) followed by the accusative case ('piasek') indicates a change of position or direction. This is a classic example of motion toward a destination in Polish grammar.

  Cultural context

  The phrase is identical in meaning to the English "to bury one's head in the sand." In Polish, you can also use the phrase "strusia polityka" (ostrich policy) to describe this type of avoidant behavior.

  Beginner

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