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  What it means

  Literally “in Adam’s / Eve’s outfit,” this idiom is a polite or humorous way to say someone is completely naked. It evokes the imagery of the first humans before they ate the forbidden fruit and felt the need for clothing. Poles use it to avoid being overly graphic, often when talking about skinny-dipping or a child running around without clothes.

  Vocabulary

  • strój — outfit / costume / attire
  • Adam / Ewa — Adam / Eve
  • w (czymś) — in (something)

  Grammar note

  The names 'Adama' and 'Ewy' are in the genitive case to show possession (Adam's/Eve's). The word 'strój' is in the locative case ('stroju') because it follows the preposition 'w' denoting a state or location.

  Cultural context

  This is a direct biblical reference to the Garden of Eden common across many European languages. It is the exact Polish equivalent of the English "in one's birthday suit."

  Beginner

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