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  What it means

  Literally “dripped out,” this adjective is used to describe a person who is the spitting image of a relative. It is almost always followed by the person being imitated, such as “wykapany ojciec” (the spitting image of his father). It suggests that the resemblance is so strong it’s as if the child was a drop of liquid taken directly from the parent.

  Vocabulary

  • kapać — to drip
  • kropla — a drop
  • podobny — similar

  Grammar note

  'Wykapany' is a passive participle used as an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the person being described. Unlike many other idioms, it does not require a complex prepositional phrase to function.

  Cultural context

  The origin lies in the folk belief that a child is "dropped" from the parent, much like one drop of water is identical to another. It is a very common and warm way to comment on family resemblances at gatherings.

  Beginner

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