Będzie z niego ksiądz jak z diabła kościelny.
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What it means
“He will make a priest about as well as the devil makes a church sexton.” He is plainly unsuited to the role. The image is as absurd as putting the devil in charge of a church, and it is used when a plan seems impossible because of someone’s character or behaviour.
English equivalent
When pigs fly.
Vocabulary
- będzie — there will be, he will be (3rd person future of być)
- ksiądz — Catholic priest
- diabeł — devil; z diabła = from the devil (genitive after z)
- kościelny — church sexton, verger (noun); also: of the church (adjective)
Grammar note
'Z niego' and 'z diabła' both use 'z + genitive' in the sense of 'out of / from': 'he will become a priest' = 'będzie z niego ksiądz'. The comparison 'jak z diabła kościelny' mirrors the structure.
Cultural context
A 'kościelny' is a church sexton. Saying that even the devil could not do this church job makes the comparison more absurd.
Intermediate
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