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  What it means

  “You don’t measure a man by the bushel.” A person’s worth cannot be judged by material wealth or possessions alone.

  English equivalent

  Don't judge a book by its cover.

  Vocabulary

  • chłop — peasant, man
  • korzec — bushel (old unit of dry measure)
  • mierzyć — to measure

  Grammar note

  'Chłopa' is genitive singular (object of negated verb). 'Korcem' is instrumental of 'korzec'. Impersonal construction with third person plural 'mierzą'.

  Cultural context

  The korzec was a standard grain measure in old Poland; using it to 'measure' a man highlights the absurdity of reducing human value to material quantity.

  Intermediate

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