Jak się chce psa uderzyć, kij się znajdzie
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What it means
If you want to hit a dog, you’ll find a stick. Meaning: if someone is determined to harm or blame another, they will always find a pretext or means to do so.
English equivalent
Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
Vocabulary
- uderzyć — to hit, to strike
- kij — stick
- znaleźć się — to be found, to turn up
Grammar note
'Się znajdzie' uses reflexive 'się' in an impersonal construction: something will be found.
Cultural context
Used when someone is clearly looking for an excuse to punish or blame another person.
Intermediate
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