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  What it means

  Literally: “Every rooster is bolder on his own dunghill.” A rooster is brave and dominant on his own turf, but may be far less impressive elsewhere. Figuratively, people feel confident and assertive in their own familiar environment — at home, in their hometown, or in their area of expertise — but may lack that confidence when taken out of their element. Poles use it to describe someone who is loud and domineering at home but timid or unimpressive elsewhere.

  English equivalent

  Every cock is bold on his own dunghill. / A big fish in a small pond.

  Vocabulary

  • kogut — rooster, cock
  • swych — one's own (genitive plural of swój)
  • śmieciach — on the dunghill/rubbish (locative plural of śmieci — here meaning the farmyard rubbish heap, a rooster's domain)
  • śmielszy — bolder, more daring (comparative of śmiały)

  Grammar note

  'Na swych śmieciach' uses the locative case after 'na' (on/at). 'Swych' is the genitive/locative plural form of the reflexive possessive pronoun 'swój.' 'Śmielszy' is a comparative adjective in the nominative masculine singular, predicative here (the rooster *is* bolder).

  Cultural context

  This proverb has a slightly humorous, ironic tone — it can be used affectionately or as gentle mockery. It's particularly applied to someone who boasts or dominates at home or in their village but is ordinary everywhere else. It is neutral in register and recognizable across generations.

  Intermediate

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