Nie porywaj się z motyką na słońce
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What it means
“Don’t charge at the sun with a hoe.” A warning against taking on tasks or opponents that are far beyond one’s abilities. Don’t overreach or attempt the impossible.
English equivalent
Don't bite off more than you can chew.
Vocabulary
- porywać się — to rush at, to take on recklessly
- motyka — hoe (a farming tool)
- słońce — sun
Grammar note
'Z motyką' is the instrumental case ; 'with a hoe'. 'Na słońce' uses the accusative after 'na' indicating direction/target.
Cultural context
The image of a peasant swinging a hoe at the sun captures the absurdity of hopeless overambition in a vivid, rural Polish way.
Intermediate
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