Oko za oko, ząb za ząb
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What it means
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Retaliation in kind — punishment or revenge should match the original offence exactly.
English equivalent
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vocabulary
- oko — eye
- ząb — tooth
- za — for, in exchange for
Grammar note
Both 'oko' and 'ząb' appear in the nominative (subject) and then after 'za' in the accusative. The structure is parallel: noun + za + noun.
Cultural context
Originates from the biblical lex talionis (Exodus 21:24). Widely known across cultures.
Beginner
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