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  What it means

  “A drowning man grasps at a razor.” In desperation, people may grab at anything, even something that can hurt them, rather than accept defeat. It describes reckless last attempts.

  English equivalent

  A drowning man will clutch at a straw.

  Vocabulary

  • tonący — a drowning person
  • brzytwa — razor
  • chwytać się — to grasp at, to clutch

  Grammar note

  'Brzytwy' is the genitive of 'brzytwa' after 'chwytać się', which governs the genitive. 'Tonący' is a present active participle used as a noun.

  Cultural context

  The Polish version is more dramatic than the English one. A razor is sharper and more dangerous than a straw, showing how desperation can lead to self-harm.

  Intermediate

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