Tonący brzytwy się chwyta
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What it means
“A drowning man grasps at a razor.” In desperation, people will clutch at anything — even something that will hurt them — rather than accept defeat. Describes reckless last-ditch 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 equivalent — a razor is sharper and more dangerous than a straw, emphasising the self-destructive nature of desperation.
Intermediate
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