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  What it means

  Literally “The devils don’t take the wicked.” The ironic logic here is that the devil supposedly avoids particularly evil people — perhaps because they are too useful on Earth, or perhaps out of professional camaraderie. Figuratively, the proverb is used humorously to describe people who seem indestructible, who always escape harm or punishment despite their bad behaviour. It is often said of someone who survives illness, accidents, or disasters against all odds.

  English equivalent

  The devil looks after his own.

  Vocabulary

  • złego — the wicked one, the evil one (genitive singular of 'zły')
  • diabli — devils (nominative plural of 'diabeł')
  • nie biorą — do not take (third-person plural present of 'brać')

  Grammar note

  'Złego' is genitive singular of the adjective 'zły' used as a noun (substantivised adjective) meaning 'the evil/wicked one'. 'Biorą' is the third-person plural present of 'brać' (to take), an irregular verb — infinitive 'brać', stem changes: 'biorę, bierzesz, bierze, bierzemy, bierzecie, biorą'. The verb is negated by 'nie' placed directly before it.

  Cultural context

  Used with light-hearted irony, this proverb is most often applied to someone who just recovered from a serious illness or survived a dangerous situation. It is colloquial and informal in register. Despite its religious framing, modern Poles use it in completely secular contexts — it is closer to dark humour than to theology.

  Intermediate

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