• Listen

  What it means

  “To put one’s head on the block.” To stake everything on something, to take a huge personal risk — to be so certain or committed that you’d risk your head for it.

  Vocabulary

  • dawać — to give (imperfective)
  • głowa — head
  • topór — axe
  • pod topór — under the axe (accusative)

  Grammar note

  'Pod topór' uses the accusative of 'topór' after 'pod' (motion towards). 'Głowę' is accusative of 'głowa'.

  Cultural context

  A vivid historical image of execution by axe. Used to express absolute certainty or total commitment.

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!