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  What it means

  Literally “the mountain gives birth to a mouse.” Means a great effort or buildup that produces a laughably small result — all that fuss for nothing. The Polish equivalent of “much ado about nothing.”

  Vocabulary

  • góra — mountain
  • rodzić — to give birth / to produce
  • mysz — mouse

  Grammar note

  'Rodzi' is 3rd person singular present of 'rodzić'. 'Mysz' is the accusative — the result produced.

  Cultural context

  From the Latin 'parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus' (Horace). The image of a mountain labouring to produce a tiny mouse is universally understood.

  Intermediate

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