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  What it means

  Literally “the mountain gave birth to a mouse.” Describes a situation where enormous effort, preparation, or expectation produces a laughably small result. From the Latin proverb ‘parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.’

  Vocabulary

  • góra — mountain
  • urodzić — to give birth to (perfective)
  • mysz — mouse

  Grammar note

  'Mysz' is the accusative singular — the object of 'urodziła'.

  Cultural context

  Known in Polish since at least the Renaissance via Horace's Ars Poetica. Still very much in active use.

  Intermediate

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