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  What it means

  Literally “when the crayfish whistles and the fish squeaks.” Means never — something that will never happen because it is impossible by nature. The Polish equivalent of “when pigs fly.”

  Vocabulary

  • rak — crayfish, crab
  • świsnąć — to whistle (of wind/movement)
  • ryba — fish
  • pisnąć — to squeak

  Grammar note

  Both verbs are perfective future — 'świśnie' and 'piśnie' — in a conditional clause introduced by 'jak' (when/if).

  Cultural context

  Crayfish and fish are mute creatures — the absurdity of them making these sounds makes the 'never' absolute and humorous.

  Intermediate

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