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  What it means

  Literally “to swear like a cobbler.” Means to curse constantly and colourfully — “to swear like a trooper,” “to curse like a sailor.”

  Vocabulary

  • kląć — to curse, to swear
  • szewc — cobbler, shoemaker

  Grammar note

  'Jak szewc' — nominative after 'jak' in a comparison.

  Cultural context

  Cobblers had a reputation in Polish folk culture for foul language — possibly because of the frustrating, painstaking nature of their work. 'Pijany jak szewc' (drunk as a cobbler) is another phrase from the same tradition.

  Intermediate

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