I w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu
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What it means
A politer variant of the same idea: even in the most capable hands, you cannot transform one thing into something fundamentally different. Limitations of raw material cannot be overcome by skill alone.
English equivalent
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Vocabulary
- owies — oats
- ryż — rice
Grammar note
'Z owsa' is the genitive of 'owies' after 'zrobić z'.
Cultural context
A milder, more polite version of the vulgar variant, suitable for all company.
Beginner
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