• Listen

  What it means

  While the horse is being shod, the frog sticks out its leg. Said of someone who meddles or tries to imitate those far above their station.

  Vocabulary

  • koń — horse
  • kuć — to shoe (a horse), to forge
  • żaba — frog
  • noga — leg, foot
  • podstawiać — to stick out, to put forward

  Grammar note

  'Konia kują' uses the accusative 'konia' as the object of 'kuć'. The present tense gives the proverb a vivid, ongoing quality.

  Cultural context

  The frog imitating the horse being shod is a classic image of presumptuous imitation. Related to the fable tradition of animals overreaching their nature.

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!