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  What it means

  “The blacksmith was at fault, but they hanged the Gypsy.” The guilty party goes free while an innocent or weaker person takes the punishment. A sharp comment on injustice and scapegoating.

  English equivalent

  The guilty escape, the innocent suffer.

  Vocabulary

  • kowal — blacksmith
  • zawinić — to be at fault, to sin
  • Cygan — Gypsy, Roma person
  • powiesić — to hang

  Grammar note

  'Zawinił' is perfective past of 'zawinić'. 'Powiesili' is the impersonal third-person plural past, meaning 'they hanged'.

  Cultural context

  Reflects historical prejudice and the vulnerability of marginalised groups to unjust punishment. Used today to criticise any situation where blame falls on the wrong person.

  Intermediate

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