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  What it means

  “A monk who doesn’t speak and a cat that doesn’t hunt are both in a bad way.” Everyone must fulfil their natural role or purpose — a monk should preach and a cat should catch mice. Failing to do what you’re meant to do leads to trouble.

  English equivalent

  A cat in gloves catches no mice.

  Vocabulary

  • mnich — monk
  • niemowny — speechless, not speaking
  • niełowny — not catching, not hunting
  • miewać się — to fare, to be getting on

  Grammar note

  'Niemowny' and 'niełowny' are adjectives formed with the negating prefix 'nie-'. 'Źle się miewają' uses the reflexive verb 'miewać się' in the third-person plural.

  Intermediate

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