• Listen

  What it means

  “Watch out, cat — it’s about you.” A warning to someone who is the subject of a conversation or situation without realising it. Used to alert someone that they are the one being discussed or that the matter concerns them directly.

  English equivalent

  Talk of the devil.

  Vocabulary

  • wara — beware, watch out (archaic exclamation)
  • kot — cat
  • iść o kogoś — to be about someone, to concern someone
  • cię — you (archaic/poetic accusative of ty)

  Grammar note

  'Wara' is an archaic imperative-like exclamation. 'Idzie o cię' uses the archaic accusative 'cię' instead of modern 'ciebie'; 'iść o kogoś' means 'to be at stake for someone'.

  Cultural context

  An old proverb using the cat as a stand-in for a person who doesn't realise they are the subject of discussion.

  Advanced

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