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  What it means

  “A bad ballerina is bothered even by the hem of her skirt.” A bad craftsperson always blames their tools or circumstances. Used to dismiss excuses from someone who lacks skill.

  English equivalent

  A bad workman blames his tools.

  Vocabulary

  • baletnica — ballerina
  • przeszkadzać — to bother, to get in the way
  • rąbek — hem, edge
  • spódnica — skirt

  Grammar note

  'Złej baletnicy' is the dative singular — 'przeszkadzać' takes the dative for the person bothered. 'Rąbek spódnicy' uses the genitive 'spódnicy' after 'rąbek'.

  Intermediate

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