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złapał Kozak Tatarzyna, a Tatarzyn za łeb trzyma

//ˈzwa.paw ˈkɔ.zak ta.taˈʐɘ.na |a‿taˈta.ʐɘn za‿ˈwɛp ˈtʂɘ.ma//
Polishproverb

Definitions

  1. 1.
    someone in a conflict situation thinks they have won, but in fact it is the other party that has the upper hand

Etymology

Rhyme, literally, “a Cossack has caught a Tatar, but the Tatar holds his head”, as the Tatars were stereotypically considered tall while the Cossacks were considered short.

Nearby Polish words

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