Meaning
Shutting the eyelids.
Cultural Background
In Polish, 'zamknąć oczy' is often used in moralizing contexts to suggest someone is lacking courage. Similar to Poland, it is a common idiom for willful ignorance in professional and social settings. Closing eyes is primarily associated with spiritual practice and inner peace rather than ignorance.
Perfective Verb
Remember that 'zamknąć' is perfective. Use it for a single, completed action.
Don't confuse with 'przymknąć oko'
This is the most common mistake. 'Przymknąć oko' is for forgiving, 'zamknąć oczy' is for ignoring or sleeping.
Meaning
Shutting the eyelids.
Perfective Verb
Remember that 'zamknąć' is perfective. Use it for a single, completed action.
Don't confuse with 'przymknąć oko'
This is the most common mistake. 'Przymknąć oko' is for forgiving, 'zamknąć oczy' is for ignoring or sleeping.
Metaphorical use
Using this phrase in a meeting to describe a problem shows you are critical and observant.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence.
Muszę ____ oczy, bo jestem zmęczony.
You close your eyes when tired.
Which is correct?
Co oznacza 'zamykać oczy na problemy'?
It is a metaphor for ignoring.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Zamknąć oczy vs Przymknąć oko
Zamknąć oczy is for sleep/ignoring, przymknąć oko is for forgiving.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Dlaczego on nic nie robi? B: Bo woli ____ oczy na prawdę.
The phrase is 'zamknąć oczy'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMuszę ____ oczy, bo jestem zmęczony.
You close your eyes when tired.
Co oznacza 'zamykać oczy na problemy'?
It is a metaphor for ignoring.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Zamknąć oczy is for sleep/ignoring, przymknąć oko is for forgiving.
A: Dlaczego on nic nie robi? B: Bo woli ____ oczy na prawdę.
The phrase is 'zamknąć oczy'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, use 'przymknąć oko'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Oczy.
No, it is often a metaphor for ignoring.
Zamknę, zamkniesz, zamknie.
Yes, very common.
No, for a door you use 'zamknąć drzwi'.
Because we have two eyes.
Related Phrases
przymknąć oko
similarto turn a blind eye
otworzyć oczy
contrastto open eyes
mieć oczy dookoła głowy
contrastto be very alert
