Mieć miedziane / wytarte czoło – pochodzenie i losy frazeologizmu... na tle pokrewnych konstrukcji w języku polskim

Abstract

The aim of the article is a linguistic description of the set phrase mieć miedziane / wytarte czoło (to have a copper / worn forehead – ‘to lack ambition’). The author points to its peculiar etymology and to its formal and semantic status in the older and contemporary phraseographic works as well as in the Polish language corpora. The analysis of the history of this expression has been carried out in the context of related Polish phraseological units. The article presents essential facts concerning the mechanisms of the functioning of selected language forms. These facts may come useful in the process of compiling new lexicographic works.