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  What it means

  Literally “to take on hold,” this idiom means to wait and see, to hold off, or to proceed cautiously before committing to something. It conveys a deliberate pause — holding back from a decision or action until more information is available. Poles use it when advising someone not to rush, when expressing their own hesitation, or when describing a careful, wait-and-watch strategy.

  Vocabulary

  • brać — to take (imperfective)
  • na — on, onto (preposition)
  • wstrzymanie — holding back, pause, withholding (verbal noun from wstrzymać)
  • wstrzymać — to hold back, to stop, to suspend

  Grammar note

  Na wstrzymanie uses na with the accusative of the verbal noun wstrzymanie. The phrase is typically used in the first or third person and often functions as advice: Bierz na wstrzymanie ('Hold off, wait and see'). The imperfective brać emphasizes the ongoing state of holding back.

  Cultural context

  This is a distinctly colloquial expression with a slightly cautious, pragmatic flavor. It's commonly heard in everyday conversation when someone counsels patience — for example, before buying something or making a life decision. A close English equivalent is 'hold your horses,' 'wait and see,' or 'sit tight.'

  Intermediate

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