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  What it means

  Literally “to give to thinking,” this idiom means to give someone something to think about. It can prompt reflection, raise doubts, or give someone food for thought. It describes a remark, event, or piece of information that makes a person pause and reconsider their views. Poles use it when something makes them think more deeply about a subject, or when an idea is thought-provoking.

  Vocabulary

  • dać — to give (perfective infinitive)
  • do — to, for (preposition taking genitive)
  • myślenia — thinking (genitive of 'myślenie')
  • myślenie — thinking, thought (verbal noun)

  Grammar note

  The preposition 'do' takes the genitive, so 'myślenie' (thinking) becomes 'myślenia.' The verb 'dać' (to give) is perfective and presents the prompting of thought as complete. The phrase can take an indirect object: 'To mi dało do myślenia' ('That gave me food for thought'), where 'mi' is the dative form of 'ja' (I).

  Cultural context

  This neutral expression works in formal and informal speech and writing. It often appears in journalism and commentary (''Ten raport powinien dać do myślenia'' means ''This report should give us food for thought''). The English equivalent is ''to give food for thought'' or ''to make one think.'' It is not negative, but simply invites quiet, careful reflection.

  Intermediate

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