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  What it means

  Literally “to give from oneself everything,” this idiom means to give one’s absolute best — to hold nothing back and commit fully to a task or performance. It expresses wholehearted dedication rather than mere effort. Poles use it in sports, at work, and in personal life to describe someone who is going all out.

  Vocabulary

  • dawać — to give (imperfective)
  • z siebie — from oneself (preposition *z* + genitive of reflexive pronoun *siebie*)
  • wszystko — everything (accusative, direct object)

  Grammar note

  The phrase *z siebie* uses the preposition *z* with the genitive of the reflexive pronoun *siebie* (oneself), emphasising that what is given comes from within the person. *Wszystko* is in the accusative as the direct object. The perfective form *dać z siebie wszystko* refers to a single all-out effort: *dał z siebie wszystko* — 'he gave it his all.'

  Cultural context

  A motivational and sincere expression, used in both formal contexts (sports commentary, speeches) and everyday conversation. It carries no irony in standard use and is the direct Polish equivalent of 'to give it your all' or 'to give 110 percent.' Common in team sports and workplace pep talks.

  Beginner

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