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  What it means

  Literally “second breath,” this idiom refers to a sudden burst of renewed energy or stamina that occurs after a period of exhaustion. While it originated in sports (referring to a runner’s “second wind”), Poles use it figuratively for any situation—like a project or a relationship—that gets a fresh start or a new wave of motivation. It suggests a recovery of strength just when one was about to give up.

  Vocabulary

  • drugi — second (masculine)
  • oddech — breath
  • energia — energy
  • wysiłek — effort

  Grammar note

  In this phrase, 'drugi' is the masculine form of the ordinal number 'dwa' (two), used here as an adjective to modify the masculine noun 'oddech'.

  Cultural context

  This is very commonly used in Polish sports journalism and business reporting to describe a team or company making a surprise comeback.

  Beginner

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