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  What it means

  Literally “gas to the board (floor),” this idiom means to accelerate fully — to press the gas pedal all the way to the floor. Figuratively it means to go full speed, give everything you have, or act without restraint. Poles use it when driving, talking about work effort, or describing any situation where maximum effort or speed is applied: “Dał gaz do dechy i wyprzedził wszystkich.” It is energetic, colloquial, and very vivid.

  Vocabulary

  • gaz — gas; accelerator pedal (colloquial)
  • decha — plank, board; colloquially: floor, footwell (genitive: dechy)
  • do — to, up to (preposition governing genitive)

  Grammar note

  'Do dechy' uses the preposition 'do' with the genitive case of 'deska/decha' (plank/board). The preposition 'do' here expresses direction/limit — 'right down to the board.' The phrase is used as an adverbial complement after 'dać gaz' (give gas) or simply 'gaz do dechy' as an exclamation.

  Cultural context

  The phrase comes from car culture and is widely understood across generations. It is fully colloquial — you would not use it in a formal report, but it is perfectly natural in conversation, sports commentary, or headlines. It is functionally equivalent to English 'pedal to the metal' or 'full throttle.'

  Beginner

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