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  What it means

  Literally “a coconut deal,” this idiom means a goldmine — a highly profitable business venture or transaction. The coconut, associated with exotic richness and sweetness, lends its name to anything that brings in big money. “Zrobić kokosowy interes” means to make a killing, to pull off a very lucrative deal. The phrase can be genuine praise or envious admiration: “Ona zrobiła prawdziwy kokosowy interes sprzedając tę działkę” — She made a real killing selling that plot of land.

  Vocabulary

  • kokosowy — coconut (adjective); colloquially: hugely profitable
  • kokos — coconut; also: big money (colloquial)
  • interes — business, deal, transaction, affair

  Grammar note

  'Kokosowy' is a regular adjective agreeing with the masculine noun 'interes' in nominative singular masculine. The colloquial extension of 'kokos' to mean money or profit is productive: Poles also say 'zarabiać kokosy' (to earn a fortune, literally 'to earn coconuts'). The phrase 'kokosowy interes' is always masculine in form.

  Cultural context

  The word 'kokos' entered Polish colloquial speech as slang for easy, abundant money — possibly through the image of coconuts as exotic, effortlessly plentiful treasure. 'Zarabiać kokosy' and 'robić kokosowy interes' are both common informal expressions. Register: informal, colloquial — appropriate in conversation, not business correspondence.

  Intermediate

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