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  What it means

  Literally “over a longer stretch (of road),” this phrase means “in the long run,” “over time,” or “in the long term.” It signals that the speaker is thinking about sustained or eventual consequences rather than immediate ones. “Na dłuższą metę to się nie opłaca” means “in the long run, it’s not worth it.” The opposite is “na krótką metę” (in the short term). Both expressions are neutral, widely used in planning, economics, health, and personal decision-making.

  Vocabulary

  • dłuższą — longer (accusative feminine of 'długi', comparative form)
  • metę — stretch, distance, finish line (accusative of 'meta')
  • meta — finish line, stretch, distance
  • na krótką metę — in the short run / short term

  Grammar note

  Both 'dłuższą' and 'metę' are in the accusative feminine singular, governed by the preposition 'na' in its directional/temporal sense. 'Meta' here is not the Greek philosophical term but a borrowing from Italian 'meta' (goal, distance), used in sports and then extended to time. Note the comparative adjective 'dłuższa' (longer) from 'długa' (long).

  Cultural context

  This phrase is a favourite in Polish journalism, business communication, and political speech. It is entirely neutral and formal-friendly. Compared to English 'in the long run', it carries a slightly more concrete image of a road or race track, reflecting the sporting origin of 'meta'. It is safe to use in any context where you want to express long-term thinking.

  Intermediate

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