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  What it means

  Literally “on credit.” This can be used literally in banking (buying a car on credit) or figuratively. Figuratively, it refers to getting something (like praise or success) before you have actually earned it, or living a life that you cannot truly afford.

  Vocabulary

  • kredyt — credit / loan
  • dług — debt
  • pożyczyć — to borrow

  Grammar note

  'Na kredyt' uses the accusative case of 'kredyt'. It is used after verbs like 'kupować' (to buy) or 'żyć' (to live).

  Cultural context

  In the communist era, buying "na zeszyt" (on the notebook) was the local version of "on credit," where the shopkeeper would write your debt in a small book.

  Beginner

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