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  What it means

  Literally “to the disadvantage,” this phrase means to someone’s detriment or against someone’s interests. It is used when describing a situation, ruling, or circumstance that harms or works against a person or group. In everyday speech, Poles say that something “działa na niekorzyść kogoś” — works to someone’s disadvantage. It often appears in legal, formal, or journalistic contexts when discussing outcomes that are unfavorable.

  Vocabulary

  • niekorzyść — disadvantage, detriment
  • na — to, for (here: against, to the)
  • działać na niekorzyść — to work against, to be detrimental to

  Grammar note

  The phrase uses the preposition 'na' with the accusative case: 'niekorzyść' (accusative of 'niekorzyść'). It is typically followed by a genitive noun indicating whose disadvantage is meant, e.g. 'na niekorzyść pozwanego' (to the defendant's disadvantage). The opposite is 'na korzyść' (to the advantage of).

  Cultural context

  This is a neutral to formal expression most often encountered in legal documents, court rulings, and news reporting. It carries no emotional charge but signals an objective assessment of who loses out. Its direct antonym 'na korzyść' is equally common.

  Intermediate

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