• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “at arm’s reach” or “within a hand’s stretch,” this phrase describes something that is very close, easily accessible, or nearly within grasp. “Sklep jest na wyciągnięcie ręki” — “The shop is right around the corner / within arm’s reach.” Figuratively, it means something is almost achieved or is very attainable: “Sukces był na wyciągnięcie ręki” — “Success was within reach.”

  Vocabulary

  • wyciągnięcie — stretching, reach (verbal noun from 'wyciągnąć')
  • wyciągnąć — to stretch out, to reach out
  • ręki — of the hand (genitive of 'ręka')
  • ręka — hand, arm

  Grammar note

  The phrase uses 'na' with a genitive construction: 'wyciągnięcie' (verbal noun, genitive governed by 'na' in the sense of 'at the point of') followed by 'ręki' (genitive of 'ręka'). This is a frozen prepositional phrase and functions adverbially.

  Cultural context

  This is a neutral, vivid everyday expression used in both literal and figurative senses. It is equivalent to the English idioms 'within arm's reach,' 'within reach,' or 'at one's fingertips.' Poles use it frequently to describe proximity (physical or metaphorical) in a natural, colloquial way.

  Beginner

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