Kto nie umie kraść i oszukiwać, nie ma się po co w Warszawie znajdywać
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What it means
“Whoever can’t steal and deceive has no business being in Warsaw.” A sardonic proverb poking fun at Warsaw’s reputation for cunning and sharp dealing. Used humorously to suggest that city life rewards the crafty.
Vocabulary
- kraść — to steal
- oszukiwać — to deceive, to cheat
- znajdywać się — to find oneself, to be (somewhere)
Grammar note
'Nie ma się po co' is an impersonal construction meaning 'there is no reason to / no point in'.
Cultural context
A regional jab at Warsaw, reflecting historical tensions between the capital and the rest of Poland.
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