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  What it means

  Righteous oil always rises to the top. Truth and justice will come to light in the end, even if someone tries hard to hide them.

  English equivalent

  Truth will out. / Cream rises to the top.

  Vocabulary

  • oliwa — oil (olive oil)
  • sprawiedliwy — righteous, just, fair
  • wierzch — top, surface
  • wypływać — to float up, to flow out

  Grammar note

  'Na wierzch' uses the accusative after 'na' indicating direction. 'Oliwa sprawiedliwa' is the nominative subject.

  Cultural context

  The saying comes from oil floating on water. Here, 'oliwa' stands for truth or justice.

  Intermediate

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