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  What it means

  Literally, “work shortens years.” When people are busy with useful work, time seems to pass quickly and life can feel fuller. The saying encourages activity over idleness and is often used to praise a hard-working person or the value of staying busy in old age.

  English equivalent

  Time flies when you're busy.

  Vocabulary

  • praca — work (nominative)
  • lat — of years (genitive plural of rok)
  • skraca — shortens, reduces (3rd person singular present of skracać)

  Grammar note

  The object 'lat' is genitive plural. Although 'skracać' usually takes the accusative, this fixed proverb uses the genitive for a partitive sense: it shortens some of one's years. Learn it as part of the full phrase.

  Cultural context

  This is part of a long Polish tradition that values work and treats idleness with suspicion. It is widely understood, though heard more often from older speakers.

  Beginner

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