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  What it means

  Literally: “For free, even vinegar is sweet.” People can find value in almost anything if it costs nothing. Even something sour or unpleasant may seem good when it is free. The proverb gently teases someone who takes something they would not otherwise want simply because it costs nothing.

  English equivalent

  There's no such thing as a bad free meal.

  Vocabulary

  • za darmo — for free, at no cost
  • ocet — vinegar
  • słodki — sweet (nominative masculine singular)
  • darmo — for nothing, free of charge (from 'dar' ; gift)

  Grammar note

  The sentence has no verb: 'jest' (is) is omitted, as is common in Polish proverbs. The full form would be 'Za darmo nawet ocet jest słodki'. 'Słodki' is nominative masculine to agree with the masculine noun 'ocet'. 'Za darmo' gives the condition.

  Cultural context

  The saying plays on the appeal of a freebie. It is casual and humorous, for example when someone queues for a free sample they would never usually buy.

  Beginner

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