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  What it means

  Literally “without a penny to one’s soul.” Means completely broke — not a single coin to one’s name.

  Vocabulary

  • grosz — grosz (smallest Polish coin) / penny
  • dusza — soul
  • przy — by / at / with

  Grammar note

  'Bez grosza' uses the genitive of 'grosz' after 'bez.' 'Przy duszy' uses the locative of 'dusza' after 'przy' — a poetic way of saying 'on one's person.'

  Cultural context

  The soul as the seat of one's possessions gives this phrase a melancholy, almost spiritual quality — you're so broke it goes to your very core.

  Beginner

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