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  What it means

  Literally “pears on a willow tree.” Since pears don’t grow on willows, this describes an impossible or unrealistic promise — something that will never actually happen. The longer form is “obiecywać gruszki na wierzbie” (to promise pears on a willow), used for someone making promises they can’t or won’t keep.

  Vocabulary

  • gruszka — pear
  • wierzba — willow tree

  Grammar note

  'Na wierzbie' uses the locative of 'wierzba' after 'na.' 'Gruszki' is nominative plural of 'gruszka.'

  Beginner

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