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  What it means

  Literally “a candidate for the altars.” Means someone who is being considered for sainthood, or more commonly, someone who behaves with such exceptional virtue and self-sacrifice that they seem saint-like — often used with irony.

  Vocabulary

  • kandydat — candidate
  • ołtarz — altar

  Grammar note

  'Na ołtarze' uses the accusative plural after 'na' — heading toward the altars, i.e. toward beatification.

  Cultural context

  In Catholic Poland, being placed on the altars (beatified or canonised) is the ultimate honour. Used ironically for someone who is ostentatiously virtuous or self-martyring.

  Intermediate

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