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  What it means

  “Where Rome, where Crimea?” Said when someone makes a comparison or connection between two completely unrelated things. Equivalent to ‘what does that have to do with anything?’

  English equivalent

  What does that have to do with the price of fish?

  Vocabulary

  • Rzym — Rome
  • Krym — Crimea

  Grammar note

  An elliptical rhetorical question — the verb is omitted entirely, leaving just the two place names for dramatic contrast.

  Cultural context

  The rhyme between 'Rzym' and 'Krym' makes this proverb memorable. It is used to call out irrelevant comparisons.

  Beginner

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