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  What it means

  Money doesn’t stink. The origin or means by which money was earned doesn’t matter — money is money. Often used cynically to justify accepting money from dubious sources.

  English equivalent

  Money has no smell.

  Vocabulary

  • pieniądze — money
  • śmierdzieć — to stink, to smell bad

  Grammar note

  'Nie śmierdzą' — third person plural present tense of 'śmierdzieć'. 'Pieniądze' is always plural in Polish.

  Cultural context

  Attributed to the Roman Emperor Vespasian, who taxed public latrines. When his son complained, Vespasian held a coin to his nose and said 'pecunia non olet' (money does not smell).

  Beginner

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