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  What it means

  “The reckoning has come for Matyska.” Everyone eventually faces the consequences of their actions. The day of reckoning comes for everyone, no matter how long they have avoided it.

  English equivalent

  Every dog has his day. / What goes around comes around.

  Vocabulary

  • kryska — a reckoning, comeuppance (colloquial)
  • Matyska — a folk diminutive of the name Mateusz (Matthew), used as a generic everyman
  • przyjść — to come, to arrive

  Grammar note

  'Przyszła' is the feminine past tense of 'przyjść', agreeing with 'kryska' (feminine). 'Na Matyska' uses the accusative after 'na' indicating the target.

  Cultural context

  The rhyming names 'kryska' and 'Matyska' give the proverb its memorable, folk-song quality. 'Kryska' is an old colloquial word for a tally mark or reckoning.

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