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  What it means

  “For lack of lacquer, putty will do.” When the ideal solution isn’t available, an imperfect substitute is better than nothing. Make do with what you have.

  English equivalent

  Any port in a storm.

  Vocabulary

  • brak — lack, shortage
  • lak — sealing wax, lacquer
  • kit — putty, filler
  • dobry — good, fine

  Grammar note

  'Z braku' uses the genitive after 'z' in an ablative-of-cause construction (due to lack of). The rhyme 'laku/kit' is approximate but memorable.

  Intermediate

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