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  What it means

  “Even Solomon cannot pour from an empty vessel.” No matter how wise or capable you are, you cannot produce something from nothing. Often used to excuse a lack of resources or energy.

  English equivalent

  You can't get blood from a stone.

  Vocabulary

  • próżny — empty, vain
  • Salomon — Solomon (biblical king renowned for wisdom)
  • nalać — to pour

  Grammar note

  'Z próżnego' uses the genitive of 'próżny' after 'z'. 'Nie naleje' is the negated third-person future perfective.

  Cultural context

  Solomon is invoked as the archetype of wisdom, making the point that even the wisest man is powerless without resources.

  Intermediate

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