Breakdown of Oby nie przegrał pieniędzy, trzymamy kciuki.
nie
no / not
pieniądze
money
trzymać
to hold, to keep
przegrać
to lose (a game, match)
oby
hopefully / if only
kciuk
the thumb
Questions & Answers about Oby nie przegrał pieniędzy, trzymamy kciuki.
Why is the verb przegrał in the past tense if the English translation says "won't lose" (future)?
This is the core rule for optative clauses with oby. To express a strong wish or hope—even about the future—Polish uses oby followed by the past tense form of the verb (specifically, the L-participle). You don't use the future tense verb here.
Why is the word for money in the form pieniędzy instead of pieniądze?
This is a necessary refresher on the genitive of negation. Normally, "to lose money" uses the accusative case (przegrać pieniądze). But when you negate the verb with nie, the direct object switches to the genitive case. Therefore, pieniądze becomes pieniędzy.
Could we use the verb zgubił instead of przegrał to mean "lose" in this sentence?
It would significantly change the meaning. Zgubić means to physically misplace something (like dropping your wallet on the street). Przegrać means to lose in a game, gamble, or bet. Using przegrał suggests he is at a casino, betting on sports, or making a risky financial move.
I know kciuki means thumbs. Do Poles say "hold thumbs" instead of "cross fingers"?
Exactly! The Polish idiom for wishing someone luck is trzymać kciuki (to hold one's thumbs). It is the exact cultural equivalent of the English idiom "keeping your fingers crossed".
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