المعنى
Working very hard.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase is deeply tied to the idea that labor is a moral duty. In traditional villages, a person who didn't 'sweat' was often seen as lazy or untrustworthy. The Soviet state glorified the 'Stakhanovite' (super-worker). While they used different slogans, the underlying value of 'working in the sweat of one's face' for the motherland was a core cultural pillar. In the 1990s, 'easy money' became a trend, but recently there has been a return to valuing 'hard-earned' success, making this idiom popular again in business biographies. Classic literature often uses this phrase to contrast the 'idle' nobility with the 'hardworking' commoners or the spiritually striving hero.
Use for Sincerity
Use this phrase when you want to show you really respect someone's effort. It sounds more heartfelt than just 'he works a lot'.
Don't Overuse
Because it's a bit 'heavy', don't use it for every small task, or you'll sound like a drama queen.
المعنى
Working very hard.
Use for Sincerity
Use this phrase when you want to show you really respect someone's effort. It sounds more heartfelt than just 'he works a lot'.
Don't Overuse
Because it's a bit 'heavy', don't use it for every small task, or you'll sound like a drama queen.
Pair with 'Добывать'
The combination 'добывать хлеб в поте лица' is a very sophisticated way to talk about earning a living.
Biblical Weight
Even if you aren't religious, knowing the Biblical origin helps you understand why the phrase feels so 'serious' and 'noble'.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Он весь день работал в ____ ____.
The correct fixed form is 'поте лица'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Выберите правильное предложение:
The idiom implies hard, productive labor, like farming.
Match the Russian phrase with its English equivalent.
Сопоставьте пары:
These are the most direct equivalents.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'трудиться'.
— Почему ты так устал? — Я весь день ____ в поте лица над проектом.
The question is in the past tense ('устал'), so the answer should be in the past tense masculine singular.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formal vs. Informal Hard Work
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينОн весь день работал в ____ ____.
The correct fixed form is 'поте лица'.
Выберите правильное предложение:
The idiom implies hard, productive labor, like farming.
طابق كل عنصر على اليسار مع زوجه على اليمين:
These are the most direct equivalents.
— Почему ты так устал? — Я весь день ____ в поте лица над проектом.
The question is in the past tense ('устал'), so the answer should be in the past tense masculine singular.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
14 أسئلةNo, it can be used for mental labor, like studying or writing, as long as the effort is intense.
No, that's an English-influenced mistake. In Russian, it's always 'лица' (face).
It's a bit formal/literary, but still very common in news, business, and serious conversations.
'Трудиться' is slightly more formal and implies more dedication, but both are used in this idiom.
Yes, you can say it about someone who is doing nothing, but make sure your tone is clear.
The phrase 'в поте лица' stays the same even if many people are working ('они трудились в поте лица').
Not necessarily suffering, but definitely a lack of ease. It's about the 'hard' in 'hard work'.
It's a bit too idiomatic for a resume. Better to use 'трудолюбивый' or 'целеустремлённый'.
Not really, but you can just say 'в поте лица' as an adverbial phrase.
It sounds like a short 'f' sound attached to the next word: 'f-pote'.
Yes, especially in historical dramas or movies about success and struggle.
The opposite would be 'бить баклуши' (to idle) or 'валять дурака' (to fool around).
Yes, it's very common to describe athletes training hard.
Because sweat is most visible on the face, and it's a direct translation from ancient texts.
عبارات ذات صلة
Работать до седьмого пота
similarTo work to the point of exhaustion.
Пахать как лошадь
synonymTo work like a horse.
Не покладая рук
similarTirelessly.
Бить баклуши
contrastTo idle or waste time.
Засучив рукава
builds onWith sleeves rolled up.
