Bedeutung
To be very cheap or miserly.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Czech culture, being 'hospodárný' (thrifty) is a virtue, but 'vrtat koleno' is the point where thriftiness becomes a social vice. It's often discussed in the context of 'chalupáři' (cottage owners) who might spend thousands on their cottage but refuse to buy a quality beer. Slovaks use the same idiom ('vŕtať si koleno'), reflecting the shared linguistic and cultural history of Czechoslovakia. The sentiment and usage are identical. The concept of the 'miser' is a staple in Central European literature (e.g., Karel Čapek). This idiom provides a specific linguistic flavor to that archetype. On Czech social media (Twitter/X, Reddit), 'kolenovrt' is often used to describe companies that have poor customer service or high fees.
Use the noun form
If you find the full sentence too long, just use 'Je to kolenovrt'. It's punchy and very natural.
Don't be too mean
This idiom is a critique. Use it carefully so you don't sound like a bully.
Bedeutung
To be very cheap or miserly.
Use the noun form
If you find the full sentence too long, just use 'Je to kolenovrt'. It's punchy and very natural.
Don't be too mean
This idiom is a critique. Use it carefully so you don't sound like a bully.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Můj strýc by si pro korunu nechal ______ ______.
The standard form of the idiom uses 'vrtat' (drill) and 'koleno' (knee).
Which noun describes a person who is very stingy?
Petr nikdy nic nekoupí, je to hrozný ______.
'Kolenovrt' is the specific noun derived from the idiom.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Your friend refuses to pay 5 CZK for a plastic bag at the supermarket and carries 10 items in his hands.
The friend's behavior is a classic example of being a 'kolenovrt' (cheapskate).
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 'Proč ten milionář bydlí v takovém starém bytě?' B: 'Protože ______.'
The idiom explains why a wealthy person would live in a cheap/poor way due to greed.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMůj strýc by si pro korunu nechal ______ ______.
The standard form of the idiom uses 'vrtat' (drill) and 'koleno' (knee).
Petr nikdy nic nekoupí, je to hrozný ______.
'Kolenovrt' is the specific noun derived from the idiom.
Situation: Your friend refuses to pay 5 CZK for a plastic bag at the supermarket and carries 10 items in his hands.
The friend's behavior is a classic example of being a 'kolenovrt' (cheapskate).
A: 'Proč ten milionář bydlí v takovém starém bytě?' B: 'Protože ______.'
The idiom explains why a wealthy person would live in a cheap/poor way due to greed.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenNo, it is not vulgar. It is informal and expressive, but you can say it in front of children or in a standard casual conversation.
Yes. 'Ona by si nechala vrtat koleno.' The noun 'kolenovrt' is masculine, but you can use it for a woman too (e.g., 'Ona je hrozný kolenovrt').
A 'grand' or someone who is 'štědrý' (generous). There isn't a single perfect idiomatic noun for the opposite.
Yes, especially the noun 'kolenovrt' is very common among younger generations to describe stingy friends or companies.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Být držgrešle
synonymTo be a penny-pincher (literally: to hold the 'grešle' coin).
Mít hluboko do kapsy
contrastTo be broke / have no money.
Šetřit na nepravém místě
similarTo save money in the wrong place.
Být štědrý
contrastTo be generous.
