Bedeutung
Literal: nose up. Meaning someone is acting superior.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Estonians value 'jalad maas' (feet on the ground) attitude. Being called 'nina püsti' is a significant social insult that suggests you have forgotten your humble roots. Similar to the Law of Jante, there is a cultural pressure in Estonia not to think you are better than anyone else. 'Nina püsti' is the linguistic enforcement of this rule. In the age of Instagram, 'nina püsti' is often used to criticize influencers who post overly curated, 'perfect' lives that seem detached from reality. The phrase reflects the historical divide between the Estonian-speaking peasantry and the German-speaking nobility. To have one's 'nose up' was to act like a 'saks' (German/nobleman).
Use with 'ajama'
If you want to describe someone who *became* arrogant recently, always use 'ajas nina püsti'.
Not for positive pride
Never use this to compliment someone. It is always a criticism.
Bedeutung
Literal: nose up. Meaning someone is acting superior.
Use with 'ajama'
If you want to describe someone who *became* arrogant recently, always use 'ajas nina püsti'.
Not for positive pride
Never use this to compliment someone. It is always a criticism.
The 'Saks' connection
Remember that for Estonians, this phrase often carries a historical weight of acting like the old ruling class.
Teste dich selbst
Täida lünk sobiva sõnaga (nina / püsti / ajama).
Pärast võitu ta enam meid ei tervita, ta on nii ____ püsti.
The phrase is 'nina püsti'.
Vali lause, mis tähendab, et keegi on arrogantne.
Milline lause on õige?
'Nina püsti' is the idiom for arrogance.
Millises olukorras kasutad väljendit 'nina püsti'?
Vali sobiv olukord:
The idiom describes someone who feels superior.
Lõpeta dialoog.
A: Kas sa nägid, kui uhkelt ta kõndis? B: Jaa, ta ____ nina püsti.
'Nina püsti ajama' is the standard verb-idiom combination.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Pride vs. Arrogance
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenPärast võitu ta enam meid ei tervita, ta on nii ____ püsti.
The phrase is 'nina püsti'.
Milline lause on õige?
'Nina püsti' is the idiom for arrogance.
Vali sobiv olukord:
The idiom describes someone who feels superior.
A: Kas sa nägid, kui uhkelt ta kõndis? B: Jaa, ta ____ nina püsti.
'Nina püsti ajama' is the standard verb-idiom combination.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is informal and critical, but not a swear word. It's safe to use among friends to describe someone else.
Only if you are being self-deprecating or joking, e.g., 'Ma ei taha nina püsti ajada, aga ma tegin selle ära!'
The most common opposite is 'jalad maas' (feet on the ground) or 'alandlik' (humble).
Yes, it is very common in schools and children's literature.
No, it is 100% figurative. You can say it about someone even if they are looking down at their phone.
It is always 'püsti'. It does not decline like an adjective.
Yes, that means to *keep* acting superior over a long period.
Only in casual office gossip, never in official meetings.
'Püsti' implies an upright, stiff position, which fits the 'stiff-necked' image of arrogance better than 'üleval' (up/above).
Yes, 'ninad püsti' if you are talking about a group of people.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Uhke nagu kukk
similarProud as a rooster
Nina kirtsutama
similarTo wrinkle one's nose
Jalad maas
contrastFeet on the ground
Üleolev olema
synonymTo be superior/haughty
