Bedeutung
To be in a risky situation.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In regions like Slavonia, frozen ponds were common. Children were always warned 'ne idi na led' (don't go on the ice), making this idiom one of the first metaphors a Croatian child learns. Even in coastal regions where it rarely freezes, the idiom is used because of the influence of standard Croatian and national media. However, Dalmatians might also use 'na skliskoj si stini' (you're on a slippery rock). Croatians tend to be direct but also value hierarchy. A boss saying this is a very serious final warning before termination. Croatian news portals love this idiom for headlines because it is short, punchy, and creates a sense of drama.
Use with 'kod'
To say who you are in trouble with, use 'kod' + Genitive. E.g., 'na tankom ledu kod šefa'.
Case Sensitivity
Don't forget the 'u' at the end of 'ledu'. Saying 'na tankom led' sounds very broken to native speakers.
Bedeutung
To be in a risky situation.
Use with 'kod'
To say who you are in trouble with, use 'kod' + Genitive. E.g., 'na tankom ledu kod šefa'.
Case Sensitivity
Don't forget the 'u' at the end of 'ledu'. Saying 'na tankom led' sounds very broken to native speakers.
Add Adverbs
Use 'jako' (very) or 'opasno' (dangerously) to emphasize the risk: 'opasno tankom ledu'.
Humor
You can use this ironically with friends if they are doing something slightly embarrassing.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'tanak led' in the Locative case.
Pazi što govoriš, na ______ ______ si.
The preposition 'na' requires the Locative case: tankom (adj) + ledu (noun).
Match the situation to the most appropriate use of the idiom.
Situation: Marko has missed 5 days of work without calling his boss.
Marko is in a risky situation regarding his job, which is the definition of 'na tankom ledu'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Jesi li čuo da je firma u problemima? B: Da, svi smo sada na ______ ______.
The idiom 'na tankom ledu' fits the context of a company in trouble.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly in a professional context?
Choose the correct sentence:
The first sentence uses the idiom figuratively to mean 'at risk'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenPazi što govoriš, na ______ ______ si.
The preposition 'na' requires the Locative case: tankom (adj) + ledu (noun).
Situation: Marko has missed 5 days of work without calling his boss.
Marko is in a risky situation regarding his job, which is the definition of 'na tankom ledu'.
A: Jesi li čuo da je firma u problemima? B: Da, svi smo sada na ______ ______.
The idiom 'na tankom ledu' fits the context of a company in trouble.
Choose the correct sentence:
The first sentence uses the idiom figuratively to mean 'at risk'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with friends.
Not as an idiom. You would just say 'na sigurnom si' (you are safe).
'Biti' describes the state, while 'hodati' emphasizes the ongoing action of taking risks.
Yes, it is a standard idiom understood from Zagreb to Dubrovnik.
Only if the health risk is due to bad behavior (like smoking).
No, it is always singular 'ledu'.
Yes, especially in crime dramas or workplace comedies.
Literally, yes, but people will usually assume you mean the idiom unless it's freezing outside.
Using the wrong case (Nominative instead of Locative).
Younger people might say 'vruće ti je' (it's hot for you), but 'tanki led' is more common.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Probiti led
similarTo break the ice / start a conversation
Igrati se s vatrom
similarTo play with fire
Hladan kao led
contrastCold as ice
Sklizak teren
similarSlippery terrain
Biti u sosu
builds onTo be in the sauce (in trouble)
