Bedeutung
To be confused or shocked
Kultureller Hintergrund
Using this idiom shows you have a good grasp of local humor. Croatians often use it to break the tension when they are confused. In the south, 'gledati bijelo' can sometimes be confused with the 'fjaka' stare, but 'fjaka' is more relaxed while this idiom implies a specific trigger of confusion. In the capital, you might hear 'zablokirao sam' as a synonym, but 'gledati bijelo' remains the classic choice for all ages. The color white is often associated with 'purity' or 'emptiness' across Slavic cultures, making this idiom intuitive for speakers of Serbian, Bosnian, or Montenegrin as well.
Use 'Samo'
Add 'samo' (just) before 'gledati' to sound more like a native speaker: 'Samo sam gledao bijelo.'
Not for Anger
Never use this if you are mad at someone. They will think you are just confused, not angry.
Bedeutung
To be confused or shocked
Use 'Samo'
Add 'samo' (just) before 'gledati' to sound more like a native speaker: 'Samo sam gledao bijelo.'
Not for Anger
Never use this if you are mad at someone. They will think you are just confused, not angry.
Humor
It's a great way to admit you're a beginner in Croatian without feeling embarrassed.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form of the idiom.
Kad je profesor postavio teško pitanje, Marko je samo ___.
The idiom requires the verb 'gledati' and the adverb 'bijelo'.
Fill in the missing verb in the correct tense.
Jučer sam (gledati) ___ bijelo kad sam vidio račun.
The past tense (perfekt) for a male subject is 'gledao'.
Match the reaction to the situation.
Situation: Someone tells you a joke in a language you don't know.
Confusion is the primary reason for 'gledati bijelo'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Jesi li razumio što je šef rekao? B: Ne, samo sam ___.
This is the standard way to admit you didn't understand.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenKad je profesor postavio teško pitanje, Marko je samo ___.
The idiom requires the verb 'gledati' and the adverb 'bijelo'.
Jučer sam (gledati) ___ bijelo kad sam vidio račun.
The past tense (perfekt) for a male subject is 'gledao'.
Situation: Someone tells you a joke in a language you don't know.
Confusion is the primary reason for 'gledati bijelo'.
A: Jesi li razumio što je šef rekao? B: Ne, samo sam ___.
This is the standard way to admit you didn't understand.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenNo, it's generally seen as a funny or honest admission of confusion.
Yes, it's perfect for that 'mind went blank' feeling.
No, it is strictly figurative in this context.
Yes: 'Gledali smo bijelo' (We were staring blankly).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Gledati poprijeko
contrastTo look at someone with anger or suspicion.
Gledati kroz prste
similarTo turn a blind eye to something.
Gledati kao tele u šarena vrata
specialized formTo look extremely confused/stupid.
Izgubiti se
builds onTo get lost (mentally).
