Bedeutung
Doing something in a great hurry.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Latvian folklore, rushing is often warned against. There is a saying 'Steiga darbā, kauns makā' (Haste in work, shame in the wallet). 'Pa galvu pa kaklu' captures the moment when this warning is ignored. In Riga, the phrase is often used to describe the 'Rīgas temps' (Riga pace), which is much faster than the rest of the country. It's a common way to bond over the stress of city life. The similarity to 'Hals über Kopf' shows the linguistic layers of Latvian history. Many Latvian idioms are 'calques' (loan translations) from German, reflecting the 700-year presence of Baltic Germans. The phrase is frequently used in the context of changing weather. Because Latvian weather is unpredictable, people often have to rush 'pa galvu pa kaklu' to save hay or laundry from a sudden storm.
Use with 'Skriet'
The most natural pairing is with the verb 'skriet' (to run). If you're unsure, use that combination.
Not for Romance
In English, 'head over heels' is for love. In Latvian, 'pa galvu pa kaklu' is for speed. Don't tell your crush you love them 'pa galvu pa kaklu' unless you mean you're rushing to see them!
Bedeutung
Doing something in a great hurry.
Use with 'Skriet'
The most natural pairing is with the verb 'skriet' (to run). If you're unsure, use that combination.
Not for Romance
In English, 'head over heels' is for love. In Latvian, 'pa galvu pa kaklu' is for speed. Don't tell your crush you love them 'pa galvu pa kaklu' unless you mean you're rushing to see them!
Self-Deprecation
Use this phrase when you want to apologize for a messy job. It shows you know you were rushing.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Viņš skrēja pa ______ pa ______.
The standard idiom is 'pa galvu pa kaklu'.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'pa galvu pa kaklu'?
A person is...
The phrase implies frantic speed and urgency.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
Anna: 'Kāpēc tu esi tik aizelsies?' Toms: 'Es skrēju __________, lai paspētu uz tavu dzimšanas dienu!'
Toms is out of breath (aizelsies), which implies he was rushing frantically.
Match the idiom to the correct meaning.
Match 'Pa galvu pa kaklu' with its figurative meaning.
It describes the manner of doing something very quickly and without much care.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenViņš skrēja pa ______ pa ______.
The standard idiom is 'pa galvu pa kaklu'.
A person is...
The phrase implies frantic speed and urgency.
Anna: 'Kāpēc tu esi tik aizelsies?' Toms: 'Es skrēju __________, lai paspētu uz tavu dzimšanas dienu!'
Toms is out of breath (aizelsies), which implies he was rushing frantically.
Match 'Pa galvu pa kaklu' with its figurative meaning.
It describes the manner of doing something very quickly and without much care.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenNo, it's not rude. It's just informal and descriptive.
Yes, if someone is driving recklessly fast, you can say they are driving 'pa galvu pa kaklu'.
Usually no. It describes the *speed* of a fall or movement, not the fall itself.
The opposite would be 'lēnām un prātīgi' (slowly and sensibly).
Only if you have a very close, informal relationship with the colleague.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Vēstules ātrumā
similarWith the speed of a letter (very fast)
Aši
synonymQuickly/Fast
Sasteigt
builds onTo rush a task
Kā apdedzis
similarLike someone who got burned
