Bedeutung
The person is not listening at all.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Peas were one of the most common crops in ancient Russia. The sound of dried peas hitting a wooden barn wall was a familiar sound during the harvest and sorting process. This daily reality birthed the idiom. This idiom is a favorite in Soviet-era comedies to depict 'byurokraty' (bureaucrats) who ignore the needs of the common people. Russian parents are often very direct. Using this idiom is a common way to express 'educational frustration' without resorting to shouting. Classic writers used this to show the 'stagnation' of the Russian soul in certain characters who refused to change or listen to new ideas.
Use 'Всё'
Adding 'всё' (everything/always) makes the idiom sound more natural: 'Ему всё как об стенку горох.'
Don't use with 'Вы'
Saying this to someone you address as 'Вы' (formal you) is very risky and usually offensive.
Bedeutung
The person is not listening at all.
Use 'Всё'
Adding 'всё' (everything/always) makes the idiom sound more natural: 'Ему всё как об стенку горох.'
Don't use with 'Вы'
Saying this to someone you address as 'Вы' (formal you) is very risky and usually offensive.
The 'Pea' Sound
When saying 'горох', make the 'kh' sound at the end clear to emphasize the frustration.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Я ему объясняю, а ему как об ______ ______.
The standard form of the idiom uses 'стенку' (wall) and 'горох' (peas).
Which sentence uses the correct case for the person who isn't listening?
Choose the correct sentence:
The person who is 'like a wall' must be in the Dative case (Ему).
Match the situation to the most appropriate use of the idiom.
Situation: A doctor tells a patient to stop eating sugar, but the patient eats a donut immediately.
The patient is the one ignoring the advice, so the idiom applies to him.
Complete the dialogue.
- Ты просил Сашу починить кран? - Да, три раза! Но ...
The context implies frustration that the request was ignored.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenЯ ему объясняю, а ему как об ______ ______.
The standard form of the idiom uses 'стенку' (wall) and 'горох' (peas).
Choose the correct sentence:
The person who is 'like a wall' must be in the Dative case (Ему).
Situation: A doctor tells a patient to stop eating sugar, but the patient eats a donut immediately.
The patient is the one ignoring the advice, so the idiom applies to him.
- Ты просил Сашу починить кран? - Да, три раза! Но ...
The context implies frustration that the request was ignored.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt's not vulgar, but it is critical. It implies the person is being difficult or stupidly stubborn.
Yes! You can say 'Мне сегодня всё как об стенку горох' if you feel distracted or indifferent.
Using the wrong preposition. It must be 'об', never 'на'.
Yes, the idiom is fixed. You cannot use beans, rocks, or anything else.
Not really. In formal settings, you would say 'Он не прислушивается к советам.'
Yes: 'Ему было как об стенку горох.'
'Стенка' is the diminutive/informal form of 'стена'. In idioms, the diminutive is often used to make it sound more colloquial.
Yes, it is universally understood in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.
Yes: 'Им как об стенку горох.'
No, just stubborn or indifferent. They might be very nice, but they just don't listen.
Verwandte Redewendungen
В одно ухо влетело, в другое вылетело
similarIn one ear, out the other.
Метать бисер перед свиньями
similarTo cast pearls before swine.
Ему хоть кол на голове теши
specialized formYou could sharpen a stake on his head.
Слушать вполуха
relatedTo listen with half an ear.
Глухая стена
builds onA deaf wall.
