Bedeutung
To be an annoyance by appearing often.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In the era of Soviet 'Kommunalkas' (communal apartments), privacy was non-existent. This idiom perfectly captures the frustration of never being alone and always having someone 'in your eyes.' Classic authors like Dostoevsky and Gogol often used this phrase to describe 'little people' or annoying bureaucrats who were always present but ignored. In the Russian-speaking internet (Runet), this phrase is frequently used to complain about 'spammy' influencers or repetitive memes. In Russian offices, 'мозолить глаза начальству' can be a strategy (to be seen working) or a mistake (to be annoying). It's a double-edged sword.
Use with 'уже'
Adding 'уже' (already) makes the phrase sound more natural: 'Он мне уже глаза мозолит.'
Don't use with 'очень'
We don't usually say 'очень мозолит'. Instead, use the perfective 'намозолил' for intensity.
Bedeutung
To be an annoyance by appearing often.
Use with 'уже'
Adding 'уже' (already) makes the phrase sound more natural: 'Он мне уже глаза мозолит.'
Don't use with 'очень'
We don't usually say 'очень мозолит'. Instead, use the perfective 'намозолил' for intensity.
Aggression Level
Be careful! Telling someone 'Ты мне мозолишь глаза' is a 7/10 on the rudeness scale.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'мозолить'.
Эти старые обои мне уже давно _______ глаза.
The subject is 'обои' (wallpaper), which is plural, so the verb must be 'мозолят'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'мозолить глаза'?
Choose the correct scenario:
The idiom refers to an annoying presence in your field of vision.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
— Почему ты не уберёшь этот хлам из гаража? — Да, ты прав, он уже всем ________.
'Мозолит глаза' is the correct idiom for an annoying eyesore.
Match the person to the reason they are 'мозолят глаза'.
1. A hovering intern, 2. A persistent ex-boyfriend, 3. A lazy roommate on the couch.
Each scenario represents a different type of visual/social annoyance.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Noticeable vs. Annoying
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenЭти старые обои мне уже давно _______ глаза.
The subject is 'обои' (wallpaper), which is plural, so the verb must be 'мозолят'.
Choose the correct scenario:
The idiom refers to an annoying presence in your field of vision.
— Почему ты не уберёшь этот хлам из гаража? — Да, ты прав, он уже всем ________.
'Мозолит глаза' is the correct idiom for an annoying eyesore.
1. A hovering intern, 2. A persistent ex-boyfriend, 3. A lazy roommate on the couch.
Each scenario represents a different type of visual/social annoyance.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, unless you've seen it so many times that you now find it annoying. It is almost always negative.
It is always 'глаза' (plural, Accusative).
No, but you can say 'прожужжать все уши' (to buzz in someone's ears) if someone is talking too much.
Not at all. It is very common in modern Russian speech and media.
'Мозолить' is the process of being annoying; 'намозолить' means the annoyance is complete and you are fed up.
No, it is strictly for visual or presence-based annoyance.
You can use this phrase as a verb, or use the noun 'бельмо на глазу'.
Only if you have a very close, informal relationship. Otherwise, it's too rude.
No, that would be 'глаза устали'. This is about irritation at an external object.
No, for a song you would say 'навязчивая мелодия' or 'прожужжать уши'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Бельмо на глазу
similarA constant nuisance or eyesore
Стоять над душой
similarTo hover over someone while they work
Как кость в горле
similarLike a bone in the throat (very annoying)
С глаз долой — из сердца вон
contrastOut of sight, out of mind
Маячить
specialized formTo loom or flicker in sight
