Bedeutung
To say a lot of untrue things.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The number 'three' is sacred and hyperbolic in Russian culture. From 'three bogatyrs' to 'three wishes,' it often represents a complete or excessive set. 'Three baskets' is the ultimate measure of verbal excess. During the Soviet period, this phrase was a subtle way to criticize official propaganda. People would say the newspapers 'наговорили с три короба' about the harvest while the stores were empty. In the 90s, 'наговорить с три короба' was associated with 'financial pyramids' (like MMM) that promised huge returns. Today, it's used for 'infobusinessmen' (fake gurus). The 'короб' was a rural object. Using this phrase today connects the speaker to a 'down-to-earth' peasant logic that values physical goods over empty city talk.
Use with 'наобещать'
If you want to focus on broken promises specifically, 'наобещать с три короба' is more common than 'наговорить'.
Don't use with 'сказать'
You cannot say 'сказать с три короба'. The verb must imply a large quantity of speech (наговорить, наплести, наобещать).
Bedeutung
To say a lot of untrue things.
Use with 'наобещать'
If you want to focus on broken promises specifically, 'наобещать с три короба' is more common than 'наговорить'.
Don't use with 'сказать'
You cannot say 'сказать с три короба'. The verb must imply a large quantity of speech (наговорить, наплести, наобещать).
Sarcastic Tone
This phrase is often used with a sarcastic roll of the eyes. It's not just a statement of fact; it's a judgment.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing parts of the idiom.
Он всегда любит наговорить ___ три _______, когда хочет произвести впечатление.
The correct fixed form is 'с три короба'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'наговорить с три короба'?
Выберите ситуацию:
Making grand, impossible promises is the core meaning of the idiom.
Match the verb with the context.
Соедините глагол и контекст:
All three verbs are used with 'с три короба' depending on the nuance of the talk.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
- Ты веришь, что он станет президентом компании? - Нет, он просто _______ с три короба.
The perfective 'наговорил' is used to describe the completed act of telling these lies.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenОн всегда любит наговорить ___ три _______, когда хочет произвести впечатление.
The correct fixed form is 'с три короба'.
Выберите ситуацию:
Making grand, impossible promises is the core meaning of the idiom.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
All three verbs are used with 'с три короба' depending on the nuance of the talk.
- Ты веришь, что он станет президентом компании? - Нет, он просто _______ с три короба.
The perfective 'наговорил' is used to describe the completed act of telling these lies.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is genitive singular. After the number 'три', Russian nouns usually take the genitive singular form.
No, it almost always has a negative connotation of lying or empty talk.
It's informal and skeptical, but not a swear word. It's safe to use with friends.
It's an old-fashioned large basket or chest made of wood bark.
No, the idiom is fixed with 'три'.
'Врать' is just 'to lie'. 'Наговорить с три короба' means to lie *a lot* and with great detail.
Only if you are talking about someone else (informally). Don't use it to describe your own speech!
Yes, it is very common in speech, movies, and social media.
No, there is no equivalent for 'telling many truths'.
It's rare, but 'написать с три короба' is occasionally used for long, lying letters.
Verwandte Redewendungen
вешать лапшу на уши
similarTo deceive or fool someone.
заговаривать зубы
similarTo distract someone with talk to deceive them.
лить воду
similarTo talk a lot without saying anything important.
кормить завтраками
builds onTo keep promising to do something 'tomorrow'.
