Bedeutung
To have a close, informal relationship.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Russia, business is often personal. Being 'на короткой ноге' with partners is often more important than the contract itself. The phrase was essential during the era of deficits. Having someone 'на короткой ноге' in a store meant access to 'дефицит' (rare goods). Classic authors like Gogol and Tolstoy used this phrase to show the social maneuvering of their characters. Young Russians use it to describe their ease with gadgets or software, showing how the idiom has adapted to the 21st century.
Use with 'Техника'
Russians love saying they are 'на короткой ноге' with computers or cars. It's a very natural way to say you're tech-savvy.
Watch the Case!
Always check your Instrumental case endings. 'С Иваном' is easy, but 'с учителями' or 'с Марией' can be tricky.
Bedeutung
To have a close, informal relationship.
Use with 'Техника'
Russians love saying they are 'на короткой ноге' with computers or cars. It's a very natural way to say you're tech-savvy.
Watch the Case!
Always check your Instrumental case endings. 'С Иваном' is easy, but 'с учителями' or 'с Марией' can be tricky.
The 'Blat' Nuance
Be aware that in a professional setting, saying someone is 'на короткой ноге' with the boss can sometimes sound like a complaint about favoritism.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the person in the Instrumental case.
Иван давно на короткой ноге с (директор) _______.
The preposition 'с' requires the Instrumental case. For masculine nouns ending in a consonant, we add '-ом'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'на короткой ноге'?
Выберите ситуацию:
The idiom describes an informal, close relationship, especially with someone in a higher position.
Complete the dialogue using the idiom.
— Как ты узнал об этом секрете? — Ну, я с секретарём _______.
The correct fixed form of the idiom is 'на короткой ноге'.
Match the idiom with its meaning.
Сопоставьте:
This exercise helps distinguish between different 'нога' (leg) idioms in Russian.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Social Distance in Russian
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenИван давно на короткой ноге с (директор) _______.
The preposition 'с' requires the Instrumental case. For masculine nouns ending in a consonant, we add '-ом'.
Выберите ситуацию:
The idiom describes an informal, close relationship, especially with someone in a higher position.
— Как ты узнал об этом секрете? — Ну, я с секретарём _______.
The correct fixed form of the idiom is 'на короткой ноге'.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
This exercise helps distinguish between different 'нога' (leg) idioms in Russian.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot really. It sounds too much like a social or business connection. Use 'мы встречаемся' or 'у нас близкие отношения' instead.
It depends on the tone. It can be a simple fact or a hint that they have unfair influence.
You could say 'быть на почтительном расстоянии' (to be at a respectful distance) or 'быть на Вы' (to be on formal terms).
No, the idiom is fixed in the singular form 'ноге'.
In an informal email to a colleague, yes. In a formal letter to a company, no.
Mostly, yes, but 'thick as thieves' often implies a shared secret or plot, while 'на короткой ноге' is more about social access.
It comes from the physical distance of a stride or step in formal court walking protocols.
Yes! It's a cute way to say you and your pet understand each other perfectly.
Not at all. It's very common in modern Russian media and daily speech.
The Instrumental case (Творительный падеж).
Verwandte Redewendungen
быть на ты
synonymTo be on informal terms (using 'thou').
запанибрата
similarTo be overly familiar.
на широкую ногу
contrastTo live in a grand style.
свой человек
builds onAn insider / one of us.
