Bedeutung
Being almost ready to leave
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'hallway talk' (debaty v predsieni) is a staple of Slovak social life. Even when someone is 'jednou nohou vonku', they might stay another 20 minutes. In many Slavic and Germanic cultures, the threshold is a place where you don't shake hands, as it's considered bad luck. Being 'one foot out' is a safe way to signal departure without breaking this taboo. During the 'Okurková sezóna' (cucumber season/summer lull), many employees are 'jednou nohou vonku' on vacation. In rural areas, being 'jednou nohou vonku' often refers to someone who is about to drive their tractor or car out of the yard.
Use it to end calls
It's the most polite way to end a phone call in Slovak without sounding rude.
Watch the case!
Always use 'jednou nohou' (instrumental). Using 'jedna noha' (nominative) sounds like a robot.
Bedeutung
Being almost ready to leave
Use it to end calls
It's the most polite way to end a phone call in Slovak without sounding rude.
Watch the case!
Always use 'jednou nohou' (instrumental). Using 'jedna noha' (nominative) sounds like a robot.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Prepáč, nemôžem hovoriť, som ______ nohou ______.
The idiom requires the instrumental case 'jednou' and the adverb 'vonku'.
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom in a professional context?
Peter is quitting his job next week. What does he say?
'Jednou nohou v hrobe' means dying, and 'dve nohy' is not the idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ešte neodchádzaj, je skoro!' B: 'Musím, už ______ ______ ______ ______.'
The present tense 'som' is needed here.
Match the situation to the meaning of the phrase.
Situation: 'Jana už v škole len pozerá na hodinky.'
Looking at the watch implies mental detachment.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenPrepáč, nemôžem hovoriť, som ______ nohou ______.
The idiom requires the instrumental case 'jednou' and the adverb 'vonku'.
Peter is quitting his job next week. What does he say?
'Jednou nohou v hrobe' means dying, and 'dve nohy' is not the idiom.
A: 'Ešte neodchádzaj, je skoro!' B: 'Musím, už ______ ______ ______ ______.'
The present tense 'som' is needed here.
Situation: 'Jana už v škole len pozerá na hodinky.'
Looking at the watch implies mental detachment.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, if you are planning to break up, you can say you are 'jednou nohou vonku' from the relationship.
It depends on the tone. It's usually seen as honest and slightly informal, but not necessarily rude.
In this idiom, 'vonku' is the fixed form. 'Von' would imply you are actively stepping out, while 'vonku' describes your state of being.
No, that's not an idiom. If both feet are out, you are just 'preč' (gone).
Yes, very often! Especially when a politician is about to leave their party.
Sme jednou nohou vonku.
The formal equivalent would be 'Som na odchode' or 'Končím svoj pobyt/pôsobenie'.
Not necessarily. It just implies you are ready for the next thing.
No, it is only used for people or organizations.
Yes, it is a standard Slovak idiom used nationwide.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Byť na odchode
synonymTo be on the way out.
Byť jednou nohou v hrobe
contrastTo have one foot in the grave.
Mať naponáhlo
similarTo be in a hurry.
Zbaliť si kufre
builds onTo pack one's bags.
