Significado
To be very stingy with money.
Contexto cultural
The culture of 'čašćenje' is vital. If you don't offer to pay for coffee occasionally, you will quickly be labeled as having a snake in your pocket. Hospitality is a point of pride. Being stingy is seen as a lack of character and respect for the guest. Similar to Italy and Greece, social life happens in public spaces like squares and cafes, making financial stinginess very visible. In modern Croatian business, this idiom is starting to be used to describe companies that are unwilling to invest in their employees.
Use it with a smile
This idiom is often used as a joke. If you say it too seriously, it might sound like a real insult.
Case matters
Don't forget the 'u' at the end of 'zmiju' and 'džepu'. Without them, the grammar is broken.
Significado
To be very stingy with money.
Use it with a smile
This idiom is often used as a joke. If you say it too seriously, it might sound like a real insult.
Case matters
Don't forget the 'u' at the end of 'zmiju' and 'džepu'. Without them, the grammar is broken.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Moj brat nikada ne plaća piće, on ima ______ u ______.
We need the accusative 'zmiju' and the locative 'džepu'.
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom?
Select the correct sentence:
The correct verb is 'imati' (to have).
Match the situation to the correct response.
Your friend says they forgot their wallet for the fifth time this month.
This is the perfect situation to use the idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
Ana: 'Hoćeš li kupiti ovaj sladoled?' Marko: 'Ne, preskup je.' Ana: 'Daj Marko, nemoj ______ ______ ______ ______.'
The standard form of the idiom fits best here.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosMoj brat nikada ne plaća piće, on ima ______ u ______.
We need the accusative 'zmiju' and the locative 'džepu'.
Select the correct sentence:
The correct verb is 'imati' (to have).
Your friend says they forgot their wallet for the fifth time this month.
This is the perfect situation to use the idiom.
Ana: 'Hoćeš li kupiti ovaj sladoled?' Marko: 'Ne, preskup je.' Ana: 'Daj Marko, nemoj ______ ______ ______ ______.'
The standard form of the idiom fits best here.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
4 preguntasIt can be, but usually it's used among friends as a lighthearted tease. Context is everything.
Yes, it's gender-neutral. 'Ona ima zmiju u džepu' is perfectly correct.
No, idioms are inherently informal. In formal speech, use 'On je vrlo škrt' (He is very stingy).
Technically yes ('u džepovima'), but the idiom is almost always used in the singular.
Frases relacionadas
Škrt kao sam vrag
synonymStingy as the devil himself.
Brojati svaku lipu
similarTo count every cent (lipa).
Široke ruke
contrastWide-handed (generous).
Praznih džepova
builds onWith empty pockets.
