A1 Idiom Neutral

Per plauką

By a hair

Significado

Something that barely happened or missed.

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Contexto cultural

Lithuanians often use this idiom to express a sense of 'lucky survival', reflecting a history of overcoming difficult odds. In basketball-crazy Lithuania, 'per plauką' is the most common way to describe a game decided by a single point. The phrase links back to traditional weaving and woodworking where hair-thin precision was the standard of quality. Younger Lithuanians use it for tech-related close calls, like sending a risky text or a battery dying.

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Use the Diminutive

Use 'per plaukelį' to sound like a native speaker when you are very excited or relieved.

⚠️

Check the Case

Always use 'plauką' (with the tail on the a). 'Per plaukas' is a common beginner mistake.

Significado

Something that barely happened or missed.

🎯

Use the Diminutive

Use 'per plaukelį' to sound like a native speaker when you are very excited or relieved.

⚠️

Check the Case

Always use 'plauką' (with the tail on the a). 'Per plaukas' is a common beginner mistake.

💬

Basketball Context

If you watch a game with Lithuanians, saying 'per plauką' during a close score will earn you instant respect.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing words for the idiom.

Mes laimėjome rungtynes ___ ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: per plauką

The correct idiom is 'per plauką'.

Which sentence correctly describes a close call?

A) Aš per plauką nepavėlavau į darbą. B) Aš beveik plauką pavėlavau.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: A

Sentence A uses the correct idiom and negative verb structure.

Match the situation to the phrase.

You got 50% on a test where 50% is the minimum pass.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Išlaikiau per plauką

Passing with the minimum score is a classic 'per plauką' situation.

Complete the dialogue.

Jonas: 'Ar mašina tave užkliudė?' Tu: 'Ne, ___ ______!'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: per plauką

This expresses that the car almost hit you but missed.

Match the Lithuanian phrase to its English equivalent.

1. Per plauką 2. Beveik 3. Vos vos

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

These are the closest semantic matches.

🎉 Puntuación: /5

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

5 ejercicios
Fill in the missing words for the idiom. Fill Blank A1

Mes laimėjome rungtynes ___ ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: per plauką

The correct idiom is 'per plauką'.

Which sentence correctly describes a close call? Choose A2

A) Aš per plauką nepavėlavau į darbą. B) Aš beveik plauką pavėlavau.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: A

Sentence A uses the correct idiom and negative verb structure.

Match the situation to the phrase. situation_matching A1

You got 50% on a test where 50% is the minimum pass.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Išlaikiau per plauką

Passing with the minimum score is a classic 'per plauką' situation.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

Jonas: 'Ar mašina tave užkliudė?' Tu: 'Ne, ___ ______!'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: per plauką

This expresses that the car almost hit you but missed.

Match the Lithuanian phrase to its English equivalent. Match B1

Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

These are the closest semantic matches.

🎉 Puntuación: /5

Preguntas frecuentes

12 preguntas

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.

Yes, like winning a race or passing an exam.

'Per plauką' is more idiomatic and visual; 'vos vos' is more literal and used for things like volume or light.

No, in this idiom, it is always 'plauką' (accusative singular).

No, the idiom is fixed to one hair.

Yes, very common in news headlines and stories.

Usually, yes. It suggests the outcome was out of your control.

Yes, for being 'just in time'.

It means 'a hair'.

Young people might use 'ant ribos' (on the edge).

Yes, like a car stopping 'per plauką' from a wall.

Yes, Latvian has a very similar expression.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

per plaukelį

similar

Even closer than 'per plauką'

🔗

vos ne

similar

Almost

🔗

ant plauko kaboti

builds on

To hang by a thread/hair

🔗

per žingsnį

similar

One step away

🔗

tik per stebuklą

specialized form

Only by a miracle

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