A1 Idiom Informal

Задирать нос

задирать нос

To be arrogant

Significado

Acting superior to others.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In Russian folklore and fairy tales, arrogance is often punished. Characters who 'задирают нос' usually end up in a funny or embarrassing situation to teach them a lesson. During the Soviet period, 'задирание носа' was seen as a 'bourgeois' trait. People were encouraged to be 'simple' (простой человек), and acting superior was a social taboo. In big cities like Moscow, the phrase is often used to describe 'snobbish' behavior regarding wealth or brand names, reflecting the rapid social stratification of the last 30 years. Russian parents frequently use this idiom to prevent their children from becoming 'spoiled' or too proud of their achievements, emphasizing that there is always more to learn.

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Use with 'сразу'

The phrase is very often used with the word 'сразу' (immediately) to show how quickly someone's attitude changed after a success.

⚠️

Don't use with your boss

Even if your boss is being arrogant, this phrase is too informal and could be seen as an insult.

Significado

Acting superior to others.

💡

Use with 'сразу'

The phrase is very often used with the word 'сразу' (immediately) to show how quickly someone's attitude changed after a success.

⚠️

Don't use with your boss

Even if your boss is being arrogant, this phrase is too informal and could be seen as an insult.

🎯

Perfective vs Imperfective

Use 'задрал' (perfective) when you want to gossip about a specific event that changed someone. Use 'задирает' (imperfective) to describe a permanent personality flaw.

Ponte a prueba

Choose the correct form of the verb (задирать or задрать).

После того как он купил новый айфон, он сразу ___ нос.

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

We use the perfective 'задрал' because it describes a specific completed action that happened right after buying the phone.

Which situation best fits the idiom 'задирать нос'?

Выберите ситуацию:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Мария получила 5 за тест и теперь не хочет разговаривать с подругами.

This situation shows arrogance following a success, which is the core meaning of the idiom.

Match the Russian phrase with its English equivalent.

Сопоставьте фразы:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Задирать нос - To be stuck-up

These are three common 'nose' idioms in Russian with very different meanings.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.

- Ты видел, как ведёт себя новый менеджер? - Да, он ___, как будто он здесь самый главный.

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

The context of acting like 'the most important person' requires the idiom for arrogance.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Choose the correct form of the verb (задирать or задрать). Fill Blank A2

После того как он купил новый айфон, он сразу ___ нос.

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

We use the perfective 'задрал' because it describes a specific completed action that happened right after buying the phone.

Which situation best fits the idiom 'задирать нос'? Choose A1

Выберите ситуацию:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Мария получила 5 за тест и теперь не хочет разговаривать с подругами.

This situation shows arrogance following a success, which is the core meaning of the idiom.

Match the Russian phrase with its English equivalent. Match B1

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

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Задирать нос - To be stuck-up

These are three common 'nose' idioms in Russian with very different meanings.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase. dialogue_completion A2

- Ты видел, как ведёт себя новый менеджер? - Да, он ___, как будто он здесь самый главный.

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

The context of acting like 'the most important person' requires the idiom for arrogance.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

5 preguntas

It's not a swear word, but it is a criticism. It's like calling someone 'stuck-up' in English. Use it with friends, but not in formal situations.

Usually, no. You wouldn't say 'I am lifting my nose.' However, you could say 'Я стараюсь не задирать нос' (I try not to get stuck-up).

The opposite behavior is 'быть скромным' (to be humble) or 'держаться просто' (to act simply/humbly).

Yes, the idiom is fixed. You cannot say 'задирать уши' or 'задирать глаза'.

Yes, it's very common among children and in children's literature.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

Смотреть свысока

similar

To look down on someone

🔄

Много о себе воображать

synonym

To have a high opinion of oneself

🔗

Вешать нос

contrast

To be sad or discouraged

🔗

Держать нос по ветру

related

To see which way the wind is blowing

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