Significado
To know something very well.
Contexto cultural
In Russian schools, '5' is the highest grade. While the idiom isn't about grades, the number 5 is culturally synonymous with 'perfect' or 'excellent.' Historically, knowing the surrounding forest was a matter of survival. This idiom often appears in stories about hunters and mushroom pickers. The 'master' (мастер) who knows his tools intimately is a heroic figure in Soviet literature, often described using this idiom. In big cities like Moscow, knowing the 'shortcuts' (проходные дворы) is a point of pride for 'true' locals.
Use with 'свои'
Always include 'свои'. Without it, the idiom loses its power and sounds like a translation error.
Don't count higher
Even if you want to say you know something 'extra' well, don't say 'десять пальцев'. It's a fixed number.
Significado
To know something very well.
Use with 'свои'
Always include 'свои'. Without it, the idiom loses its power and sounds like a translation error.
Don't count higher
Even if you want to say you know something 'extra' well, don't say 'десять пальцев'. It's a fixed number.
Confidence Booster
Using this in a job interview shows you are not just a student, but someone with real-world experience.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Я живу здесь всю жизнь и знаю этот город как свои ___ ___.
The fixed idiom is 'пять пальцев.'
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the correct sentence:
The reflexive pronoun 'свои' is mandatory in this idiom.
Match the situation to the best use of the idiom.
In which situation is 'знать как свои пять пальцев' most appropriate?
The idiom requires long-term familiarity.
Complete the dialogue.
— Ты сможешь починить мой компьютер? — Конечно! Я...
The verb 'знать' is the standard verb for this idiom.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosЯ живу здесь всю жизнь и знаю этот город как свои ___ ___.
The fixed idiom is 'пять пальцев.'
Choose the correct sentence:
The reflexive pronoun 'свои' is mandatory in this idiom.
In which situation is 'знать как свои пять пальцев' most appropriate?
The idiom requires long-term familiarity.
— Ты сможешь починить мой компьютер? — Конечно! Я...
The verb 'знать' is the standard verb for this idiom.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, you can say you know a person 'как свои пять пальцев' if you are very close to them, like a spouse or a childhood friend.
It is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with your grandmother.
'Назубок' is specifically for things you have memorized (like a poem), while 'пять пальцев' is for general familiarity.
No, the number must be five.
Yes, in a descriptive or argumentative essay, it adds a nice native touch.
Yes, it implies a very high level of mastery and familiarity.
The Accusative case (кого? что?).
Younger people might say 'я в этом шарю' (I understand/dig this), but the idiom is still very popular.
Only if you are truly fluent. If you are B1, it might sound a bit overconfident!
Because we usually look at one hand at a time when referencing our own body in this way.
Frases relacionadas
знать назубок
similarTo know by heart/perfectly memorized.
знать вдоль и поперёк
synonymTo know inside and out.
собаку съесть
similarTo be an expert/old hand at something.
тёмный лес
contrastA dark forest (completely confusing).
ориентироваться как рыба в воде
similarTo be like a fish in water.
