Significado
A critical situation where the outcome is uncertain.
Contexto cultural
The phrase is a staple of 19th-century 'psychological realism.' Authors used it to show that a character's moral choice was as heavy as a physical weight. During the Cold War, Soviet newspapers frequently used this phrase to describe the 'struggle for peace' against 'imperialism,' framing every event as globally decisive. Today, it is very common in 'talk shows' about politics, where hosts use it to create a sense of drama and urgency about current events. Though Russia uses a civil law system, the 'scales of justice' remains the primary symbol of the judiciary, and this phrase is used in high-profile closing arguments.
Use with 'Стоять'
The most natural verb to use with this phrase is 'стоять' (to stand). 'На чаше весов стоит...' is the gold standard for formal Russian.
Plural Only
Never say 'веса' in the singular. 'Весы' is like 'scissors' or 'pants'—it only exists in the plural form.
Significado
A critical situation where the outcome is uncertain.
Use with 'Стоять'
The most natural verb to use with this phrase is 'стоять' (to stand). 'На чаше весов стоит...' is the gold standard for formal Russian.
Plural Only
Never say 'веса' in the singular. 'Весы' is like 'scissors' or 'pants'—it only exists in the plural form.
Journalistic Power
If you want to sound like a professional Russian journalist, use this phrase to conclude an analytical piece about a conflict.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Судьба всей экспедиции сейчас на ______ весов.
We need the prepositional case of 'чаша' (pan) after the preposition 'на' to indicate location.
Which verb is most commonly used to mean 'to tip the scales'?
Новые доказательства смогли ______ чашу весов в пользу подсудимого.
'Склонить' (to tilt/tip) is the standard collocation for influencing the balance.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate context.
Where would you most likely hear 'на чаше весов'?
The phrase is reserved for high-stakes, historical, or life-altering events.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
— Почему ты так нервничаешь? — Потому что сегодня на ______ ______ моя карьера!
The career 'stands' (is located) on the scales, so we use the prepositional case.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosСудьба всей экспедиции сейчас на ______ весов.
We need the prepositional case of 'чаша' (pan) after the preposition 'на' to indicate location.
Новые доказательства смогли ______ чашу весов в пользу подсудимого.
'Склонить' (to tilt/tip) is the standard collocation for influencing the balance.
Where would you most likely hear 'на чаше весов'?
The phrase is reserved for high-stakes, historical, or life-altering events.
— Почему ты так нервничаешь? — Потому что сегодня на ______ ______ моя карьера!
The career 'stands' (is located) on the scales, so we use the prepositional case.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it will sound very strange or sarcastic. Use it for things that truly matter, like health, career, or big money.
Always 'на чаше'. You are 'on' the pan of the scale, not 'inside' it.
'На кону' is slightly more common in business and casual speech. 'На чаше весов' is more formal and poetic.
Yes, if you are talking about both sides of the balance. For example: 'На обе чаши весов были положены весомые аргументы.'
Yes, very much so. It is a standard part of the 'literary' and 'official' registers of the language.
Not necessarily. It just means the situation is critical. The outcome could be very positive or very negative.
Yes, if you are discussing a very serious project or a crisis. It shows you understand the importance of the situation.
Use the verb 'склонить'. Example: 'Это событие склонило чашу весов.'
No. 'Чашка' is for tea. 'Чаша' is a large bowl or a metaphorical vessel. Don't mix them up!
Frases relacionadas
Стоять на кону
similarTo be at stake (from gambling)
Висеть на волоске
similarTo hang by a thread
Пан или пропал
contrastAll or nothing
Склонить чашу весов
builds onTo tip the scales
Взвешивать слова
similarTo weigh one's words
