Significado
Ignoring long-term consequences.
Contexto cultural
The idiom is a favorite of 19th-century Russian realists to describe the 'small man' or the 'stagnant official.' In modern Russian startups, this phrase is used to warn against 'burning' VC money too fast without a product-market fit. During the Soviet period, 'political short-sightedness' (политическая близорукость) was a serious ideological accusation, often synonymous with this idiom. There is a minor Russian superstition that if your nose itches, you will soon be drinking or get into a fight. While unrelated to the idiom, it shows how 'nose-centric' Russian folk idioms can be.
Use for self-deprecation
You can use this to admit a mistake gracefully: 'Простите, я не видел дальше своего носа.'
Be careful with 'своего'
Always use 'своего' if the subject is 'I', 'you', 'he', etc. Don't say 'дальше моего носа' unless you want to sound very emphatic or poetic.
Significado
Ignoring long-term consequences.
Use for self-deprecation
You can use this to admit a mistake gracefully: 'Простите, я не видел дальше своего носа.'
Be careful with 'своего'
Always use 'своего' if the subject is 'I', 'you', 'he', etc. Don't say 'дальше моего носа' unless you want to sound very emphatic or poetic.
Add 'кончика' for spice
Saying 'не видеть дальше кончика своего носа' makes you sound like a native speaker who is truly annoyed.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing words in the correct case.
Он тратит все деньги на вечеринки и не видит дальше своего ______.
The comparative 'дальше' requires the Genitive case of 'нос', which is 'носа'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to mean 'short-sighted'?
Выберите правильное предложение:
This sentence correctly uses the figurative meaning of failing to plan for the future.
Match the situation to the response.
Ситуация: Ваш друг хочет бросить университет за месяц до диплома.
Dropping out right before graduation is a classic example of not considering long-term consequences.
Complete the dialogue.
— Почему ты не купил страховку? — Я думал, ничего не случится. — Эх, ты никогда ...
The idiom fits perfectly here to criticize the lack of insurance planning.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosОн тратит все деньги на вечеринки и не видит дальше своего ______.
The comparative 'дальше' requires the Genitive case of 'нос', which is 'носа'.
Выберите правильное предложение:
This sentence correctly uses the figurative meaning of failing to plan for the future.
Ситуация: Ваш друг хочет бросить университет за месяц до диплома.
Dropping out right before graduation is a classic example of not considering long-term consequences.
— Почему ты не купил страховку? — Я думал, ничего не случится. — Эх, ты никогда ...
The idiom fits perfectly here to criticize the lack of insurance planning.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
5 preguntasIt can be. In a professional setting, it's a sharp critique. Between friends, it's a blunt warning.
Yes, but only in extreme conditions like fog or total darkness. Otherwise, people will think you're being metaphorical.
The most common opposite is being 'дальновидный' (far-sighted/proactive).
Because the word 'дальше' (further) acts as a comparative that triggers the Genitive case in Russian.
No, that is not an idiom and will sound very strange to Russians.
Frases relacionadas
жить одним днём
similarTo live for today
узкий кругозор
synonymNarrow horizons
смотреть в оба
contrastTo keep both eyes open
дальновидный
contrastFar-sighted/Proactive
ограниченный человек
similarA limited person
