Significado
to stop hoping for something
Contexto cultural
The cross is the most sacred symbol. Using it in an idiom about 'giving up' shows the gravity of the decision—it's like a spiritual 'amen' to a failed effort. A 'cross' on a file meant a person was barred from certain jobs or travel. This gave the phrase a 'blacklisting' nuance that persists today. The phrase is used very frequently in business media to describe 'toxic assets' or failed investments, reflecting a blunt, direct communication style. Classic authors like Dostoevsky use the 'cross' as a symbol of both suffering and the end of hope, which deeply influenced this idiom.
Add 'Жирный' for impact
If you want to sound like a native speaker, say 'поставить жирный крест' (to put a fat cross). It adds a layer of 'I am 100% done and never looking back'.
Careful with people
Saying 'я поставил на тебе крест' to someone's face is extremely hurtful. Use it only when talking *about* someone you've truly given up on.
Significado
to stop hoping for something
Add 'Жирный' for impact
If you want to sound like a native speaker, say 'поставить жирный крест' (to put a fat cross). It adds a layer of 'I am 100% done and never looking back'.
Careful with people
Saying 'я поставил на тебе крест' to someone's face is extremely hurtful. Use it only when talking *about* someone you've truly given up on.
Fatalism
This phrase is a great window into the Russian concept of 'sud'ba' (fate). Sometimes putting a cross on something is seen as accepting one's destiny.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing words using the correct form of 'ставить крест'.
После того как он провалил экзамен в пятый раз, он решил ___ на своей мечте стать врачом.
The perfective infinitive is needed here to show a completed decision after 'решил'.
Which preposition and case are correct?
Она поставила крест ___.
The idiom requires 'на' + Accusative. 'Карьеру' is the Accusative form of 'карьера'.
Match the situation with the most natural phrase.
Situations: 1. Minor annoyance with a broken pen. 2. Final decision to end a 10-year business. 3. Losing motivation but still trying.
1. 'Махнуть рукой' is for minor things. 2. 'Поставить крест' is for major finality. 3. 'Опустить руки' is about losing motivation.
Complete the dialogue.
— Ты всё ещё пытаешься починить этот старый ноутбук? — Нет, мастер сказал, что запчастей нет. Так что я ___.
We need 'на' + Prepositional (for the location of the cross) or Accusative. For inanimate objects, 'на нём' is the standard way to refer back to the item.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Intensity of Giving Up
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosПосле того как он провалил экзамен в пятый раз, он решил ___ на своей мечте стать врачом.
The perfective infinitive is needed here to show a completed decision after 'решил'.
Она поставила крест ___.
The idiom requires 'на' + Accusative. 'Карьеру' is the Accusative form of 'карьера'.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
1. 'Махнуть рукой' is for minor things. 2. 'Поставить крест' is for major finality. 3. 'Опустить руки' is about losing motivation.
— Ты всё ещё пытаешься починить этот старый ноутбук? — Нет, мастер сказал, что запчастей нет. Так что я ___.
We need 'на' + Prepositional (for the location of the cross) or Accusative. For inanimate objects, 'на нём' is the standard way to refer back to the item.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt has religious origins, but today it is used in completely secular contexts like business, sports, and technology.
It's better not to. For small things, use 'махнуть рукой'. 'Ставить крест' is for big, final decisions.
It's the Accusative case. For example: 'на проект' (inanimate) or 'на него' (animate).
'Бросить' just means to quit. 'Поставить крест' means you've decided it's hopeless. It's more descriptive.
No, the verb is always 'ставить' or 'поставить'. 'Положить' sounds wrong.
You can say 'Я поставил крест на этом долге', meaning you don't expect to get the money back.
It's a bit idiomatic. In a very formal report, use 'признать нецелесообразным'. In a meeting, it's fine.
It just means a 'big' or 'thick' cross, emphasizing that the decision is absolutely final.
Only if they did something so bad that you've already decided they are a hopeless case.
Usually, yes, because it involves giving up. But it can be positive if you are 'putting a cross' on a bad habit.
Frases relacionadas
махнуть рукой
similarto wave one's hand at something
опустить руки
builds onto lose heart/motivation
списать со счетов
synonymto write off
похоронить надежду
similarto bury hope
нести свой крест
contrastto bear one's cross
