Significado
To have a lot of experience.
Contexto cultural
In Ukrainian villages, the 'майстер на всі руки' (jack of all trades) is a highly respected figure. This idiom is often used to validate their authority in the community. In the modern IT sector in Kyiv and Lviv, this idiom has been 're-modernized.' Senior developers use it to describe their experience with legacy codebases. Professors use this to describe their decades of research. It carries a sense of 'I have earned my right to speak on this subject.' In communities in Canada and the US, this idiom is preserved as a way to connect with traditional roots and describe the hard work of the first immigrants.
The 'Na' Rule
Always remember the preposition 'на'. Without it, the sentence sounds like you literally ate teeth.
Past Tense Only
99% of the time, use the past tense. Expertise is a result, not a process in this idiom.
Significado
To have a lot of experience.
The 'Na' Rule
Always remember the preposition 'на'. Without it, the sentence sounds like you literally ate teeth.
Past Tense Only
99% of the time, use the past tense. Expertise is a result, not a process in this idiom.
Don't use for 'New' things
If you just started a job last week, don't use this phrase. It will sound sarcastic or arrogant.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom and preposition.
Мій дідусь ___ ___ ___ риболовлі.
We use 'з'їв' (masculine past tense for 'дідусь') and the preposition 'на'.
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to mean 'She is an expert programmer'?
Оберіть правильний варіант:
The correct structure is 'з'їсти зуби' + 'на' + Locative case.
Match the person with the field they 'ate their teeth' on based on the context.
З'єднайте пари:
These are all logical pairings for the idiom.
In which situation is it MOST appropriate to use 'зуби з'їсти'?
Оберіть ситуацію:
The idiom requires long-term, extensive experience.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosМій дідусь ___ ___ ___ риболовлі.
We use 'з'їв' (masculine past tense for 'дідусь') and the preposition 'на'.
Оберіть правильний варіант:
The correct structure is 'з'їсти зуби' + 'на' + Locative case.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are all logical pairings for the idiom.
Оберіть ситуацію:
The idiom requires long-term, extensive experience.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it's actually a compliment! It acknowledges their years of hard work and wisdom.
Usually no. It's for skills and mastery. You wouldn't say someone 'ate their teeth on being late.'
They are almost identical. 'Зуби з'їсти' feels a bit more like 'hard-earned labor,' while 'собаку з'їсти' is just 'general expertise.'
It's better to use 'Маю великий досвід' in a formal CV, but you can use the idiom during the interview to sound more natural.
Not at all! You can 'eat teeth' on cooking, video games, gardening, or even navigating bureaucracy.
Yes, in this idiom, 'зуби' is always plural. You can't 'eat one tooth' and be an expert.
It's a tiny pause. Pronounce the 'z' then a quick 'yee' sound. Don't let them slide together like 'zyee'.
This sounds like you have a lot of experience dealing with that person's personality. It can be slightly negative or humorous.
The Locative case (Місцевий відмінок).
Yes, Russian has 'зубы съел', but the Ukrainian version is very much a part of the local linguistic identity.
Frases relacionadas
Собаку з'їсти
synonymTo be an expert (literally: to eat a dog).
Набити руку
similarTo get the hang of something.
Стріляний горобець
similarAn experienced person (literally: a shot sparrow).
Зуби гострити
contrastTo prepare for a fight or to want something (literally: to sharpen teeth).
