B2 Idiom غیر رسمی

mieć na karku

to have something hanging over one

معنی

To have a responsibility or problem.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

The phrase is often used in 'narzekanie' (complaining), which is a social bonding ritual in Poland. Sharing what you have 'na karku' is a way to build empathy. In modern offices, 'mieć na karku' is used to describe KPIs, deadlines, and audits, showing the adaptation of agricultural language to the digital age. The concept of 'na karku' relates to the history of serfdom (pańszczyzna), where the physical burden of labor was a literal part of life for the majority of the population. Polish parents often use age-related 'na karku' phrases to motivate (or guilt-trip) children into making life decisions like marriage or career changes.

🎯

Use with 'Siedzieć'

If you want to sound very natural when complaining about a boss, use 'siedzi mi na karku' instead of 'mam go na karku'.

⚠️

Don't be too literal

If you have a physical pain in your neck, say 'boli mnie kark', not 'mam ból na karku'.

معنی

To have a responsibility or problem.

🎯

Use with 'Siedzieć'

If you want to sound very natural when complaining about a boss, use 'siedzi mi na karku' instead of 'mam go na karku'.

⚠️

Don't be too literal

If you have a physical pain in your neck, say 'boli mnie kark', not 'mam ból na karku'.

💬

Age Irony

Using 'na karku' for age is slightly self-deprecating. It's great for 'humble-bragging' or joking about getting old.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the missing word in the correct form.

Nie mogę teraz rozmawiać, bo szef ________ mi na karku.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: siedzi

'Siedzieć komuś na karku' is the standard idiom for someone nagging or watching you closely.

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to describe age?

How would a 50-year-old say they are 50 using this idiom?

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Mam pięćdziesiątkę na karku.

We use the Accusative form of the decade noun (pięćdziesiątkę) + 'na karku'.

Match the situation to the correct phrase.

1. Debt, 2. Nagging Boss, 3. Turning 30

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

Each context uses a slightly different variation of the idiom.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Dlaczego jesteś taki zdenerwowany? B: Bo mam na karku ________ z urzędu skarbowego!

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: kontrolę

A 'tax audit' (kontrola) is a classic example of a burden 'na karku'.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Fill in the missing word in the correct form. جای خالی B1

Nie mogę teraz rozmawiać, bo szef ________ mi na karku.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: siedzi

'Siedzieć komuś na karku' is the standard idiom for someone nagging or watching you closely.

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to describe age? Choose B2

How would a 50-year-old say they are 50 using this idiom?

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Mam pięćdziesiątkę na karku.

We use the Accusative form of the decade noun (pięćdziesiątkę) + 'na karku'.

Match the situation to the correct phrase. situation_matching B2

1. Debt, 2. Nagging Boss, 3. Turning 30

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

Each context uses a slightly different variation of the idiom.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: Dlaczego jesteś taki zdenerwowany? B: Bo mam na karku ________ z urzędu skarbowego!

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: kontrolę

A 'tax audit' (kontrola) is a classic example of a burden 'na karku'.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

4 سوال

Not inherently, but it is informal. Using it to describe a person (e.g., 'Mam go na karku') implies they are a nuisance.

Rarely. It almost always implies a burden. You wouldn't say 'Mam na karku wygraną w lotto'.

'Kark' is the back of the neck (nape); 'szyja' is the whole neck. The idiom only works with 'kark'.

Technically yes, but it sounds funny because a 5-year-old doesn't have 'burdens' yet. It's usually for 18+.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

mieć na głowie

similar

To have a lot to do/think about.

🔗

siedzieć komuś na karku

specialized form

To nag or micromanage someone.

🔗

mieć z głowy

contrast

To be done with something.

🔗

brać coś na swoje barki

similar

To take responsibility for something.

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