B1 Idiom غیر رسمی

сидеть на мели

сидеть на мели

to be broke

معنی

To have no money.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

There is a cultural phenomenon called 'от зарплаты до зарплаты' (from paycheck to paycheck). Many people jokingly say they are 'на мели' in the last week of the month. Classic 19th-century literature often features 'noble' characters who are 'на мели' because of gambling or poor estate management. With the rise of credit cards, the phrase is sometimes used to mean one has reached their credit limit. Student culture in Russia heavily uses this phrase to describe the period after a 'стипендия' (scholarship payment) has been spent.

💡

Use it for empathy

If a friend says they are 'на мели,' don't offer financial advice immediately. Just say 'Понимаю' (I understand).

⚠️

Don't overstress the 'L'

The 'l' in 'мели' is soft (ль). Make sure your tongue touches your teeth.

معنی

To have no money.

💡

Use it for empathy

If a friend says they are 'на мели,' don't offer financial advice immediately. Just say 'Понимаю' (I understand).

⚠️

Don't overstress the 'L'

The 'l' in 'мели' is soft (ль). Make sure your tongue touches your teeth.

🎯

Perfective vs Imperfective

Use 'сидеть' for the state, and 'сесть' or 'оказаться' for the moment you ran out of money.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'сидеть'.

Мы потратили все деньги на отпуск, и теперь ________ на мели.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: сидим

The subject is 'Мы' (we), so the verb must be 'сидим'.

Which sentence is the most natural way to decline an expensive dinner?

Друг: 'Пойдём в ресторан?' Вы: '...'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Я сейчас на мели, извини.

This is the most natural, idiomatic way to express being broke in a social context.

Match the idiom to its meaning.

Match the following:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: a

Сидеть на мели means to have no money.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.

— Почему ты не купил машину? — Я хотел, но после свадьбы я ________.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: остался на мели

'Остался на мели' describes the state of being left without money after an event.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'сидеть'. جای خالی A2

Мы потратили все деньги на отпуск, и теперь ________ на мели.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: сидим

The subject is 'Мы' (we), so the verb must be 'сидим'.

Which sentence is the most natural way to decline an expensive dinner? Choose B1

Друг: 'Пойдём в ресторан?' Вы: '...'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Я сейчас на мели, извини.

This is the most natural, idiomatic way to express being broke in a social context.

Match the idiom to its meaning. Match B1

هر مورد سمت چپ را با جفتش در سمت راست مطابقت دهید:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: a

Сидеть на мели means to have no money.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase. dialogue_completion B1

— Почему ты не купил машину? — Я хотел, но после свадьбы я ________.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: остался на мели

'Остался на мели' describes the state of being left without money after an event.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

4 سوال

It depends on your relationship. In a casual office, it's fine. In a formal one, say 'У меня сейчас финансовые затруднения.'

Yes, you can say 'Экономика страны на мели,' though it sounds a bit journalistic.

The most common opposite is 'при деньгах' (with money).

Usually, it means you have very little—not enough for the specific thing being discussed.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

остаться у разбитого корыта

similar

To be left with nothing (from Pushkin's fairy tale).

🔗

сводить концы с концами

similar

To make ends meet.

🔗

денег куры не клюют

contrast

To have more money than you know what to do with.

🔗

вылететь в трубу

specialized form

To go bankrupt/lose everything quickly.

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