A1 Idiom Informel

Mlatiti praznu slamu

Beat empty straw

Signification

Talking about nothing useful.

🌍

Contexte culturel

In the agricultural heartland of Slavonia, this phrase is deeply rooted in the actual history of wheat farming. In modern Zagreb offices, the phrase is used to mock 'buzzword-heavy' corporate speak. While used, Dalmatians might prefer other idioms like 'prodavati maglu' (selling fog) for similar situations. Journalists often use this to describe politicians who avoid answering questions.

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Context is key

Only use this with people you know well. It can sound rude.

⚠️

Don't use in formal writing

It is strictly an informal idiom.

Signification

Talking about nothing useful.

💡

Context is key

Only use this with people you know well. It can sound rude.

⚠️

Don't use in formal writing

It is strictly an informal idiom.

🎯

Use it to end a meeting

If you want to leave a boring meeting, say 'Mislim da mlatimo praznu slamu'.

Teste-toi

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.

Dosta mi je slušati kako on _________ cijeli dan.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : mlati praznu slamu

The correct idiom is 'mlatiti praznu slamu'.

Which situation is appropriate for this idiom?

When is it appropriate to say 'mlatiti praznu slamu'?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : When someone is talking nonsense for hours

The idiom is used to describe unproductive, empty talk.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Što misliš o današnjem sastanku? B: Ništa, samo smo _________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : mlatili praznu slamu

The context implies the meeting was unproductive.

Match the situation to the correct description.

Situation: A colleague talks for an hour without saying anything useful.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : On mlati praznu slamu

The idiom fits the description of unproductive talk.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Banque d exercices

4 exercices
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom. Fill Blank A1

Dosta mi je slušati kako on _________ cijeli dan.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : mlati praznu slamu

The correct idiom is 'mlatiti praznu slamu'.

Which situation is appropriate for this idiom? Choose A2

When is it appropriate to say 'mlatiti praznu slamu'?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : When someone is talking nonsense for hours

The idiom is used to describe unproductive, empty talk.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: Što misliš o današnjem sastanku? B: Ništa, samo smo _________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : mlatili praznu slamu

The context implies the meeting was unproductive.

Match the situation to the correct description. situation_matching A1

Situation: A colleague talks for an hour without saying anything useful.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : On mlati praznu slamu

The idiom fits the description of unproductive talk.

🎉 Score : /4

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Only if you have a very casual relationship. Otherwise, avoid it.

It can be, as it implies the other person is useless.

The verb changes, but the idiom remains the same.

Yes, but adding 'praznu' makes it more idiomatic.

Yes, it is common in all Serbo-Croatian speaking areas.

People will be confused because it doesn't mean anything.

It is more of an idiom than slang.

Only in a very informal email to a friend.

Yes, it is a very standard idiom.

The idiom itself is neutral, but the verb conjugates.

Expressions liées

🔗

Prodavati maglu

similar

To sell fog

🔗

Šuplja priča

similar

Hollow story

🔗

Gubiti vrijeme

builds on

To waste time

🔗

Pričati u vjetar

similar

To talk into the wind

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