Signification
Being a financial burden to someone.
Contexte culturel
The 'Mamytės sūnelis' (Mommy's boy) phenomenon is a frequent target of this idiom. It reflects a societal tension between traditional family support and modern expectations of independence. During the transition to capitalism, many people lost jobs, leading to a generation 'sitting on the neck' of the state or family. This gave the idiom a sharper, more political edge. In villages, physical labor is the measure of a person. Someone 'sitting on the neck' is seen as physically healthy but morally 'broken' because they refuse to work the land.
Don't be too mean
This idiom is quite strong. Only use it if you are actually annoyed by someone's laziness.
Use with Dative
Always remember: [Person in Dative] + ant sprando. Man, tau, jam, jai, mums, jums, jiems.
Signification
Being a financial burden to someone.
Don't be too mean
This idiom is quite strong. Only use it if you are actually annoyed by someone's laziness.
Use with Dative
Always remember: [Person in Dative] + ant sprando. Man, tau, jam, jai, mums, jums, jiems.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word in the correct case.
Mano brolis niekur nedirba, jis sėdi tėvams ant _______.
The preposition 'ant' always takes the Genitive case. 'Sprando' is the Genitive of 'sprandas'.
Which sentence correctly uses the Dative case for the person being burdened?
Choose the correct sentence:
In this idiom, the person affected is in the Dative case (man).
Match the situation to the correct phrase.
A 35-year-old man lives at home, doesn't work, and his mom buys his clothes.
This is the classic definition of being a financial burden.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesMano brolis niekur nedirba, jis sėdi tėvams ant _______.
The preposition 'ant' always takes the Genitive case. 'Sprando' is the Genitive of 'sprandas'.
Choose the correct sentence:
In this idiom, the person affected is in the Dative case (man).
A 35-year-old man lives at home, doesn't work, and his mom buys his clothes.
This is the classic definition of being a financial burden.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsUsually no. We don't say a dog 'sėdi ant sprando' because we expect to support pets. It's for people who *should* be independent.
Yes, it is the closest Lithuanian equivalent to 'leeching' or 'sponging off someone'.
No, it's not vulgar or a swear word, but it is very informal and can be rude if said to someone's face.
Expressions liées
Išnaudoti
similarTo exploit or use someone.
Būti išlaikomam
synonymTo be supported/maintained by someone.
Nulipti nuo sprando
contrastTo stop being a burden; to become independent.
