Signification
Refusing to speak or staying silent.
Contexte culturel
In Lithuanian folklore, silence is often associated with wisdom and protection. Being 'silent as the earth' or 'having water in the mouth' isn't always negative; it can imply a strong character who doesn't gossip. The concept of 'Living Water' (gyvasis vanduo) is common in Baltic myths. Often, the hero must carry it without speaking a word, or the magic fails. This likely influenced the idiom's weight. In modern political discourse, this phrase is frequently used by journalists to describe 'The Wall of Silence' from government officials during scandals. Carrying water from a well was a meditative, daily task. Children were taught not to talk while carrying buckets to avoid spilling or wasting energy, reinforcing the link between water and silence.
Use with 'Kaip'
It sounds most natural when used with 'kaip' (as if). E.g., 'Tyli kaip vandens į burną prisisėmęs'.
Genitive Case
Always use 'Vandens' (Genitive). Using 'Vandenį' (Accusative) is the most common learner mistake.
Signification
Refusing to speak or staying silent.
Use with 'Kaip'
It sounds most natural when used with 'kaip' (as if). E.g., 'Tyli kaip vandens į burną prisisėmęs'.
Genitive Case
Always use 'Vandens' (Genitive). Using 'Vandenį' (Accusative) is the most common learner mistake.
Sarcasm
You can use this sarcastically when someone is being unusually quiet at a party.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Visi mokiniai prisisėmė ______ į burną.
The partitive genitive 'vandens' is required here.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Kada galime sakyti 'Jis prisisėmė vandens į burną'?
The idiom refers to refusing to speak, not the physical act of drinking or swimming.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kodėl tu nieko nesakai apie vakarėlį? B: ...
This is the idiomatic way to say 'I'm not telling you.'
Match the Lithuanian idiom with its English equivalent context.
Match the following:
Each idiom has a specific nuance of silence.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesVisi mokiniai prisisėmė ______ į burną.
The partitive genitive 'vandens' is required here.
Kada galime sakyti 'Jis prisisėmė vandens į burną'?
The idiom refers to refusing to speak, not the physical act of drinking or swimming.
A: Kodėl tu nieko nesakai apie vakarėlį? B: ...
This is the idiomatic way to say 'I'm not telling you.'
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Each idiom has a specific nuance of silence.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt can be slightly confrontational if asked as a question ('Ar prisisėmei...?'), but generally, it's a standard idiom used in neutral contexts.
Yes, it's perfect for describing someone who refuses to reveal a secret.
It means 'to scoop' or 'to draw' (like water from a well).
Not really, but you can just say 'Jis tyli' (He is silent) if you want to be simple.
It's better to avoid it in formal emails; it's more suited for spoken conversation or creative writing.
Almost, but 'Cat got your tongue' often implies the person is shy or surprised, while the Lithuanian phrase implies they are being stubborn.
Because you are taking 'some' water (partitive), which requires the genitive case in Lithuanian.
Yes, it's a timeless idiom that hasn't gone out of style.
Yes: 'Visi prisisėmė vandens į burną.'
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'Paleisti liežuvį' (to let the tongue loose) means to start gossiping or talking too much.
Expressions liées
Tylėti kaip žemė
synonymTo be silent like the earth.
Liežuvį praryti
similarTo swallow one's tongue.
Nė bum
informalNot a sound.
Užsičiaupti
contrastTo shut up.
