Signification
To leave or escape quickly.
Contexte culturel
Latvians have a saying: 'Mežs ir latvieša otrās mājas' (The forest is a Latvian's second home). This idiom reflects the forest as a place where one can always find a way to disappear. In modern Riga, this phrase is often used for 'ghosting' at parties—leaving without saying goodbye to everyone, also known as an 'Irish goodbye.' In Latvian offices, 'laisties lapās' is a common joke on Friday afternoons around 4 PM. Many Latvian dainas (folk songs) mention animals hiding in the leaves, which likely cemented this image in the language long before it became a common idiom.
Use with 'tiklīdz'
This idiom pairs perfectly with 'tiklīdz' (as soon as). E.g., 'Tiklīdz viņš ieraudzīja darbu, viņš laidās lapās.'
Don't use with 'iet'
Never say 'iet lapās'. It makes no sense to a native speaker. The verb must be 'laisties' or occasionally 'mukt'.
Signification
To leave or escape quickly.
Use with 'tiklīdz'
This idiom pairs perfectly with 'tiklīdz' (as soon as). E.g., 'Tiklīdz viņš ieraudzīja darbu, viņš laidās lapās.'
Don't use with 'iet'
Never say 'iet lapās'. It makes no sense to a native speaker. The verb must be 'laisties' or occasionally 'mukt'.
Perfect for 'Ghosting'
If you want to describe someone who stopped replying to your texts, you can say 'Viņš laidās lapās' (He vanished/ghosted).
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'laisties'.
Kad sākās lietus, mēs _________ lapās.
Since the subject is 'mēs' (we) and the context implies a past action (when it started raining), 'laidāmies' is correct.
Which situation is most appropriate for 'laisties lapās'?
Choose the best context:
The idiom is informal and describes a quick departure to avoid boredom or trouble.
Match the Latvian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match them up:
These are all related to leaving, but with different nuances.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Vai tu dzirdēji, ka Jānis vakar _________ no darba agrāk? B: Jā, viņš negribēja palīdzēt ar inventarizāciju.
The context of avoiding work (inventarizācija) makes the idiom 'laidās lapās' the perfect fit.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesKad sākās lietus, mēs _________ lapās.
Since the subject is 'mēs' (we) and the context implies a past action (when it started raining), 'laidāmies' is correct.
Choose the best context:
The idiom is informal and describes a quick departure to avoid boredom or trouble.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are all related to leaving, but with different nuances.
A: Vai tu dzirdēji, ka Jānis vakar _________ no darba agrāk? B: Jā, viņš negribēja palīdzēt ar inventarizāciju.
The context of avoiding work (inventarizācija) makes the idiom 'laidās lapās' the perfect fit.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsUsually no. It's for people or animals. For a car, you'd say 'aizbrauca' or 'aiztraucās'.
It's not rude, but it is very informal. Don't use it to describe your boss leaving unless you are joking with a close colleague.
It is 'mēs laidāmies lapās'.
The verb 'laisties' can mean flying (like a bird), but in this idiom, it just means moving fast.
Yes! It's a fixed idiom. The 'leaves' are metaphorical.
Yes, 'steidzami aiziet' or 'doties prom'.
No, the idiom only works with 'lapās'.
Yes, especially in children's books or informal novels.
Es gribu laisties lapās.
Yes, it can be used to describe someone disappearing from a conversation or relationship.
Expressions liées
notīties
synonymto clear out / to wind away
aizbēgt
similarto escape
pazust bez vēsts
similarto disappear without a trace
uztaisīt kājas
synonymto leg it
palikt gribot
contrastto stay wanting
