Signification
To achieve what is owed.
Contexte culturel
The phrase reflects a cultural acceptance that some things (like aging or fatigue) are beyond human control. It's often said with a sigh and a shrug. Russian commentators frequently use this when a favorite team is struggling but eventually wins. It reinforces the idea that 'class' or 'talent' is a permanent asset. In the context of the Russian 'Dacha' (summer house), this phrase is used to describe the constant battle against weeds and the forest. It is used to validate long-term effort. Unlike 'luck', 'взять своё' implies you had a right to the result because of your history.
Use it for 'Inevitable' things
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when something happens that *everyone expected* to happen eventually.
Don't use for theft
Even if you are taking your own phone back from a thief, 'взять своё' sounds more like a philosophical victory than a physical act of grabbing.
Signification
To achieve what is owed.
Use it for 'Inevitable' things
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when something happens that *everyone expected* to happen eventually.
Don't use for theft
Even if you are taking your own phone back from a thief, 'взять своё' sounds more like a philosophical victory than a physical act of grabbing.
The 'Years' context
When talking about an elderly person's health, this phrase is a polite and indirect way to acknowledge they are aging without being rude.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'брать' or 'взять'.
Он долго тренировался и в итоге ___ своё на чемпионате.
We use the past tense perfective 'взял' because it refers to a specific completed success.
Which sentence describes the effect of aging?
Выберите правильное предложение:
This is the idiomatic way to say 'Years take their toll'.
Match the situation to the meaning of 'взять своё'.
Ситуация: Студент не спал всю неделю и уснул на экзамене.
The student's fatigue 'took its own', meaning it became unavoidable.
Complete the dialogue.
- Как ты думаешь, наша команда выиграет? - Да, они намного сильнее, они должны ___ .
In this context, it means 'they should get the victory they deserve'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Three Faces of 'Взять своё'
Success
- • Winning a race
- • Getting a job
- • Passing an exam
Nature
- • Spring arriving
- • Forest growing
- • River flooding
Human Toll
- • Aging
- • Fatigue
- • Need for sleep
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesОн долго тренировался и в итоге ___ своё на чемпионате.
We use the past tense perfective 'взял' because it refers to a specific completed success.
Выберите правильное предложение:
This is the idiomatic way to say 'Years take their toll'.
Ситуация: Студент не спал всю неделю и уснул на экзамене.
The student's fatigue 'took its own', meaning it became unavoidable.
- Как ты думаешь, наша команда выиграет? - Да, они намного сильнее, они должны ___ .
In this context, it means 'they should get the victory they deserve'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, but that is literal. 'Взять своё' is an idiom for achievement or natural toll. Use the literal version for physical objects.
Yes, it is neutral. You can say 'Наша компания наконец взяла своё на рынке' (Our company finally got its share of the market).
In this idiom, 'своё' acts as a substantive pronoun in the neuter gender, representing 'that which is mine/one's own' in a general sense.
It's possible, but 'отомстить' is better. 'Взять своё' implies you are getting what you deserve, not necessarily hurting someone else.
No. It is positive for success, but can be negative/neutral for aging, fatigue, or illness.
Expressions liées
Добиться своего
similarTo get what one wants through effort or persistence.
Знать своё место
contrastTo know one's (usually low) social standing.
Поставить на своё место
relatedTo put someone in their place.
Своя рука — владыка
builds onOne is their own master.
