Signification
Acting superior to others.
Contexte culturel
In Russian folklore and fairy tales, arrogance is often punished. Characters who 'задирают нос' usually end up in a funny or embarrassing situation to teach them a lesson. During the Soviet period, 'задирание носа' was seen as a 'bourgeois' trait. People were encouraged to be 'simple' (простой человек), and acting superior was a social taboo. In big cities like Moscow, the phrase is often used to describe 'snobbish' behavior regarding wealth or brand names, reflecting the rapid social stratification of the last 30 years. Russian parents frequently use this idiom to prevent their children from becoming 'spoiled' or too proud of their achievements, emphasizing that there is always more to learn.
Use with 'сразу'
The phrase is very often used with the word 'сразу' (immediately) to show how quickly someone's attitude changed after a success.
Don't use with your boss
Even if your boss is being arrogant, this phrase is too informal and could be seen as an insult.
Signification
Acting superior to others.
Use with 'сразу'
The phrase is very often used with the word 'сразу' (immediately) to show how quickly someone's attitude changed after a success.
Don't use with your boss
Even if your boss is being arrogant, this phrase is too informal and could be seen as an insult.
Perfective vs Imperfective
Use 'задрал' (perfective) when you want to gossip about a specific event that changed someone. Use 'задирает' (imperfective) to describe a permanent personality flaw.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct form of the verb (задирать or задрать).
После того как он купил новый айфон, он сразу ___ нос.
We use the perfective 'задрал' because it describes a specific completed action that happened right after buying the phone.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'задирать нос'?
Выберите ситуацию:
This situation shows arrogance following a success, which is the core meaning of the idiom.
Match the Russian phrase with its English equivalent.
Сопоставьте фразы:
These are three common 'nose' idioms in Russian with very different meanings.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
- Ты видел, как ведёт себя новый менеджер? - Да, он ___, как будто он здесь самый главный.
The context of acting like 'the most important person' requires the idiom for arrogance.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesПосле того как он купил новый айфон, он сразу ___ нос.
We use the perfective 'задрал' because it describes a specific completed action that happened right after buying the phone.
Выберите ситуацию:
This situation shows arrogance following a success, which is the core meaning of the idiom.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are three common 'nose' idioms in Russian with very different meanings.
- Ты видел, как ведёт себя новый менеджер? - Да, он ___, как будто он здесь самый главный.
The context of acting like 'the most important person' requires the idiom for arrogance.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsIt's not a swear word, but it is a criticism. It's like calling someone 'stuck-up' in English. Use it with friends, but not in formal situations.
Usually, no. You wouldn't say 'I am lifting my nose.' However, you could say 'Я стараюсь не задирать нос' (I try not to get stuck-up).
The opposite behavior is 'быть скромным' (to be humble) or 'держаться просто' (to act simply/humbly).
Yes, the idiom is fixed. You cannot say 'задирать уши' or 'задирать глаза'.
Yes, it's very common among children and in children's literature.
Expressions liées
Смотреть свысока
similarTo look down on someone
Много о себе воображать
synonymTo have a high opinion of oneself
Вешать нос
contrastTo be sad or discouraged
Держать нос по ветру
relatedTo see which way the wind is blowing
