Signification
Used to say there is plenty of something.
Contexte culturel
In Russia, it's culturally important to have 'more than enough' food for guests. Saying 'за глаза' about the food on the table is a compliment to the host's generosity. The phrase reflects the historical transition from weighing goods to 'buying by eye' in traditional bazaars, where a generous merchant would add a little extra. Russian tech YouTubers and bloggers frequently use this phrase to describe hardware specs, showing how an old idiom adapts to modern technology. While 'за глаза' (plenty) is positive, 'за глаза' (behind the back) is a serious social taboo in Russian offices, often associated with 'gossip' (сплетни).
The 'Sufficiency' Formula
Always use [Resource in Genitive] + [хватит] + [за глаза]. For example: 'Денег хватит за глаза.'
Avoid Pluralizing
Never say 'за глазом' or 'за глазами' when you mean 'plenty'. It's always plural 'глаза'.
Signification
Used to say there is plenty of something.
The 'Sufficiency' Formula
Always use [Resource in Genitive] + [хватит] + [за глаза]. For example: 'Денег хватит за глаза.'
Avoid Pluralizing
Never say 'за глазом' or 'за глазами' when you mean 'plenty'. It's always plural 'глаза'.
Reassurance
Use this phrase to sound more confident and native when someone asks if you need help or more resources.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase.
Нам десяти минут хватит ______, чтобы добежать до метро.
The idiom is always 'за глаза' in this context.
Which sentence uses the phrase in the sense of 'plenty'?
Choose the correct sentence:
The first option means 'behind his back'. The second means 'plenty'.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
А: Давай купим ещё пять бутылок воды? Б: Нет, трёх нам ______.
The standard construction is 'хватит за глаза'.
Match the situation to the correct meaning of 'за глаза'.
Situation: You are discussing a budget for a party and say you have enough money.
In the context of resources like money, it means plenty.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Sufficiency Levels in Russian
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesНам десяти минут хватит ______, чтобы добежать до метро.
The idiom is always 'за глаза' in this context.
Choose the correct sentence:
The first option means 'behind his back'. The second means 'plenty'.
А: Давай купим ещё пять бутылок воды? Б: Нет, трёх нам ______.
The standard construction is 'хватит за глаза'.
Situation: You are discussing a budget for a party and say you have enough money.
In the context of resources like money, it means plenty.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, the 'plenty' sense is not rude at all. However, the 'behind the back' sense can imply gossiping, which might be seen as negative.
Rarely. You wouldn't say 'Two friends are за глаза.' It's mostly for resources like time, money, space, or food.
The best opposite is 'в обрез' (barely enough).
Yes, it's a common short way to say 'It's more than enough for me.'
In 90% of cases, yes. Occasionally you might hear 'этого за глаза', but 'хватит' is the standard partner.
In an email to a colleague? Yes. In a formal contract? No.
It likely refers to 'visual estimation'—if it looks like enough to your eyes, it's plenty.
It's informal/colloquial, but not quite 'slang'. Everyone from kids to grandmas uses it.
Usually no. You wouldn't say 'I have за глаза problems.' Use 'выше крыши' for that.
It's a voiced 'z' like in 'zebra'.
Expressions liées
с лихвой
synonymWith a surplus
выше крыши
similarMore than enough (slang)
по горло
similarUp to the throat
в обрез
contrastBarely enough / Just enough
на глаз
builds onBy eye / Approximately
