Signification
To shiver from cold or fear.
Contexte culturel
In Russia, the 'Kreshchenskiye morozy' (Epiphany frosts) in January are legendary. People often use this idiom when discussing the tradition of diving into ice holes (prorub). Classic writers like Dostoevsky used this phrase to show the physical vulnerability of the 'little man' (маленький человек) in the cold streets of St. Petersburg. In the famous movie 'The Irony of Fate' (Ирония судьбы), which Russians watch every New Year, the characters often find themselves in situations where they are freezing, making this idiom a staple of winter movie quotes. With global warming, some younger Russians use the phrase ironically when the office air conditioning is set too low, showing how idioms adapt to modern technology.
Use for Emphasis
Don't just say you're cold; use this to show you're *really* struggling. It gets more sympathy!
Grammar Trap
Remember it's 'У меня', not 'Я'. This is the most common mistake for English speakers.
Signification
To shiver from cold or fear.
Use for Emphasis
Don't just say you're cold; use this to show you're *really* struggling. It gets more sympathy!
Grammar Trap
Remember it's 'У меня', not 'Я'. This is the most common mistake for English speakers.
Humor
Russians often use this with a bit of self-deprecating humor during the long winters.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the pronoun (У + Genitive).
___ (Я) зуб на зуб не попадает от этого ветра!
The idiom requires the 'У + Genitive' construction to show who is experiencing the state.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
В какой ситуации можно сказать: 'У него зуб на зуб не попадает'?
The idiom is used for extreme cold or fear, not anger, eating, or running.
Complete the dialogue.
- Почему ты так дрожишь? - Я только что вышел из ледяной воды, и у меня...
'Зуб на зуб не попадает' is the only phrase here that describes shivering from cold.
Match the tense with the correct sentence.
Match the following:
The verb 'попадать' changes according to the time of the action.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercices___ (Я) зуб на зуб не попадает от этого ветра!
The idiom requires the 'У + Genitive' construction to show who is experiencing the state.
В какой ситуации можно сказать: 'У него зуб на зуб не попадает'?
The idiom is used for extreme cold or fear, not anger, eating, or running.
- Почему ты так дрожишь? - Я только что вышел из ледяной воды, и у меня...
'Зуб на зуб не попадает' is the only phrase here that describes shivering from cold.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
The verb 'попадать' changes according to the time of the action.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes! If you have chills (озноб) from a fever and you are shaking, this phrase is very appropriate.
Use 'попадает' for the present and 'попадал' for the past. The form 'попасть' (perfective) is rarely used in this idiom.
Not at all. It's a neutral, descriptive idiom suitable for all ages.
People will understand you, but the standard idiom uses the singular 'зуб'. Stick to the singular for a more native sound.
Mostly, but you can use it humorously for pets (like a shivering chihuahua).
'Дрожать' is just 'to shake'. This idiom is more specific and vivid, focusing on the teeth.
Only informally, like when complaining about the office temperature to a colleague.
No, it's almost always for negative states like cold, fear, or illness.
Very common. Every Russian speaker knows and uses this phrase.
Yes, 'зубы чечётку бьют' (teeth are dancing tap) is a more slangy/humorous version.
Expressions liées
Дрожать как осиновый лист
similarTo shake like an aspen leaf.
Промерзнуть до костей
similarTo be frozen to the bones.
Зуб за зуб
contrastTit for tat / An eye for an eye.
Точить зуб на кого-то
contrastTo hold a grudge against someone.
