Signification
to recover from an illness
Contexte culturel
There is a strong tradition of visiting sick friends with food (like chicken broth or fruit). When visiting, saying 'Рад, что ты идёшь на поправку' is a key social lubricant. In many Russian-speaking countries, patients prefer hearing this phrase from a doctor rather than a cold clinical diagnosis, as it feels more human and hopeful. Russians often avoid saying someone is 'healthy' (здоров) until they are 100% recovered. 'Идёт на поправку' is a safer, more cautious way to report progress without 'jinxing' it. Classic Russian literature often uses this phrase to signal a moral or spiritual rebirth of a character alongside their physical recovery.
Use the Perfective
Use 'пошёл на поправку' when you want to emphasize that the recovery has just started. It sounds very natural.
Avoid for Objects
Never use this for a broken phone or car. It's strictly for living things or abstract systems like 'the economy'.
Signification
to recover from an illness
Use the Perfective
Use 'пошёл на поправку' when you want to emphasize that the recovery has just started. It sounds very natural.
Avoid for Objects
Never use this for a broken phone or car. It's strictly for living things or abstract systems like 'the economy'.
Metaphorical Use
Use this in business meetings to sound more like a native speaker when discussing project improvements.
The 'Spitting' Rule
If you say someone is 'идёт на поправку', don't be surprised if a Russian friend knocks on wood!
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'идти'.
Врачи говорят, что мой дедушка уже ___ на поправку.
The subject is 'дедушка' (he), so the verb must be in the 3rd person singular.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose the correct usage:
The phrase can be used metaphorically for the economy, and the grammar is correct.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
— Как твоя сестра? Она всё ещё в больнице? — Да, но не волнуйся, она уже ___.
'Идёт на поправку' is the most natural way to say she is recovering in this context.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
Where would you most likely hear 'Дела пошли на поправку'?
This metaphorical use is very common in financial and news contexts.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Recovery Verbs
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesВрачи говорят, что мой дедушка уже ___ на поправку.
The subject is 'дедушка' (he), so the verb must be in the 3rd person singular.
Choose the correct usage:
The phrase can be used metaphorically for the economy, and the grammar is correct.
— Как твоя сестра? Она всё ещё в больнице? — Да, но не волнуйся, она уже ___.
'Идёт на поправку' is the most natural way to say she is recovering in this context.
Where would you most likely hear 'Дела пошли на поправку'?
This metaphorical use is very common in financial and news contexts.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsYes, it is very common to say 'Его душевное состояние идёт на поправку' for someone recovering from depression or stress.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your doctor, or your grandmother.
'Выздоравливать' is a single verb, while 'идти на поправку' is an idiom that emphasizes the process and trajectory.
Yes, but it usually implies you were significantly sick before.
No. While 'поправляться' can mean to gain weight, in this specific idiom, 'поправка' only means recovery/improvement.
Yes: 'Я уверен, что скоро ты пойдёшь на поправку.'
Frequently, especially when reporting on the health of celebrities or politicians.
The accusative case: 'поправку'.
Yes, this is a very common way to say 'things are looking up'.
Yes, 'идти на поправку' is neutral; a slang version would be 'оклёмываться'.
Yes, it's perfectly fine to say 'Моя собака идёт на поправку'.
Russian often uses verbs of motion to describe time and processes (e.g., 'время идёт').
Yes, you will find it in almost every 19th-century Russian novel involving a sick character.
Yes, it works for any physical injury or illness.
Expressions liées
выздоравливать
synonymto recover/get well
идти на лад
similarto start going well
встать на ноги
builds onto get back on one's feet
хуже некуда
contrastcouldn't be worse
поправляться
similarto get better / to gain weight
