Signification
To have no money.
Contexte culturel
There is a cultural phenomenon called 'от зарплаты до зарплаты' (from paycheck to paycheck). Many people jokingly say they are 'на мели' in the last week of the month. Classic 19th-century literature often features 'noble' characters who are 'на мели' because of gambling or poor estate management. With the rise of credit cards, the phrase is sometimes used to mean one has reached their credit limit. Student culture in Russia heavily uses this phrase to describe the period after a 'стипендия' (scholarship payment) has been spent.
Use it for empathy
If a friend says they are 'на мели,' don't offer financial advice immediately. Just say 'Понимаю' (I understand).
Don't overstress the 'L'
The 'l' in 'мели' is soft (ль). Make sure your tongue touches your teeth.
Signification
To have no money.
Use it for empathy
If a friend says they are 'на мели,' don't offer financial advice immediately. Just say 'Понимаю' (I understand).
Don't overstress the 'L'
The 'l' in 'мели' is soft (ль). Make sure your tongue touches your teeth.
Perfective vs Imperfective
Use 'сидеть' for the state, and 'сесть' or 'оказаться' for the moment you ran out of money.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'сидеть'.
Мы потратили все деньги на отпуск, и теперь ________ на мели.
The subject is 'Мы' (we), so the verb must be 'сидим'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to decline an expensive dinner?
Друг: 'Пойдём в ресторан?' Вы: '...'
This is the most natural, idiomatic way to express being broke in a social context.
Match the idiom to its meaning.
Match the following:
Сидеть на мели means to have no money.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
— Почему ты не купил машину? — Я хотел, но после свадьбы я ________.
'Остался на мели' describes the state of being left without money after an event.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesМы потратили все деньги на отпуск, и теперь ________ на мели.
The subject is 'Мы' (we), so the verb must be 'сидим'.
Друг: 'Пойдём в ресторан?' Вы: '...'
This is the most natural, idiomatic way to express being broke in a social context.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Сидеть на мели means to have no money.
— Почему ты не купил машину? — Я хотел, но после свадьбы я ________.
'Остался на мели' describes the state of being left without money after an event.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsIt depends on your relationship. In a casual office, it's fine. In a formal one, say 'У меня сейчас финансовые затруднения.'
Yes, you can say 'Экономика страны на мели,' though it sounds a bit journalistic.
The most common opposite is 'при деньгах' (with money).
Usually, it means you have very little—not enough for the specific thing being discussed.
Expressions liées
остаться у разбитого корыта
similarTo be left with nothing (from Pushkin's fairy tale).
сводить концы с концами
similarTo make ends meet.
денег куры не клюют
contrastTo have more money than you know what to do with.
вылететь в трубу
specialized formTo go bankrupt/lose everything quickly.
