Signification
To delay taking necessary action.
Contexte culturel
Cats are the most popular pets in Russia, and they appear in many idioms. This one reflects a mix of humor and the reality of rural life where cats were working animals. In business meetings, using this phrase can break the tension if things are moving too slowly, but only if the relationship is already established. The concept of 'long-suffering' (долготерпение) is often contrasted with this idiom, which demands action.
Use for Impatience
This is your best tool when you are annoyed by someone's slowness but want to keep the tone relatively light.
Don't use with Bosses
Unless you have a very close relationship, it can sound like you're calling them inefficient.
Signification
To delay taking necessary action.
Use for Impatience
This is your best tool when you are annoyed by someone's slowness but want to keep the tone relatively light.
Don't use with Bosses
Unless you have a very close relationship, it can sound like you're calling them inefficient.
The Emoji Trick
In Russian chats, just sending a cat and a clock emoji is a common way to say this idiom.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Хватит тянуть ______ за ______!
The standard idiom is 'тянуть кота за хвост'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
When would you say 'Не тяни кота за хвост'?
The idiom is used for delays and indecision.
Match the Russian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the phrases:
While similar, 'тянуть время' is more neutral.
Complete the dialogue.
— Ты уже решил, куда мы поедем в отпуск? — Ну, я ещё смотрю варианты... — Слушай, не __________, нам нужно бронировать сегодня!
The imperative 'не тяни' is the most natural fit here.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesХватит тянуть ______ за ______!
The standard idiom is 'тянуть кота за хвост'.
When would you say 'Не тяни кота за хвост'?
The idiom is used for delays and indecision.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
While similar, 'тянуть время' is more neutral.
— Ты уже решил, куда мы поедем в отпуск? — Ну, я ещё смотрю варианты... — Слушай, не __________, нам нужно бронировать сегодня!
The imperative 'не тяни' is the most natural fit here.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsNo, it's purely metaphorical. Russians love cats! The phrase just uses the image of a cat's resistance to show how annoying a delay is.
Better not. Use 'просим вас ускорить процесс' (we ask you to speed up the process) instead.
'Тянуть резину' is slightly more modern and common in business contexts, while 'кота за хвост' is more traditional and vivid.
No, the idiom is fixed with a cat. Changing the animal makes it lose its meaning.
You can change the word order, but 'тянуть кота за хвост' is the most natural and common version.
Expressions liées
Тянуть резину
synonymTo stall or delay.
Откладывать в долгий ящик
similarTo put something on the back burner.
Тянуть канитель
similarTo engage in a long, boring process.
Рубить с плеча
contrastTo act decisively and suddenly.
