Signification
To refuse to speak
Contexte culturel
In traditional villages, being 'too talkative' was often seen as a flaw, but 'taking water in the mouth' was a sign of a difficult character or a deep grudge (образа). Water is a sacred element in Ukrainian myths. Keeping water in the mouth was sometimes part of 'silent' rituals performed by young women to find out their future husbands. Journalists often use this phrase to criticize government officials who avoid transparency. It's a common headline in political talk shows. Ukrainian parents often use this idiom to tease children who are being shy around guests, encouraging them to speak up.
Use it with 'наче'
The idiom sounds most natural when you use 'наче' (as if) or 'ніби' (as though) before it.
Check the gender
Remember to change 'набрав' to 'набрала' if you are talking about a woman.
Signification
To refuse to speak
Use it with 'наче'
The idiom sounds most natural when you use 'наче' (as if) or 'ніби' (as though) before it.
Check the gender
Remember to change 'набрав' to 'набрала' if you are talking about a woman.
Perfect for texting
If a friend isn't replying to your messages, send them: 'Чого води в рот набрав? 🤐'
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Вона образилася і наче води в рот ______.
The subject 'Вона' (She) is feminine, so the past tense verb must be 'набрала'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'води в рот набрати'?
Оберіть правильну ситуацію:
The idiom means to be stubbornly silent.
Match the Ukrainian phrase with its English meaning.
З'єднайте пари:
All these phrases relate to silence in Ukrainian.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
- Чому твій друг нічого не каже? - Не знаю, він цілий вечір наче ______.
The idiom is 'води в рот набрав'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesВона образилася і наче води в рот ______.
The subject 'Вона' (She) is feminine, so the past tense verb must be 'набрала'.
Оберіть правильну ситуацію:
The idiom means to be stubbornly silent.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All these phrases relate to silence in Ukrainian.
- Чому твій друг нічого не каже? - Не знаю, він цілий вечір наче ______.
The idiom is 'води в рот набрав'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsIt can be slightly confrontational if said directly to someone ('Чого ти води в рот набрав?'), but it's generally neutral when describing someone else.
No, it's too informal for a professional email. Use 'чекаю на вашу відповідь' (waiting for your reply) instead.
'Мовчати як риба' is more about the ability to keep a secret, while 'води в рот набрати' is more about a stubborn refusal to speak in the moment.
No, it is 100% figurative in 99% of cases.
Expressions liées
Мовчати як риба
synonymTo be silent like a fish.
Ні пари з вуст
synonymNot a breath from the lips.
Прикусити язика
similarTo bite one's tongue.
Проковтнути язика
similarTo swallow one's tongue.
