A2 Idiom 비격식체

mieć swoje za uszami

to have something to hide

To be guilty of something.

🌍

문화적 배경

In Poland, this phrase is often used with a shrug of the shoulders, reflecting a national trait of 'limited trust' towards public figures. In office culture, 'mieć za uszami' is a common way to warn a new employee about a difficult or untrustworthy manager without being too explicit. Tabloids like 'Fakt' or 'Super Express' frequently use this idiom in headlines to tease scandals involving celebrities. During the PRL (communist) era, many people had to 'kombinować' (scheme) to survive, leading to a widespread feeling that everyone 'had something behind their ears'.

🎯

Use with 'sporo'

If you want to sound more like a native, use 'sporo' (a lot) instead of just 'swoje'. It adds a nice dramatic touch to your gossip.

⚠️

Don't use for serious crimes

Remember, this is for 'shady' things or 'misdeeds'. Don't use it for someone who committed a violent crime; it sounds too light.

To be guilty of something.

🎯

Use with 'sporo'

If you want to sound more like a native, use 'sporo' (a lot) instead of just 'swoje'. It adds a nice dramatic touch to your gossip.

⚠️

Don't use for serious crimes

Remember, this is for 'shady' things or 'misdeeds'. Don't use it for someone who committed a violent crime; it sounds too light.

💬

The 'Nobody's Perfect' Rule

Poles often use this to level the playing field during an argument. If someone criticizes you, you can remind them that they also 'mają swoje za uszami'.

셀프 테스트

Fill in the missing words in the idiom.

Marek udaje niewiniątko, ale wszyscy wiemy, że ma swoje ___ _______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: za uszami

The correct preposition is 'za' and the noun is 'uszami' (instrumental plural).

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to mean 'He has a shady past'?

Wybierz poprawne zdanie:

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: On ma swoje za uszami.

The second option is the standard idiomatic expression for having a shady past.

Complete the dialogue with the appropriate form of the idiom.

A: Czy ten nowy polityk jest uczciwy? B: Nie sądzę, słyszałem, że ___ _____ __ ______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: ma swoje za uszami

We need the 3rd person singular 'ma' to match 'ten nowy polityk'.

Match the situation to the phrase.

Kiedy powiesz: 'On ma sporo za uszami'?

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Kiedy ktoś udaje dobrego człowieka, ale wiesz, że kradł w przeszłości.

The idiom refers to hidden moral failings, not physical dirt or intelligence.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

연습 문제 은행

4 연습 문제
Fill in the missing words in the idiom. Fill Blank A2

Marek udaje niewiniątko, ale wszyscy wiemy, że ma swoje ___ _______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: za uszami

The correct preposition is 'za' and the noun is 'uszami' (instrumental plural).

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to mean 'He has a shady past'? Choose A2

Wybierz poprawne zdanie:

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: On ma swoje za uszami.

The second option is the standard idiomatic expression for having a shady past.

Complete the dialogue with the appropriate form of the idiom. dialogue_completion B1

A: Czy ten nowy polityk jest uczciwy? B: Nie sądzę, słyszałem, że ___ _____ __ ______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: ma swoje za uszami

We need the 3rd person singular 'ma' to match 'ten nowy polityk'.

Match the situation to the phrase. situation_matching A2

Kiedy powiesz: 'On ma sporo za uszami'?

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Kiedy ktoś udaje dobrego człowieka, ale wiesz, że kradł w przeszłości.

The idiom refers to hidden moral failings, not physical dirt or intelligence.

🎉 점수: /4

자주 묻는 질문

4 질문

It's not vulgar, but it is critical. It's like saying someone is 'shady'. Use it with friends, but be careful using it about someone in their presence.

Yes, usually in a joking way: 'Też mam swoje za uszami, nie jestem aniołem' (I also have my faults, I'm no angel).

'Swoje' implies a specific set of personal faults, while 'coś' is more general. They are mostly interchangeable.

Yes, very similar. However, 'skeletons' often implies one big secret, while 'za uszami' can mean a general history of being a bit dishonest.

관련 표현

🔗

mieć czyste sumienie

contrast

To have a clean conscience.

🔄

mieć coś na sumieniu

synonym

To have something on one's conscience.

🔗

wyciągać brudy

builds on

To bring up old dirt/scandals.

🔗

nie być świętym

similar

To not be a saint.

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