A1 Idiom Informal

Saba liputama

To wag the tail

Meaning

Trying to please someone submissively.

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Cultural Background

Estonians generally dislike overt flattery. If you 'liputad saba' too much, people will trust you less because you seem insincere. In Estonian offices, hierarchy is often flat. 'Saba liputamine' is seen as an old-fashioned and pathetic way to climb the ladder. The phrase is still used literally for farm dogs, and the transition to the figurative meaning is very clear to anyone who has owned a dog.

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Context Matters

Be careful using 'liputama' alone, as it can mean 'to flash' (indecent exposure). Always include 'saba' to be clear.

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Use the Noun

Calling someone a 'sabaliputaja' is a very efficient way to describe a sycophant in one word.

Meaning

Trying to please someone submissively.

⚠️

Context Matters

Be careful using 'liputama' alone, as it can mean 'to flash' (indecent exposure). Always include 'saba' to be clear.

🎯

Use the Noun

Calling someone a 'sabaliputaja' is a very efficient way to describe a sycophant in one word.

Test Yourself

Täida lünk õige sõnaga.

Ta ______ direktori ees saba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: liputab

The idiom is 'saba liputama'.

Vali lause, mis tähendab 'He is fawning'.

Mida tähendab 'Ta liputab saba'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ta püüab meeldida.

The idiom means trying to please someone submissively.

Millises olukorras kasutatakse seda väljendit?

Jüri kiidab ülemuse koledat lipsu, et saada vabaks päevaks luba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Saba liputamine

Jüri is being insincere to get a favor.

🎉 Score: /3

Visual Learning Aids

Practice Bank

3 exercises
Täida lünk õige sõnaga. Fill Blank A1

Ta ______ direktori ees saba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: liputab

The idiom is 'saba liputama'.

Vali lause, mis tähendab 'He is fawning'. Choose A2

Mida tähendab 'Ta liputab saba'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ta püüab meeldida.

The idiom means trying to please someone submissively.

Millises olukorras kasutatakse seda väljendit? situation_matching B1

Jüri kiidab ülemuse koledat lipsu, et saada vabaks päevaks luba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Saba liputamine

Jüri is being insincere to get a favor.

🎉 Score: /3

Frequently Asked Questions

2 questions

It is informal and critical, but not a swear word. It's similar to calling someone a 'suck-up'.

Literally, yes, but figuratively it doesn't work because cats don't wag tails to show submission.

Related Phrases

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pugema

synonym

to crawl/brown-nose

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lipitsema

similar

to fawn

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meelitama

similar

Can be positive or negative flattery.

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pugeja

builds on

a brown-noser

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