Significado
To live in great comfort and luxury.
Contexto cultural
In Croatia, 'loj' (tallow) was historically used for making soap and candles, but its presence in meat was a sign of a high-quality, expensive animal. This idiom reflects the agrarian roots of Croatian society. Across the Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro), this exact idiom is used. It shows the shared linguistic and culinary history of the region where animal fats were vital for survival. The idiom is likely influenced by German ('Made im Speck'), showing the deep cultural exchange between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Croatia. Today, the phrase is frequently used on Croatian social media to comment on 'influencers' who post photos from luxury resorts, often with a hint of sarcasm.
Use for pets!
Croatians love using this for spoiled cats and dogs. It's a very cute and common way to use the idiom.
Don't use with 'ulje'
Remember, it's 'loj' (animal fat), not 'ulje' (cooking oil). Using 'ulje' makes the idiom sound weird and wrong.
Significado
To live in great comfort and luxury.
Use for pets!
Croatians love using this for spoiled cats and dogs. It's a very cute and common way to use the idiom.
Don't use with 'ulje'
Remember, it's 'loj' (animal fat), not 'ulje' (cooking oil). Using 'ulje' makes the idiom sound weird and wrong.
Sarcasm alert
Be careful with your tone. If you say it about a politician, it's usually an insult. If you say it about a friend's new house, it's a compliment.
Teste-se
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Otkad je dobio na lotu, Marko živi kao ______ u loju.
The idiom specifically uses 'bubreg' (kidney).
Which situation best fits the phrase 'živjeti kao bubreg u loju'?
Odaberi točnu situaciju:
The phrase describes a life of luxury and comfort.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'živjeti'.
Ana: 'Tvoji rođaci u Americi sigurno imaju puno novca.' Luka: 'Da, oni tamo ______ kao bubreg u loju.'
The subject is 'oni' (they), so the verb must be 'žive'.
Match the person to the description.
Tko živi kao bubreg u loju?
Wealth and luxury are the key components of this idiom.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Living like a kidney vs. Normal life
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosOtkad je dobio na lotu, Marko živi kao ______ u loju.
The idiom specifically uses 'bubreg' (kidney).
Odaberi točnu situaciju:
The phrase describes a life of luxury and comfort.
Ana: 'Tvoji rođaci u Americi sigurno imaju puno novca.' Luka: 'Da, oni tamo ______ kao bubreg u loju.'
The subject is 'oni' (they), so the verb must be 'žive'.
Tko živi kao bubreg u loju?
Wealth and luxury are the key components of this idiom.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, it's not rude, but it is informal. It's like saying 'living the life of Riley' in English.
Yes! If you are feeling very comfortable, you can say: 'Danas živim kao bubreg u loju.'
It means tallow or suet—the hard fat found around the organs of animals like cows and sheep.
Sometimes people just say 'Kao bubreg u loju' as a response to 'Kako si?' (How are you?).
Probably not. It's too colorful and informal for a serious professional setting.
Usually yes, but it can also be about being pampered, like a child at their grandmother's house.
Yes, if you are talking about a group of people, you can say 'Oni žive kao bubrezi u loju.'
Because anatomically, the kidney is the organ most famously surrounded by a thick layer of fat.
Yes, similar versions exist in Serbian, Bosnian, and even Polish ('jak pączek w maśle' - like a donut in butter).
Yes, like a weekend at a spa or a luxury hotel stay.
Frases relacionadas
Živjeti na visokoj nozi
similarTo live a high-class, expensive lifestyle.
Upala mu sjekira u med
similarTo get very lucky suddenly.
Plivati u novcu
synonymTo be swimming in money.
Imati pune ruke posla
contrastTo be very busy/hardworking.
Kruh sa sedam kora
contrastA very hard-earned living (literally 'bread with seven crusts').
