Meaning
To make someone suspicious or curious.
Cultural Background
Hungarians are often stereotyped as being pessimistic or skeptical. This idiom is used frequently because it perfectly describes that 'skeptical' feeling when someone tells you something that sounds too good to be true. The 'ear-bug' or 'ear-flea' is a shared cultural metaphor across Germany, Austria, and Hungary, likely due to the shared history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In modern Hungarian internet slang, this phrase is sometimes used when talking about 'clickbait' headlines that plant a bug in your ear just to get a click. In villages, 'planting a bug' is often associated with the 'kerítésen túli beszélgetés' (talking over the fence), where most village gossip happens.
Use it for Curiosity too!
Don't just use it for bad things. If you want to suggest a cool new hobby to a friend, you can say you're planting a bug in their ear.
Check the Suffix
Make sure to use '-be' (into) and not '-ben' (in). You are planting it *into* the ear.
Meaning
To make someone suspicious or curious.
Use it for Curiosity too!
Don't just use it for bad things. If you want to suggest a cool new hobby to a friend, you can say you're planting a bug in their ear.
Check the Suffix
Make sure to use '-be' (into) and not '-ben' (in). You are planting it *into* the ear.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb in the correct form (past tense).
A barátom bogarat _______ a fülembe.
The standard idiom uses 'ültetett' (planted) in the past tense.
What does this phrase mean?
Mária bogarat ültetett a fülembe.
The idiom refers to planting an idea that causes suspicion or curiosity.
Match the Hungarian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are related terms for thoughts and social influence.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hallottad, hogy zárva lesz a bolt? B: Ne _______ bogarat a fülembe, kenyér kell!
The imperative 'ne ültess' (don't plant) is used here.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesA barátom bogarat _______ a fülembe.
The standard idiom uses 'ültetett' (planted) in the past tense.
Mária bogarat ültetett a fülembe.
The idiom refers to planting an idea that causes suspicion or curiosity.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are related terms for thoughts and social influence.
A: Hallottad, hogy zárva lesz a bolt? B: Ne _______ bogarat a fülembe, kenyér kell!
The imperative 'ne ültess' (don't plant) is used here.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsNo, it's neutral. However, it implies you are influencing someone, so use it carefully if you don't want to sound like a meddler.
It's a bit too casual for a formal interview, but fine for a chat with colleagues.
In Hungarian, 'bogár' is generic. It doesn't refer to a specific insect, just a 'creature'.
Related Phrases
Szöget üt a fejébe
similarTo start worrying or thinking deeply about something.
Fúrja az oldalát a kíváncsiság
builds onTo be bursting with curiosity.
Elülteti a gyanút
synonymTo plant suspicion.
Mérget önt a fülébe
specialized formTo poison someone's mind against another.
