A2 Idiom Informal

mieć coś w nosie

not to care at all

Significado

Being indifferent to something.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Poles value honesty and can be quite direct. 'Mieć coś w nosie' is a way to be direct about your lack of interest without using swear words. It's a key part of 'social survival' in casual Polish life. In Polish schools, 'mania w nosie' (having it in the nose) is often seen as a sign of coolness or rebellion against the strict educational system. While Poland is becoming more corporate, there is still a strong 'informal' layer. Colleagues often use this phrase to bond over shared frustrations with management. Many iconic Polish comedy characters (like in 'Kiler') use this phrase to show they are unshakeable and tough.

💡

Use 'Głęboko' for impact

If you want to sound like a native, add 'głęboko' (deeply) before 'w nosie'. It shows you really don't care.

⚠️

Watch the hierarchy

Never say this to your boss or a police officer. It's seen as a lack of respect for authority.

Significado

Being indifferent to something.

💡

Use 'Głęboko' for impact

If you want to sound like a native, add 'głęboko' (deeply) before 'w nosie'. It shows you really don't care.

⚠️

Watch the hierarchy

Never say this to your boss or a police officer. It's seen as a lack of respect for authority.

🎯

The 'To' Shortcut

90% of the time, people just say 'Mam to w nosie'. Master this short version first!

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'mieć' and the object.

Ja (mieć) ______ tę starą gazetę w nosie.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mam

The subject is 'Ja', so the verb 'mieć' becomes 'mam'.

Which sentence is correct?

How do you say 'They don't care about him'?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

'Oni' requires 'mają', the preposition is 'w', and the object 'on' becomes 'go' in Accusative.

Match the response to the situation.

Situation: Your friend tells you that your ex-boyfriend has a new car.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

Since the focus is on the person (the ex), 'Mam go w nosie' is the most natural response.

Complete the dialogue with the full idiom.

A: Czy widziałeś te nowe przepisy w biurze? B: Tak, ale szczerze mówiąc, ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

'Przepisy' (rules) is plural non-masculine-personal, so the pronoun is 'je'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'mieć' and the object. Fill Blank A2

Ja (mieć) ______ tę starą gazetę w nosie.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mam

The subject is 'Ja', so the verb 'mieć' becomes 'mam'.

Which sentence is correct? Choose A2

How do you say 'They don't care about him'?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

'Oni' requires 'mają', the preposition is 'w', and the object 'on' becomes 'go' in Accusative.

Match the response to the situation. situation_matching B1

Situation: Your friend tells you that your ex-boyfriend has a new car.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

Since the focus is on the person (the ex), 'Mam go w nosie' is the most natural response.

Complete the dialogue with the full idiom. dialogue_completion B2

A: Czy widziałeś te nowe przepisy w biurze? B: Tak, ale szczerze mówiąc, ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

'Przepisy' (rules) is plural non-masculine-personal, so the pronoun is 'je'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It's informal and dismissive, but not vulgar. It's like saying 'I don't give a hoot' in English.

Yes! 'Mam go w nosie' means 'I don't care about him'.

You should use 'Jest mi to obojętne' or 'Nie przywiązuję do tego wagi'.

Yes, 'mieć' conjugates normally: 'Miałem/Miałam to w nosie'.

No, it must be 'Mam cię w nosie'. No 'o' is needed.

Only with very close colleagues during a coffee break. Never in meetings.

The nose is often used in Polish idioms for pride and attention. Having something 'in' it means it's a minor annoyance you ignore.

'Olewać' is more slangy and slightly more aggressive.

Yes: 'Mam ich w nosie' (I don't care about them).

Yes, it's a very common 'safe' idiom for children and teenagers.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

gwizdać na coś

synonym

to whistle at something

🔗

kręcić nosem

contrast

to turn up one's nose / to complain

🔗

mieć coś głęboko gdzieś

similar

to have something deep somewhere

🔄

olewać coś

synonym

to pee on something (slang)

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