Bedeutung
To have completed a difficult task.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Poles often use this phrase with a deep sigh of relief. It's part of the 'culture of complaining' (narzekanie), where finishing a task is seen as surviving a battle. In business, it's used to mark the end of 'deadlines' and 'crunch times'. It signals to the team that they can finally breathe. The phrase is the unofficial motto of 'Sesja' (exam season). You will see it on thousands of student memes every June and February. Older generations use it to refer to the hardships of the past (war, communism), implying that the nation has moved past those dark times.
Use 'już' for maximum effect
Adding 'już' (already) makes you sound much more like a native speaker. 'Mam to już za sobą' perfectly captures that feeling of 'phew, it's finally done!'
Don't change 'sobą'
Even if you are talking about 'us' (my), don't say 'za nami' in this specific idiom. 'Mamy to za sobą' is the standard reflexive form.
Bedeutung
To have completed a difficult task.
Use 'już' for maximum effect
Adding 'już' (already) makes you sound much more like a native speaker. 'Mam to już za sobą' perfectly captures that feeling of 'phew, it's finally done!'
Don't change 'sobą'
Even if you are talking about 'us' (my), don't say 'za nami' in this specific idiom. 'Mamy to za sobą' is the standard reflexive form.
The 'Sigh' Factor
This phrase is almost always accompanied by a physical exhale. It's as much an emotional expression as a grammatical one.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to express relief.
Cieszę się, że ten trudny egzamin mam już ___ ___.
The idiom is 'mieć coś za sobą'.
Choose the best response for Marek.
Kasia: 'Jak tam u dentysty? Bardzo bolało?' Marek: 'Trochę, ale najważniejsze, że...'
Marek is expressing relief that the painful visit is over.
In which situation would you MOST likely use 'mieć to za sobą'?
Select the correct scenario:
A 10-hour flight is a long, tiring experience that brings relief when finished.
Which sentence is grammatically correct for 'We have it behind us'?
Select one:
The idiom uses the reflexive 'sobą' for all subjects, including 'we'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Za sobą vs. Przed sobą
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenCieszę się, że ten trudny egzamin mam już ___ ___.
The idiom is 'mieć coś za sobą'.
Kasia: 'Jak tam u dentysty? Bardzo bolało?' Marek: 'Trochę, ale najważniejsze, że...'
Marek is expressing relief that the painful visit is over.
Select the correct scenario:
A 10-hour flight is a long, tiring experience that brings relief when finished.
Select one:
The idiom uses the reflexive 'sobą' for all subjects, including 'we'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically yes, but it implies the positive thing was exhausting. 'Mam wesele za sobą' implies the wedding was a lot of work.
In the idiom 'mieć coś za sobą', use 'sobą'. If you just want to say 'He is behind me', use 'On jest za mną'.
No, it's a bit too idiomatic. Use 'Posiadam doświadczenie w...' instead.
'Skończyć' just means to finish. 'Mieć za sobą' implies you went through a process or challenge.
No, you can't have a person 'za sobą' in this sense, unless you mean you've moved past a relationship with them.
Usually, yes. 'Mam [object] za sobą'.
Yes, very. 'Polska ma za sobą trudny rok' is a classic headline.
No, that sounds like you have something physically on your back, like a backpack.
Yes, for ja, ty, on, my, wy, oni - it's always 'sobą'.
Say 'Mam to jeszcze przed sobą' (I still have it ahead of me).
Verwandte Redewendungen
mieć coś z głowy
similarTo have something off one's mind/head.
wyjść na prostą
builds onTo come out onto the straight (to get one's life back on track).
zostawić coś w tyle
similarTo leave something in the back/behind.
zamknąć rozdział
similarTo close a chapter.
mieć coś przed sobą
contrastTo have something ahead of one.
