Meaning
To make promises one doesn't keep.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Słowo honoru' (Word of honor) is very strong. Breaking a promise is seen as a significant character flaw, not just a mistake. The phrase is a 'cliché' in political journalism. Every election cycle, newspapers are full of articles about 'rzucanie słów na wiatr' by various candidates. Poles value 'konkrety' (concretes). If you use this phrase in a meeting, you are signaling that you are losing trust in the other party. In Slavic mythology, the wind was often seen as a messenger or a chaotic force. Throwing something to the wind was a way of giving it to the spirits or discarding it forever.
Use the perfective for impact
If you want to sound really hurt or serious, use 'Rzuciłeś słowa na wiatr!' (Perfective). It sounds like a final judgment on a specific broken promise.
Don't use with 'pieniądze'
To say someone wastes money, we say 'wyrzucać pieniądze w błoto' (throwing money in the mud), not 'na wiatr'.
Meaning
To make promises one doesn't keep.
Use the perfective for impact
If you want to sound really hurt or serious, use 'Rzuciłeś słowa na wiatr!' (Perfective). It sounds like a final judgment on a specific broken promise.
Don't use with 'pieniądze'
To say someone wastes money, we say 'wyrzucać pieniądze w błoto' (throwing money in the mud), not 'na wiatr'.
The 'Słowność' connection
If you want to praise someone, say 'On jest słowny' (He is word-ful/reliable). It's the opposite of this idiom.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb in the correct form (Present Tense, 3rd person singular).
Mój sąsiad zawsze _______ słowa na wiatr.
The subject 'mój sąsiad' (my neighbor) is 3rd person singular, so we use 'rzuca'.
Which sentence is correct in the negative form?
Select the correct negation:
In Polish, negation requires the Genitive case. 'Słów' is the Genitive plural of 'słowa'.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Your boss promised a bonus but now says there is no money.
The boss made a promise and broke it, which is the definition of the idiom.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
A: Obiecuję, że oddam ci pieniądze jutro. B: Mam nadzieję, że nie ______ (you won't throw) słów na wiatr.
B is talking about a future action (the promise just made), so the perfective future 'rzucisz' is most appropriate.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMój sąsiad zawsze _______ słowa na wiatr.
The subject 'mój sąsiad' (my neighbor) is 3rd person singular, so we use 'rzuca'.
Select the correct negation:
In Polish, negation requires the Genitive case. 'Słów' is the Genitive plural of 'słowa'.
Situation: Your boss promised a bonus but now says there is no money.
The boss made a promise and broke it, which is the definition of the idiom.
A: Obiecuję, że oddam ci pieniądze jutro. B: Mam nadzieję, że nie ______ (you won't throw) słów na wiatr.
B is talking about a future action (the promise just made), so the perfective future 'rzucisz' is most appropriate.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsIt is critical, but not 'rude' in terms of being vulgar. It's a fair way to describe someone's behavior, though it will likely start an argument.
Only if you are very frustrated and want to be confrontational. Otherwise, use 'niedotrzymanie terminów' (not meeting deadlines).
'Rzucać' is for a habit (He always does this), while 'rzucić' is for one specific time (He did it yesterday).
Sometimes people just say 'To tylko słowa na wiatr' (Those are just words to the wind).
Related Phrases
obiecywać gruszki na wierzbie
similarTo promise impossible things.
trzymać kogoś za słowo
contrastTo hold someone to their word.
dotrzymywać słowa
contrastTo keep one's word.
rzucać grochem o ścianę
similarTo talk to someone who isn't listening (like throwing peas at a wall).
