Bedeutung
To damage someone's reputation.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Russian business, 'reputation' (репутация) is often tied to personal connections (связи). Casting a shadow on a partner can end a business relationship instantly because trust is seen as a personal rather than just a legal matter. During the Soviet era, 'casting a shadow on the Soviet way of life' was a common ideological accusation used against dissidents or artists who depicted reality too harshly. Classic 19th-century literature often uses this phrase to describe the 'social death' of a character after a scandal in high society. On the Russian internet, 'бросать тень' is frequently used in 'cancel culture' discussions, though Russians often use the more aggressive 'закенселить' (to cancel) alongside it.
Use for 'Doubt'
Remember that 'бросать тень' doesn't always mean someone is guilty; it often just means people have started to doubt them.
Don't use 'сделать'
Never say 'сделать тень' for reputation. It sounds like you are literally building a sunshade.
Bedeutung
To damage someone's reputation.
Use for 'Doubt'
Remember that 'бросать тень' doesn't always mean someone is guilty; it often just means people have started to doubt them.
Don't use 'сделать'
Never say 'сделать тень' for reputation. It sounds like you are literally building a sunshade.
The 'Shadow on the Wattle' variation
If you want to sound very native, use 'наводить тень на плетень' when someone is trying to confuse you with a complicated story.
Collective Honor
In Russia, this phrase is often used for groups (teams, families, companies). One person's shadow covers everyone.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'бросать' or 'бросить'.
Этот скандал в прошлом году ________ тень на всю его дальнейшую карьеру.
We use the perfective past 'бросил' because it refers to a specific event in the past that had a completed effect.
Which preposition is used with 'бросать тень'?
Нельзя бросать тень ____ честных людей.
The phrase 'бросать тень' always requires the preposition 'на' followed by the Accusative case.
Match the sentence to the most likely context.
1. 'Это бросает тень на результаты теста.' 2. 'Ты бросаешь тень на нашу семью!' 3. 'Слухи бросают тень на мэра.'
Context 1 is academic/scientific, 2 is personal/family, and 3 is public/political.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
— Почему ты не хочешь работать с ним? — Его прошлая работа в той коррумпированной фирме ________.
This is the standard idiomatic way to say his past work makes him look suspicious.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Shadow vs. Stain
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenЭтот скандал в прошлом году ________ тень на всю его дальнейшую карьеру.
We use the perfective past 'бросил' because it refers to a specific event in the past that had a completed effect.
Нельзя бросать тень ____ честных людей.
The phrase 'бросать тень' always requires the preposition 'на' followed by the Accusative case.
1. 'Это бросает тень на результаты теста.' 2. 'Ты бросаешь тень на нашу семью!' 3. 'Слухи бросают тень на мэра.'
Context 1 is academic/scientific, 2 is personal/family, and 3 is public/political.
— Почему ты не хочешь работать с ним? — Его прошлая работа в той коррумпированной фирме ________.
This is the standard idiomatic way to say his past work makes him look suspicious.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, in its figurative sense, it always implies a negative impact on reputation or credibility.
Yes, but only literally. 'Здание бросает тень на парк.' Figuratively, it's almost always for people, organizations, or ideas.
'Бросать' is for a process or habit; 'бросить' is for a specific act that caused the shadow.
Yes, it's professional and neutral. For example: 'Этот инцидент может бросить тень на наше сотрудничество.'
Close, but 'throwing shade' is often a lighthearted insult. 'Бросать тень' is more serious and implies real damage.
Yes, if someone's actions are making you look bad by association.
No, it's a standard idiom found in literature, news, and everyday speech.
The Accusative case. (на репутацию, на него, на компанию).
No. You cannot 'cast a shadow' to make something look better.
You would use 'очистить имя' or 'восстановить репутацию'.
Very common. You will see it in news headlines almost every day.
It's a variation meaning to intentionally mislead or confuse someone.
Verwandte Redewendungen
подмочить репутацию
similarTo 'dampen' one's reputation
очернить имя
synonymTo blacken a name
наводить тень на плетень
specialized formTo obscure the truth
быть вне подозрения
contrastTo be above suspicion
пятно на репутации
similarA stain on the reputation
