Meaning
To overlook a mistake.
Cultural Background
In Serbian administration, 'gledanje kroz prste' is often the only way to get things done if you are missing a minor document. It relies on the 'good will' of the clerk. There is a strong tradition of professors being 'strict but fair'. A professor who 'gleda kroz prste' is often seen as 'legenda' (a legend) by students. Grandparents in Serbia are famous for 'gledanje kroz prste' to their grandchildren, often undermining the stricter rules of the parents. Fans often complain that referees 'gledaju kroz prste' bigger clubs or famous players when they commit fouls.
Use the Dative!
Always remember: Gledati + [Dative Person] + kroz prste. Without the dative, the sentence feels incomplete.
Not for Crimes
Don't use this for murder or robbery unless you are being very sarcastic about corruption.
Meaning
To overlook a mistake.
Use the Dative!
Always remember: Gledati + [Dative Person] + kroz prste. Without the dative, the sentence feels incomplete.
Not for Crimes
Don't use this for murder or robbery unless you are being very sarcastic about corruption.
The 'Veze' Connection
This phrase is the bread and butter of Balkan social life. Master it to understand how favors work.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the dative pronoun (mi, ti, mu, joj, nam, vam, im).
Profesor je Marku oprostio grešku. On ____ je gledao kroz prste.
We use the short dative pronoun 'mu' for Marko (he).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'gledati kroz prste'?
Kada koristimo ovaj idiom?
The idiom means to overlook a mistake or be lenient.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Opet sam zaboravio ključeve! B: Stvarno si rasejan, ali ovaj put ću ti ________.
The context of forgetting keys and being forgiven fits 'gledati kroz prste'.
Match the person with the reason they might 'gledati kroz prste'.
Spoji parove:
All these are typical scenarios for leniency.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesProfesor je Marku oprostio grešku. On ____ je gledao kroz prste.
We use the short dative pronoun 'mu' for Marko (he).
Kada koristimo ovaj idiom?
The idiom means to overlook a mistake or be lenient.
A: Opet sam zaboravio ključeve! B: Stvarno si rasejan, ali ovaj put ću ti ________.
The context of forgetting keys and being forgiven fits 'gledati kroz prste'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All these are typical scenarios for leniency.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is neutral and polite. You can use it in professional settings.
Usually, you say someone else looked through their fingers for you. You rarely 'look through your own fingers' for yourself.
'Gledati' is the habit or ongoing act; 'progledati' is a one-time decision.
Yes, if you are explaining a time you were a lenient leader.
Not a specific word, but 'iskulirati' (to cool/ignore) is a slang alternative.
Mostly yes (mercy), but it can be negative if it implies corruption.
No, it must be 'prste' (fingers).
Yes, it is identical across all BCMS variants.
Nemoj mu gledati kroz prste.
Very common in both classic and modern literature.
Related Phrases
Progledati kroz prste
specialized formTo let something slide (perfective/one-time).
Zažmuriti na jedno oko
synonymTo turn a blind eye.
Oprostiti
similarTo forgive.
Pustiti nekoga na miru
similarTo leave someone alone.
Imati prste u nečemu
contrastTo have a hand in something (usually bad).
Ići na ruku nekome
similarTo play into someone's hands / to favor someone.
