Significado
To break up with someone.
Contexto cultural
Czechs are generally very direct about breakups. Using an idiom like 'pustit k vodě' is common and not considered overly rude among peers, reflecting a pragmatic view of romance. The river (Vltava, Danube, Elbe) is a central symbol in Central European folklore, often representing the boundary between the known and the unknown, or life and death. Younger generations might use the English loanword 'dumpnout' (to dump), but 'pustit k vodě' remains the classic, more 'Czech' way to express the sentiment. The 'discarded lover' is a frequent character in Czech tragicomedies, where the act of being 'pustit k vodě' is often treated with a mix of pathos and humor.
Use the right case!
Always remember the person being dumped is in the Accusative (ho/ji/mě/tě).
Don't be too mean
This phrase is informal and can sound a bit cold. Use 'rozejít se' if you want to be more polite.
Significado
To break up with someone.
Use the right case!
Always remember the person being dumped is in the Accusative (ho/ji/mě/tě).
Don't be too mean
This phrase is informal and can sound a bit cold. Use 'rozejít se' if you want to be more polite.
Abstract usage
Impress your Czech friends by using it for a bad habit: 'Pustil jsem kouření k vodě' (I gave up smoking).
Teste-se
Fill in the missing word in the correct case.
Petr už mě nemiluje, včera mě pustil k ______.
The preposition 'k' always takes the dative case. The dative of 'voda' is 'vodě'.
Which sentence means 'She dumped him'?
Select the correct translation:
'Ona' is she, 'ho' is him (accusative), and 'pustila' is the feminine past tense.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
A: Proč jsi tak smutný? B: Moje holka mě právě ______.
Since 'moje holka' (my girlfriend) is feminine, the verb must be 'pustila'.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
Where would you most likely hear 'Pustil jsem ten projekt k vodě'?
The idiom can be used for abandoning plans or projects in an informal professional setting.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosPetr už mě nemiluje, včera mě pustil k ______.
The preposition 'k' always takes the dative case. The dative of 'voda' is 'vodě'.
Select the correct translation:
'Ona' is she, 'ho' is him (accusative), and 'pustila' is the feminine past tense.
A: Proč jsi tak smutný? B: Moje holka mě právě ______.
Since 'moje holka' (my girlfriend) is feminine, the verb must be 'pustila'.
Where would you most likely hear 'Pustil jsem ten projekt k vodě'?
The idiom can be used for abandoning plans or projects in an informal professional setting.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt's not exactly rude, but it is very informal and direct. It's like saying 'dumped' in English.
Technically yes, but 'rozvést se' is much more common for legal marriages.
'Pustit' is 'to let go', 'poslat' is 'to send'. 'Poslat' sounds slightly more aggressive.
Yes, you can 'pustit k vodě' a job offer or a project you don't want to do.
Yes, use 'rozejít se s někým' (to part with someone).
It comes from the idea of letting the river current carry away things you no longer want.
Yes, it's a very common theme in Czech pop and rock lyrics about heartbreak.
No, the idiom is fixed with 'voda' (water).
You would say 'Pustila mě k vodě' (She dumped me) or 'Dostal jsem kopačky'.
The grammar is A2/B1, but the phrase is so common that A1 students often learn it early.
Frases relacionadas
Dát kopačky
synonymTo dump someone (literally: to give boots).
Rozjít se
similarTo break up.
Nechat plavat
similarTo let something be / to stop worrying about it.
Dostat košem
similarTo be rejected (literally: to get a basket).
Ukončit vztah
formalTo end a relationship.
