Significado
Something that barely happened or missed.
Contexto cultural
Lithuanians often use this idiom to express a sense of 'lucky survival', reflecting a history of overcoming difficult odds. In basketball-crazy Lithuania, 'per plauką' is the most common way to describe a game decided by a single point. The phrase links back to traditional weaving and woodworking where hair-thin precision was the standard of quality. Younger Lithuanians use it for tech-related close calls, like sending a risky text or a battery dying.
Use the Diminutive
Use 'per plaukelį' to sound like a native speaker when you are very excited or relieved.
Check the Case
Always use 'plauką' (with the tail on the a). 'Per plaukas' is a common beginner mistake.
Significado
Something that barely happened or missed.
Use the Diminutive
Use 'per plaukelį' to sound like a native speaker when you are very excited or relieved.
Check the Case
Always use 'plauką' (with the tail on the a). 'Per plaukas' is a common beginner mistake.
Basketball Context
If you watch a game with Lithuanians, saying 'per plauką' during a close score will earn you instant respect.
Teste-se
Fill in the missing words for the idiom.
Mes laimėjome rungtynes ___ ______.
The correct idiom is 'per plauką'.
Which sentence correctly describes a close call?
A) Aš per plauką nepavėlavau į darbą. B) Aš beveik plauką pavėlavau.
Sentence A uses the correct idiom and negative verb structure.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You got 50% on a test where 50% is the minimum pass.
Passing with the minimum score is a classic 'per plauką' situation.
Complete the dialogue.
Jonas: 'Ar mašina tave užkliudė?' Tu: 'Ne, ___ ______!'
This expresses that the car almost hit you but missed.
Match the Lithuanian phrase to its English equivalent.
1. Per plauką 2. Beveik 3. Vos vos
These are the closest semantic matches.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
5 exerciciosMes laimėjome rungtynes ___ ______.
The correct idiom is 'per plauką'.
A) Aš per plauką nepavėlavau į darbą. B) Aš beveik plauką pavėlavau.
Sentence A uses the correct idiom and negative verb structure.
You got 50% on a test where 50% is the minimum pass.
Passing with the minimum score is a classic 'per plauką' situation.
Jonas: 'Ar mašina tave užkliudė?' Tu: 'Ne, ___ ______!'
This expresses that the car almost hit you but missed.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
These are the closest semantic matches.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Perguntas frequentes
12 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
Yes, like winning a race or passing an exam.
'Per plauką' is more idiomatic and visual; 'vos vos' is more literal and used for things like volume or light.
No, in this idiom, it is always 'plauką' (accusative singular).
No, the idiom is fixed to one hair.
Yes, very common in news headlines and stories.
Usually, yes. It suggests the outcome was out of your control.
Yes, for being 'just in time'.
It means 'a hair'.
Young people might use 'ant ribos' (on the edge).
Yes, like a car stopping 'per plauką' from a wall.
Yes, Latvian has a very similar expression.
Frases relacionadas
per plaukelį
similarEven closer than 'per plauką'
vos ne
similarAlmost
ant plauko kaboti
builds onTo hang by a thread/hair
per žingsnį
similarOne step away
tik per stebuklą
specialized formOnly by a miracle
