Significado
To have a negative, unintended consequence.
Contexto cultural
The theme of 'The Little Man' (маленький человек) often involves fate playing a cruel joke on a protagonist who just wants a simple life (e.g., Gogol's 'The Overcoat'). Journalists frequently use this phrase to describe economic sanctions or market shifts that hurt the countries that initiated them. There is a belief that if you brag too much (хвастаться), the universe will 'play a cruel joke' on you to teach you humility. Many classic Soviet comedies (like 'The Irony of Fate') are built entirely on the premise of a 'cruel joke' played by circumstances.
Use with Abstract Nouns
To sound like a native C1 speaker, use abstract qualities as the subject: 'Его азарт сыграл с ним злую шутку'.
Don't forget 'С'
Always include the preposition 'с' before the person. Without it, the sentence is grammatically broken.
Significado
To have a negative, unintended consequence.
Use with Abstract Nouns
To sound like a native C1 speaker, use abstract qualities as the subject: 'Его азарт сыграл с ним злую шутку'.
Don't forget 'С'
Always include the preposition 'с' before the person. Without it, the sentence is grammatically broken.
Irony is Key
Only use this when there is a sense of 'poetic justice' or irony. If a piano falls on someone, it's just bad luck, not a 'joke' unless they were a piano mover.
Teste-se
Fill in the missing words using the correct case.
Его чрезмерная любознательность сыграла ___ ___ ___.
We need the preposition 'с' + Instrumental 'ним' and the Accusative 'злую шутку'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'сыграть злую шутку'?
Выберите ситуацию:
This shows the irony of preparation meeting an unexpected negative consequence.
Complete the dialogue.
- Почему проект закрыли? - Наша уверенность в успехе ...
The standard form is 'сыграть с кем-то злую шутку'.
Match the cause to the 'cruel joke'.
Соотнесите причину и результат:
All these show how a trait or tool can backfire.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosЕго чрезмерная любознательность сыграла ___ ___ ___.
We need the preposition 'с' + Instrumental 'ним' and the Accusative 'злую шутку'.
Выберите ситуацию:
This shows the irony of preparation meeting an unexpected negative consequence.
- Почему проект закрыли? - Наша уверенность в успехе ...
The standard form is 'сыграть с кем-то злую шутку'.
Соотнесите причину и результат:
All these show how a trait or tool can backfire.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
4 perguntasUsually no. It implies a negative, often serious or ironic consequence. For a funny prank, use 'разыграть'.
Use 'сыграть' (perfective) for a specific event. Use 'играть' (imperfective) only when talking about a general tendency or habit.
No, it's fine for texting if you're describing a situation that went ironically wrong. It sounds smart and expressive.
The most common subjects are 'погода' (weather), 'судьба' (fate), and character traits like 'самоуверенность' (overconfidence).
Frases relacionadas
выйти боком
similarTo have negative consequences for the doer.
подложить свинью
similarTo do something nasty to someone secretly.
ирония судьбы
builds onIrony of fate.
оказаться в дураках
similarTo be left looking like a fool.
