Significado
Talking about useless things.
Contexto cultural
In Serbian culture, being 'direktan' (direct) is highly valued. People often use this idiom to cut through politeness and get to the point. The region has a long history of agriculture. Many idioms, including this one, use farming tools and products as metaphors for life. In Serbian IT and business sectors, this phrase is frequently used to criticize 'corporate speak' or unnecessary bureaucracy. Journalists in Serbia use this phrase in headlines to describe parliamentary sessions that yield no new laws.
Use it to be funny
If a friend is talking too much about a boring topic, say 'E, nemoj više mlatiti tu slamu, ogladneo sam!' to change the subject lightly.
Don't use with your boss
Unless you have a very casual relationship, telling your boss they are beating empty straw is considered rude.
Significado
Talking about useless things.
Use it to be funny
If a friend is talking too much about a boring topic, say 'E, nemoj više mlatiti tu slamu, ogladneo sam!' to change the subject lightly.
Don't use with your boss
Unless you have a very casual relationship, telling your boss they are beating empty straw is considered rude.
The Noun Form
Use 'mlaćenje' (the beating) as a noun to describe a whole event. 'To je bilo obično mlaćenje prazne slame.'
Teste-se
Fill in the correct form of the idiom.
Prekini da ________ ________ slamu i reci mi šta se desilo.
We use 'mlatiš' for 'ti' (you) and 'praznu' because it is feminine accusative.
Which situation best describes 'mlaćenje prazne slame'?
Šta je mlaćenje prazne slame?
The idiom refers to a long, pointless conversation.
Match the Serbian phrase with its English meaning.
Spojite parove:
Each idiom has a specific nuance of futility.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sastanak traje već tri sata! B: Da, samo ________ ________ ________.
Since 'we' are in the meeting, we use 'mlatimo'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
When to use this phrase
Politics
- • Debates
- • Promises
- • Speeches
Work
- • Meetings
- • Reports
- • Emails
Social
- • Gossip
- • Complaining
- • Small talk
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosPrekini da ________ ________ slamu i reci mi šta se desilo.
We use 'mlatiš' for 'ti' (you) and 'praznu' because it is feminine accusative.
Šta je mlaćenje prazne slame?
The idiom refers to a long, pointless conversation.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
Each idiom has a specific nuance of futility.
A: Sastanak traje već tri sata! B: Da, samo ________ ________ ________.
Since 'we' are in the meeting, we use 'mlatimo'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is critical, but not necessarily offensive. It's like saying 'you're wasting time'.
No, it's better to use 'neproduktivan razgovor' in formal writing.
'Mlatiti praznu slamu' is about uselessness, 'prodavati maglu' is about deception.
The idiom is almost always used in singular. You wouldn't say 'mlatiti prazne slame'.
Yes, this idiom is common across all Serbo-Croatian speaking areas.
No, that makes no sense. The whole point is that it's straw (slama) without grain.
Sometimes people just say 'mlatiš slamu', but the full version is more common.
'Mlatiti' implies a repetitive, wilder motion, which fits the idea of a long, rambling talk.
The grammar is simple enough for A1, but the usage is more common at B1/B2 levels.
Rarely. It's almost 100% used for talking or abstract activities.
Frases relacionadas
Prodavati maglu
similarTo sell fog / to deceive.
Presipati iz šupljeg u prazno
synonymTo pour from hollow to empty.
Bogu krasti dane
similarTo steal days from God / to be idle.
Preći sa reči na dela
contrastTo move from words to deeds.
