A1 Idiom 非正式

Stallā kā zirgs

In the stable like a horse

意思

Being very strong or hardworking.

🌍

文化背景

Horses are central to Latvian 'Dainas' (folk songs). There are over 10,000 songs mentioning horses, often as the 'best friend' of the farmer. In the Baltics, the 'work ethic' (darba tikums) is often contrasted with the 'hustle culture' of the West. It's more about steady, quiet endurance. Even in IT and tech, Latvians use this phrase to describe 'crunch time' before a product launch. If you visit a farm in Latgale, being called a 'zirgs' in terms of work is the highest form of acceptance into the community.

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Use with 'strādāt'

The most natural way to use this is with the verb 'strādāt' (to work). 'Es strādāju kā zirgs' is the gold standard.

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Don't use for 'stubborn'

In English, horses can be stubborn. In Latvian, if someone is stubborn, use 'ēzelis' (donkey/mule), not 'zirgs'.

意思

Being very strong or hardworking.

💡

Use with 'strādāt'

The most natural way to use this is with the verb 'strādāt' (to work). 'Es strādāju kā zirgs' is the gold standard.

⚠️

Don't use for 'stubborn'

In English, horses can be stubborn. In Latvian, if someone is stubborn, use 'ēzelis' (donkey/mule), not 'zirgs'.

🎯

The 'Stallā' nuance

Including 'stallā' (in the stable) makes you sound much more like a native speaker than just saying 'kā zirgs'.

自我测试

Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.

Viņš ir tik stiprs kā _______.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: zirgs

The idiom for strength and hard work always uses 'zirgs' (horse).

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to describe a hardworking person?

Choose the best option:

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: B

While you can 'eat like a horse' (ēst kā zirgam), the idiom for being hardworking is 'strādāt kā zirgs'.

Match the situation to the correct phrase.

Situation: Your friend has been cleaning their whole house for 8 hours.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: B

Cleaning for 8 hours is hard work, so 'strādāt kā zirgs' is appropriate.

Complete the dialogue.

Anna: 'Vai tu esi noguris?' Juris: 'Jā, es šodien dārzā _______ kā zirgs.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: nostrādājos

'Nostrādājos' means 'worked myself to exhaustion', which fits perfectly with the horse idiom.

🎉 得分: /4

视觉学习工具

练习题库

4 练习
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom. Fill Blank A1

Viņš ir tik stiprs kā _______.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: zirgs

The idiom for strength and hard work always uses 'zirgs' (horse).

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to describe a hardworking person? Choose A1

Choose the best option:

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: B

While you can 'eat like a horse' (ēst kā zirgam), the idiom for being hardworking is 'strādāt kā zirgs'.

Match the situation to the correct phrase. situation_matching A2

Situation: Your friend has been cleaning their whole house for 8 hours.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: B

Cleaning for 8 hours is hard work, so 'strādāt kā zirgs' is appropriate.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

Anna: 'Vai tu esi noguris?' Juris: 'Jā, es šodien dārzā _______ kā zirgs.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: nostrādājos

'Nostrādājos' means 'worked myself to exhaustion', which fits perfectly with the horse idiom.

🎉 得分: /4

常见问题

4 个问题

No, in the context of work or strength, it is a high compliment. It implies nobility and power.

Yes, it is gender-neutral in its figurative meaning, though 'zirgs' is grammatically masculine.

'Kā zirgs' is the standard comparison. 'Kā zirgam' is often used with verbs like 'klājas' or 'iet', or to emphasize the burden.

It's better suited for journalism, blogs, or speech. In academic or legal writing, use 'intensīvs darbs'.

相关表达

🔗

Darba rūķis

similar

Work gnome/ant

🔗

Piekusis kā suns

builds on

Tired as a dog

🔗

Slinks kā maiss

contrast

Lazy as a sack

🔗

Zirga pacietība

similar

Horse patience

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