With the series of Russian lessons «Russian phrases» you can learn useful Russian expressions and idioms, as well as practice your listening and reading skills with the audio and transcript. Today’s phrase is “сидеть на шее”.
The audio for the lesson is recorded at three different speeds: slow, adapted (slower than normal) and normal.
Description (описание): сиде́ть на ше́е
Meaning (значение):
to be a burden to somebody, to live at somebody’s expense
Related expressions (связанные выражения):
– быть на иждиве́нии (to be supported by somebody, to live in dependence on somebody),
– жить за чужо́й счет (to live at somebody else’s expense, at the expense of another)
Examples (примеры):
- В два́дцать с ли́шним лет уже́ не при́нято сиде́ть на ше́е у роди́телей.
It is inappropriate to live at the expense of one’s parents at the age of twenty odd years. - Тебе́ сто́ит быть с ни́ми постро́же, ина́че они́ с удово́льствием ся́дут тебе́ на ше́ю и но́жки све́сят.
You should be stricter with them, otherwise they will gladly sit on your head with their legs dangling.
Many thanks to Hemani Pandya for the translation of this lesson.
