C2 — proficientgrammar40 words
Catchphrases & clichés
| Serbian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tȏ je tȏ | that’s it, that’s that (closing a matter); just the thing (approving) |
| néma fȑke | no problem; no worries (colloquial) |
| svȁka čȁst | well done!; hats off, respect (praise); ironic after a blunder: well done, I must say |
| kȕd kòjī mȉlī mòji | everyone scattered in all directions (jocular) |
| štȍ je tȗ je | it is what it is |
| dȏđē mi da | I feel like (doing something: + da and a verb) |
| ni lȕk jȅo ni lȕk mìrisao | to have had nothing to do with it, to be in no way at fault |
| néma vȅze | never mind; it doesn’t matter |
| štȁ da se rȃdī | what can you do |
| tàkō ti je tȏ | that’s how it is, that’s the way it is (a philosophical sign-off) |
| i tȏ je nȅšto | that’s something at least |
| ȉdē nȅkako | getting by (the usual answer to ‘how are things?’) |
| mòglo je i gȍre | it could have been worse |
| nȉje strȁšno | it’s no big deal, it’s not a problem |
| bȉće bȍlje | things will get better |
| kȍ znȃ | who knows |
| vȉdećemo | we’ll see (politely putting off a decision) |
| dȃj bȍže | God grant it, please God (a wish) |
| àko Bȏg da | God willing (of the future, said even by non-believers) |
| hvála bȍgu | thank God, thank goodness |
| srȅćom | fortunately, luckily |
| na kràju krajéva | at the end of the day |
| kȁko bílo | be that as it may, in any event (back to the point) |
| da ne dúžīm | not to go on about it |
| da skrátīm príču | to cut a long story short |
| ȅto ti ga na | that’s all we needed, here we go again (an unwelcome surprise) |
| štȁ ćeš | what can you do, what can one do (literally ‘what will you?’) |
| tàkō tȏ ȉdē | that’s how it goes |
| žìvot je tàkav | such is life |
| néma štȁ | no two ways about it, no argument there |
| da ti prȁvo kȃžēm | to tell you the truth, to be honest (informal) |
| ȉskreno rèčeno | frankly speaking (slightly more formal) |
| kȁko da ti kȃžēm | how shall I put it (before an awkward answer) |
| ne mògu da vȅrujēm | I can’t believe it (da + present tense, not an infinitive) |
| pa dòbro | all right then, oh well (conceding or moving on) |
| mȁ pȕsti | forget it, let it go (colloquial) |
| nȉje tȏ nȉšta | it’s nothing (playing down a favour or a mishap) |
| poláko | slowly; take it easy |
| sȁmo nȁprēd | go ahead, go for it; onwards! |
| dŕži se | hang in there; take care (when parting) |
Other phrasebooks at this level