притвориться мёртвым
pritvorit'sya myortvym
To play dead in Russian is притвориться мёртвым (pritvorit'sya myortvym).
This phrase is used to describe the action of lying very still, as if one were a corpse.
Meaning: to lie very still, like a corpse (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb притвориться, which means to pretend or to feign and the adjective мёртвым in the instrumental case, which means dead.
Which one should you use?
The imperfective form притворяться мёртвым can be used to describe the ongoing process of pretending to be dead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective мёртвым is used in the instrumental case because it follows a verb of pretending or becoming. The form притворяться мёртвым is the imperfective version of the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
pritvorit'sya myortvym
Did you know?
- The root твОр found in притвориться is used in Russian to describe the most formal and sacred acts of creation, such as the creation of the world.
- The instrumental case in мёртвым is the same case used for tools. This grammatically frames 'being dead' as the tool the person is using to achieve their goal.
- The verb притвориться shares a root with творец, meaning 'creator' or 'author'. Using it to play dead literally suggests you are 'authoring' a false identity.
Examples in context
- Если оказалось так, что ты не можешь убежать от медведя в лесу, лучшее что можно сделать – упасть на землю и притвориться мёртвым.If you find yourself trapped by a bear in the forest, your best bet is to drop to the ground and play dead.This sentence shows the advice to drop to the ground and притвориться мёртвым if you are trapped by a bear in the forest.Tatoeba #885218 by corvard, translation #885204 by darinmex
- Не стоит просто притвориться мёртвым в этой ситуации.Ne stoit prosto pritvorit'sya myortvym v etoy situatsii.It is not worth just playing dead in this situation.
Example conversation
Alexander and Olga are watching a nature documentary about animals.
- Александр AleksandrСмотри, этот зверь пытается притвориться мёртвым.Smotri, etot zver' pytayetsya pritvorit'sya myortvym.Look, this animal is trying to play dead.
- Ольга OlgaЭто выглядит очень реалистично, Александр.Eto vyglyadit ochen' realisticchno, Aleksandr.That looks very realistic, Alexander.
- Александр AleksandrИнтересно, это помогает ему выжить?Interesno, eto pomogayet yemu vyžit'?I wonder, does it help him survive?
- Ольга OlgaДа, хищники часто теряют к нему интерес.Da, khishchniki chasto teryayut k nemu interes.Yes, predators often lose interest in it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
