The phrase "знать в лицо" means "to know in the face."

In Russian, people use this saying when they recognize someone just by looking at them. It shows that you can identify someone by how they look, even if you don’t know their name or aren’t close to them.

Knowing and using this phrase can be super helpful in conversations and social situations.

What Does "знать в лицо" Mean?

1. Meaning:

   • It means to recognize someone by their face.
   • It shows you know them a little bit, but not very well.

2. When to Use It:

   • People often use this when talking about others they see a lot, like at work or during community events.

3. Examples:

   • If you see someone you know by their face but can't remember their name, you might say: "Если ты его знаешь в лицо, но не помнишь имени, просто подойди и представься." (If you know him by face but don’t remember his name, just go up and introduce yourself.)
   • "Я знаю её в лицо, она часто приходит в этот магазин." (I know her by face; she often comes to this store.)

Different Ways to Use It

1. Positive Sentences:

   • "Я знаю его в лицо." (I know him by face.)
   • "Она знает всех студентов в лицо." (She knows all the students by face.)

2. Negative Sentences:

   • "Я не знаю его в лицо." (I don’t know him by face.)
   • "Мы не знаем её в лицо, хотя она часто бывает здесь." (We don’t know her by face, though she is often here.)

3. Questions:

   • "Ты его знаешь в лицо?" (Do you know him by face?)
   • "Она знает меня в лицо?" (Does she know me by face?)

Fun Ways to Learn More

To help you understand this phrase better, try these activities:

1. Fill in the Blanks:

   • "Я ________ её в лицо, но вообще не знаю, как её зовут." (Fill in: знаю)

2. Make Sentences:

   • Use "знать в лицо" in a sentence about someone you often see but don’t know well.

3. Role Play:

   • Pair up with a friend and pretend to meet someone you know by face. Use "знать в лицо" to talk about how you recognize them.

A Quick Cultural Note

Knowing this phrase is important in Russian culture. Many social situations revolve around recognizing faces. This saying helps explain how familiar people are with each other in the community or at work.

By learning phrases like "знать в лицо," you not only grow your vocabulary but also understand how people interact in Russian-speaking situations. This will make you feel more confident and fluent in the language!