Guess the meaning first
Read the literal words and guess what the idiom means. Then tap to reveal it. Guessing first makes idioms far easier to remember.
Idioms by theme
Grouped by what you’d use them to talk about. Tap a row to hear it.
Work and effortтруд
| рабо́тать спустя́ рукава́ ▸ra-BO-tat’ spus-TYA ru-ka-VAрабо́татьto workспустя́having loweredрукава́sleeves | to work carelessly, half-heartedly | ≈ to do a sloppy job |
| засучи́ть рукава́ ▸za-su-CHEET’ ru-ka-VAзасучи́тьto roll upрукава́sleeves | to get down to serious work | ≈ to roll up your sleeves |
| водо́й не разольёшь ▸va-DOY ni ra-zal’-YOSHводо́йwith waterнеnotразольёшьyou’ll separate | inseparable (of friends) | ≈ thick as thieves |
| лома́ть го́лову ▸la-MAT’ GO-la-vuлома́тьto breakго́ловуhead | to rack your brains | ≈ to rack your brains |
| дать ма́ху ▸dat’ MA-khuдатьto giveма́хуswing | to blunder, make a silly mistake | ≈ to slip up |
Talk and liesречь
| ве́шать лапшу́ на́ уши ▸VYE-shat’ lap-SHU NA-u-shiве́шатьto hangлапшу́noodlesна́onушиears | to fool someone with stories | ≈ to pull someone’s leg |
| держа́ть язы́к за зуба́ми ▸dir-ZHAT’ yi-ZYK za zu-BA-miдержа́тьto keepязы́кtongueзаbehindзуба́миteeth | to keep quiet, keep a secret | ≈ to hold your tongue |
| толо́чь во́ду в сту́пе ▸ta-LOCH VO-du f STU-pyeтоло́чьto poundво́дуwaterвinсту́пеmortar | to talk or act pointlessly | ≈ to go round in circles |
| из па́льца вы́сосать ▸is PAL’-tsa VY-sa-sat’изfromпа́льцаfingerвы́сосатьto suck out | to invent from nothing | ≈ to make it up |
| ни бэ ни мэ ▸ni be ni meниneitherбэBниnorмэM | to know absolutely nothing (about it) | ≈ not have a clue |
Trouble and luckбеда́ и уда́ча
| попа́сть впроса́к ▸pa-PAST’ fpra-SAKпопа́стьto fallвпроса́кinto the rope-twister | to get into an embarrassing spot | ≈ to put your foot in it |
| как снег на го́лову ▸kak snyek na GO-la-vuкакlikeснегsnowнаonго́ловуhead | completely unexpectedly | ≈ out of the blue |
| роди́ться в руба́шке ▸ra-DEE-tsa v ru-BASH-kyeроди́тьсяto be bornвinруба́шкеshirt | to be born lucky | ≈ born with a silver spoon |
| вы́йти сухи́м из воды́ ▸VY-ti su-KHEEM iz va-DYвы́йтиto come outсухи́мdryизfromводы́water | to get away with it | ≈ to come out unscathed |
| как об сте́нку горо́х ▸kak ap STYEN-ku ga-ROKHкакlikeобagainstсте́нкуwallгоро́хpeas | no effect at all | ≈ like talking to a brick wall |
Time and amountвре́мя и коли́чество
| в два счёта ▸v dva SHCHO-taвinдваtwoсчётаcounts | in no time | ≈ in two shakes |
| с го́рем попола́м ▸z GO-ryem pa-pa-LAMсwithго́ремgriefпопола́мhalved | only just, with great difficulty | ≈ by the skin of your teeth |
| до́ сме́рти ▸DO smer-tiдо́toсме́ртиdeath | terribly, to an extreme | ≈ to death |
| раз-два и обчёлся ▸raz dva i ap-CHOL-syaразoneдваtwoиandобчёлсяmiscounted | very few, hardly any | ≈ you can count them on one hand |
| на ско́рую ру́ку ▸na SKO-ru-yu RU-kuнаonско́руюquickру́куhand | hastily, in a rush | ≈ thrown together |
Animal idioms
Bears, crayfish, cats and dogs appear in dozens of Russian expressions. The best-known is the crayfish that whistles on a mountain: the Russian “when pigs fly”.
Proverbs: посло́вицы
A proverb is a whole sentence of folk wisdom. Many rhyme, which is why they survive. Russians often say only the first half and let the listener finish.
Using idioms well
Don’t change the words Idioms are fixed. Swap one word and native speakers will hear a mistake, or a joke.
The verb still changes Inside the idiom, the verb conjugates normally for person and tense like any other verb.
Mind the register Many idioms are colloquial. In a formal letter, use the plain meaning instead.
Check yourself: what does it mean?
Ни пу́ха ни пера́!
Когда́ рак на горе́ сви́стнет
Он бьёт баклу́ши.
Ко́т напла́кал
Не ве́шай мне лапшу́ на́ уши!
Без труда́ не вы́тащишь и ры́бку из пруда́.