By situation: when you want to say…
Twelve idioms grouped by what they express. The middle column is what the words actually say; tap a row to hear it.
| You mean | Idiom | Literally |
|---|---|---|
| It’s easy | про́ще па́реной ре́пы ▸PRO-shche PA-ri-nai RYE-pyпро́щеsimplerпа́ренойsteamedре́пыturnip | simpler than a steamed turnipa piece of cake |
| It’s easy | раз плю́нуть ▸ras PLYU-nut’разonceплю́нутьto spit | to spit onceno effort at all |
| Be quick | одна́ нога́ здесь, друга́я там ▸ad-NA na-GA zdyes’, dru-GA-ya tamодна́oneнога́footздесьhereдруга́яthe otherтамthere | one foot here, the other therego and come straight back |
| It’s pointless | как мёртвому припа́рки ▸kak MYORT-va-mu pri-PAR-kiкакlikeмёртвомуto a dead manприпа́ркиpoultices | like poultices to a dead manutterly useless |
| It’s pointless | перелива́ть из пусто́го в поро́жнее ▸pi-ri-li-VAT’ is pus-TO-va f pa-ROZH-ni-yeперелива́тьto pourизfromпусто́гоemptyвintoпоро́жнееempty | to pour from empty into emptyto talk without getting anywhere |
| Not worth it | игра́ не сто́ит свеч ▸i-GRA ni STO-it svyechигра́the gameнеnotсто́итis worthсвечcandles | the game isn’t worth the candlesnot worth the effort |
| Never | по́сле до́ждичка в четве́рг ▸POS-lye DOZH-dich-ka f chit-VYERKпо́слеafterдо́ждичкаa little rainвonчетве́ргThursday | after a little rain on Thursdaywhen pigs fly |
| Not my problem | моя́ ха́та с кра́ю ▸ma-YA KHA-ta s KRA-yuмоя́myха́таhutсatкра́юthe edge | my hut is at the edge (of the village)none of my business |
| Far away | у чёрта на кули́чках ▸u CHOR-ta na ku-LEECH-kakhуatчёртаthe devil’sнаonкули́чкахEaster cakes | at the devil’s Easter cakesin the middle of nowhere |
| Packed | я́блоку не́где упа́сть ▸YAB-la-ku NYEG-dye u-PAST’я́блокуfor an appleне́гдеnowhereупа́стьto fall | nowhere for an apple to fallpacked solid |
| Broke | сиде́ть на мели́ ▸si-DYET’ na mi-LEEсиде́тьto sitнаonмели́a sandbank | to sit on a sandbankto be broke |
| Scatterbrained | без царя́ в голове́ ▸bis tsa-RYA v ga-la-VYEбезwithoutцаря́a tsarвinголове́the head | without a tsar in one’s headscatterbrained, thoughtless |
Half-quoted proverbs
Say the first half yourself, then tap to reveal how it ends. In conversation you would normally stop at the dots.
Proverbs with English twins
Same idea, different picture. Knowing the English twin tells you exactly when to use the Russian one.
nyet DY-ma biz ag-NYAНе́тthere is noды́маsmokeбезwithoutогня́fire English twinNo smoke without fire.Literally: no smoke without fire
tsyp-LYAT pa O-si-ni shchi-TA-yutЦыпля́тchicksпоinо́сениautumnсчита́ют(they) count English twinDon’t count your chickens before they hatch.Literally: chicks are counted in autumn
YAB-la-ka at YAB-la-ni ni-da-li-KO PA-da-yitЯ́блокоappleотfromя́блониapple treeнедалеко́not farпа́даетfalls English twinThe apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.Literally: the apple falls not far from the apple tree
druz’-YA paz-na-YUT-sa v bi-DYEДрузья́friendsпознаю́тсяare knownвinбеде́trouble English twinA friend in need is a friend indeed.Literally: friends are known in trouble
v gas-TYAKH kha-ra-SHO, a DO-ma LUCH-sheВatгостя́хguests’хорошо́goodаbutдо́маat homeлу́чшеbetter English twinEast or west, home is best.Literally: visiting is nice, but home is better
PU-ga-na-ya va-RO-na kus-TA ba-EET-saПу́ганаяfrightenedворо́наcrowкуста́of a bushбои́тсяis afraid English twinOnce bitten, twice shy.Literally: a frightened crow is afraid of a bush
Only in Russian
These have no neat English equivalent; you have to explain them. That makes them memorable, and a sure sign of advanced Russian when you use them.
PYER-vy bleen KO-mam Пе́рвыйfirstблинpancakeко́момin a lump The first pancake comes out lumpy. Said kindly after a first attempt goes wrong: the next one will be better.
ni plyuy f ka-LO-dits: pri-ga-DEET-sa va-DY na-PEET’-sa Неdon’tплюйspitвintoколо́децwellпригоди́тсяwill be neededводы́waterнапи́тьсяto drink Don’t spit in the well: you may need to drink from it. Don’t burn bridges with people you may need later.
sa sva-EEM us-TA-vam f chu-ZHOY ma-nas-TYR’ ni KHO-dyat Соwithсвои́мone’s ownуста́вомrulesвintoчужо́йanother’sмонасты́рьmonasteryнеnotхо́дят(they) go You don’t bring your own rules into someone else’s monastery. Respect local customs; close to “when in Rome”.
as-TAT’-sa u raz-BEE-ta-va ka-RY-ta Оста́тьсяto be leftуatразби́тогоbrokenкоры́таtrough To be left at the broken trough. To end up with nothing after reaching too far. From Pushkin’s tale of the fisherman and the fish.
va-DEET’ ZA-nas Води́тьto leadза́ носby the nose To lead someone by the nose. To keep deceiving someone with promises; not “to control” as in English.
ku-DA ma-KAR ti-LYAT ni ga-NYAL Куда́whereМака́рMakarтеля́тcalvesнеnotгоня́лdrove Where Makar never drove his calves. Somewhere very remote; also used as a threat: “I’ll send you where Makar never drove calves”.
Check yourself
Which expression fits the situation?
A friend says the new job is too hard to learn. It took him one day.
Your sister will tidy her room “one day”, she says. You don’t believe her.
Your first attempt at baking a cake has collapsed.
The metro carriage is so full nobody can move.