Idioms Flashcards
Когда рак на горе свистнет
Literal translation: “When a lobster whistles on the top of a mountain.” However, рак can mean “lobster” or “cancer” (not at all confusing, right?), so this could also be interpreted as “When a cancer/carcinoma whistles on the top of a mountain.” Sounds festive!
Figurative meaning: “It’s never going to happen”
Similar English idiom: “When pigs fly”
Ни пуха ни пера
Literal translation: “Neither down nor feather”
Figurative meaning: “Good luck”
Similar English idiom: “Break a leg”
Bonus: The preferred response to this well-wish is “К чёрту!” (“To hell!”). It’s friendlier than it sounds.
If you’re casual, you might even just say “ни пуха” in place of the whole phrase and people will know what you mean. Either way, the phrase is technically wishing the recipient failure in hunting. The idea behind it is the same as “break a leg,” the hope being that wishing someone bad luck will make them have good luck.
Руки не доходят
Literal translation: “My hands don’t reach it”
Figurative meaning: “I can’t find the time”
Similar English idiom: None
Example:
Мне нужно убраться, но руки не доходят.
(Literal: I need to clean up, but my hands don’t reach it.)
(Figurative: I need to clean up, but I can’t find the time.)
Делать из мухи слона
Literal translation: “To make an elephant out of a fly”
Figurative meaning: “To exaggerate”
Similar English idiom: “To make a mountain out of a molehill”
Без кота мышам раздолье
Literal translation: “Without a cat, mice will feel free”
Figurative meaning: “When an authority figure is away, those under him/her may act up”
Similar English idiom: “When the cat’s away, the mice will play”
Любовь зла, полюбишь и козла
Literal translation: “Love is evil, you may fall in love with a goat”
Figurative meaning: “You can’t control who you love”
Similar English idiom: “Love is blind”
Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь
Literal translation: “What you sow, you will reap”
Figurative meaning: “Actions have consequences”
Similar English idiom: “You reap what you sow”
If you want a little variation with this phrase, you can also say “как посеешь, так и пожнёшь.” Its meaning is nearly identical, so you can pick whatever rolls off your tongue most easily.
В ногах правды нет
Literal translation: “There is no truth in the legs”
Figurative meaning: “You can’t think straight while standing up”
Similar English idiom: None
Example:
Садись, и тогда поговорим—в ногах правды нет.
(Literal: Sit down, and then we’ll talk—there is no truth in the legs.)
(Figurative: Sit down, and then we’ll talk—you can’t think straight while standing up.)
Взять себя в руки
Literal translation: “To take oneself in one’s hands”
Figurative meaning: “To compose oneself”
Similar English idiom: “To pull oneself together”
People can be a mess in any language. “Взять себя в руки” can be used to tell someone to compose themselves emotionally or just improve their current situation.
Без муки нет науки
Literal translation: “Without torture, there is no science”
Figurative meaning: “Adversity builds character”
Similar English idiom: “No pain, no gain”
Example:
Вы не получили работу? Без муки нет науки.
(Literal: You didn’t get the job? Without torture, there is no science.)
(Figurative: You didn’t get the job? Adversity builds character.)
When things are going poorly for someone, this is a helpful reminder that suffering can lead to better things.
Не в своей тарелке [ni v svayey tarelki]
This idiom can be translated as ‘(to be) not in one’s own plate’.
The idiom means ‘to be like a fish out of water’, to feel uncomfortable in a situation.
Заткнуть (кого-то) за пояс [zatknut’ (kago ta) za poyas]
This one is translated as ‘to put (someone) under one’s belt’.
The expression means ‘to outshine someone’, ‘get the better of sb.’
Остаться с носом [astat’sya s nosam]
It literally means ‘be left with the nose’ and in fact suggests that someone failed at something, was fooled around or did not get an expected result. A similar English expression used in this context: ‘be left holding the bag’ or ‘be duped’.
Водить за нос [vadit’ za nos]
Another idiom about noses. This means ‘to lead (someone) grabbing at their nose’, to fool around with someone.
Now it’s time to explain the etymology of this idiom. In the past, during bazaars and outside fairs, gypsies would bring tame bears with them and make them perform. The animals had their noses pierced, and the owners would lead the bears holding on to a ring through their noses. Thus, animals had no chance but to obey.
Где раки зимуют [gde raki zimuyut]
This idiom is translated as ‘where crawfish hibernates’ and is usually used in the following context: “I will show you where crawfish hibernates”. What a Russian person means by saying this is that they want to punish you cruelly for something or teach you a lesson.
Originally, Russian landlords considered shellfish to be a delicacy, especially when caught in winter. Because crawfish are hard to catch (the water was freezing), they sent peasants who had committed a crime to catch them. That’s how the idiom came about.
Дать зуб [dat’ zub]
This one means ‘to give a tooth’: you swear your words are true, and you are even ready to sacrifice your tooth as proof.
