Proverbs

Question 1

не делай из мухи слона

exaggerate the importance of something trivial

Answer 1

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.

• I was so nervous today at work and could not concentrate.
• Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Everyone makes mistakes.

Question 2

одна голова хорошо, а две лучше

Answer 2

Many hands make light work.

• There’s a pile of dishes. The washing up will take me ages.
• All right. I will help you. Many hands make light work.

Question 3

время вспять не повернешь

Answer 3

We can’t turn the clock back.

• I’ve been preparing this meal all day. And now we need to go to fish and chips shop.
• We can’t turn the clock back and we can’t eat the chicken like this.

Question 4

Что сделано, то сделано.

Answer 4

It’s no use crying over spilt milk.

Yes, you let yourself get emotionally involved with this handsome chap. But now move on. Let’s not cry over spilt milk.

Question 5

будь благодарен за неожиденно предоставившуюся возможность или подарок

Answer 5

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

• Tom, a colleague’s given me 2 free tickets to the theater tonight.
• O, I wanted to stay at home and watch TV.
• Come on, Tom. It’s not every day we get something for free. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Question 6

Не все то золото, что блестит.

Answer 6

All that glitters is not gold.

• I went to this trendy-looking restaurant for lunch today.
• O that place! It looks very grand from the outside. Did you have a good time?
• No, not at all. The service and the food were dreadful.- It was such a waste of money!
• All that glitters is not gold, I suppose, love.

Question 7

to prove, demonstrate, or indicate that something is true.

Answer 7

it just goes to show

This smart-looking watch has just stopped working. It just goes to show, all that glitters is not gold.

My grandfather’s pocket watch still runs perfectly after all these years, which goes to show the level of craftsmanship put into it.

Question 8

лучше иметь дело с человеком, которого знаешь со всеми его недостатками, чем с кем-то новым, о котором еще ничего неизвестно

Answer 8

Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.

• Let’s buy a car.
• But I want a motorbike. I don’t know much about cars. And I know how to take the motorbike apart and put it together.
• I see, better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
• Exactly.

Question 9

произвести какое-то изменение в своей жизни (перейти на новую работу)

Answer 9

move on

Your boss might move on soon and get another job at a bigger library.

Question 10

Menshe slov, bolshe dela.

Answer 10

Say little, do much.

Question 11

selfish

Answer 11

egotistical

We all have this egotistical impulse to say that we’re the best.

Question 12

Сам себя не похвалишь - никто не похвалит.

Answer 12

If you don’t blow your own horn, no one will do it for you. (Am)