Russian Proverbs & Sayings Flashcards
Кто не рискует, тот не пьет шампанского
Translation: He who doesn’t take risks doesn’t drink champagne
Meaning: Fortune favors the brave
Дву́м смертя́м не быва́ть, одно́й не минова́ть
Translation: One can’t have two deaths, but you can’t avoid one
Meaning: A man can die but once; fortune favors the bold
Живы бу́дем — не помрём
Translation: We will be alive, we won’t die
Meaning: Everything will be alright; let’s hope for the best
Будь что будет
Translation: Let it be
Meaning: Whatever shall be, will be
Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть
Translation: You can’t avoid that which is meant to happen
Meaning: Whatever shall be, will be.
Глаза боятся, а руки делают (sometimes shortened to Глаза боятся)
Translation: The eyes are afraid but the hands are still doing it
Meaning: Feel the fear and do it anyway
Голь на вы́думку хитра́
Translation: Poverty inspires invention
Meaning: Necessity is the mother of invention
Волко́в боя́ться — в лес не ходи́ть (often shortened to Волко́в боя́ться)
Translation: If you’re scared of wolves, don’t go in the woods
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Даю́т — бери́, а бьют – беги́
Translation: If you’re given something, take it, but if you’re being beaten – run.
Meaning: This is a humorous way of telling someone to grab an opportunity unless it is particularly dangerous.
Дарёному коню́ в зу́бы не смо́трят
Translation: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Meaning: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
В чужо́й монасты́рь со свои́м уста́вом не хо́дят
Translation: Don’t go to someone else’s monastery with your own rulebook
Meaning: When in Rome, do as Romans do
Мно́го бу́дешь знать, ско́ро соста́ришься
Translation: If you know too much, you will get old very quickly
Meaning: Curiosity killed the cat
Любопы́тной Варва́ре на база́ре нос оторва́ли (sometimes shortened to Любопы́тной Варва́ре)
Literally: Curious Varvara had her nose snatched at the market
Meaning: Curiosity killed the cat
Поспеши́шь — люде́й насмеши́шь
Literally: If you do something in a hurry, you will make people laugh at you
Meaning: Haste makes waste
По́сле дра́ки кулака́ми не ма́шут
Translation: No point throwing punches after a fight
Meaning: After death, the doctor; don’t shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
Не учи́ учёного
Translation: Don’t teach a learned one
Meaning: Don’t teach your grandmother how to suck eggs (don’t offer advice to someone who has more experience)