Russian Sayings - Sample Sayings

Sample Sayings

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В тридевятом царстве. (V tridevyátom tsárstve.)

"In the three-ninth kingdom", a typical beginning of a fairy tale; often used ironically in a reference to a place far away.

Со времён царя Гороха. (So vremyón tsaryá Gorókha.)

"Since the times of Tsar Green-pea."; cf. English, "since time immemorial" = "с незапамятных времён".

Ни к селу, ни к городу. (Ni k selú, ni k górodu.)

"Neither for a village nor for a city."; cf. English, "of no use or relevance whatsoever."

Хоть кол на голове теши. (Khot' kol na golové teshí.)

"Even if you whittled a spike on his head...", said of someone especially stubborn or recalcitrant.

Делать из мухи слона. (Délat' iz múkhi sloná.)

"To make an elephant out of a fly."; cf. English, "to make a mountain out of a mole-hill."

Палить из пушки по воробьям. (Palít' iz púshki po vorob'yám.)

"To shoot sparrows with a cannon", cf. English, "crack a nut with a sledgehammer."

Бить баклуши. (bit' baklúshi)

cf. English, "to fool (away)," "to waste time."

Когда рак (на горе) свистнет. (Kogdá rak (na goré) svístnet.)

"When a crayfish whistles (on the mountain)", cf. English, "when pigs fly", meaning "never."

Показать, где раки зимуют. (Pokazát', gde ráki zimúyut.)

"To show one where the crayfish spend winter", cf. English, "to punish; to give a piece of one's mind."

Щи да каша — пища наша (Shchi da kásha ― píshcha násha.)

"Shchi and kasha are our food.", cf. English, "We are simple people, for this is all we eat."