Questions about the meaning, the origin, and the usage of multi-word expressions with more or less idiomatic or metaphorical meaning.
Questions tagged [выражения]
278 questions
15
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3 answers
In Russian, how do you idiomatically express the idea of the figurative "overnight"?
In conversation, I just said:
Нельзя заснуть и наутро уже все знать и уметь. Будь терпеливой. Ты получила права совсем недавно. То, что ты сумела столько продержаться с нами, – уже само по себе подвиг.
I went on a motorcycle ride with my…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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13
votes
6 answers
"Cобака на сене" - is this expression still in use or is it dated?
As I understand it, it describes a person who doesn't let others enjoy a resource / service while he himself doesn't utilize it either:
Собака на сене — ни себе, ни людям. Смысл поговорки становится понятен
после знакомства с её происхождением.…
lolly
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12
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6 answers
In Russian, how do you say "Old habits die hard"?
Старые привычки дают о себе знать, да?
I wonder if this is a commonly used expression to convey the idea of "Old habits die hard"? If an automatic translator is anything to go by, however, it doesn't seem to turn up any example of this…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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9
votes
5 answers
How to express the contrasting "still others", as in "some people do X, others do Y, still others do Z"?
In English, you say "some ..., while others ...", when comparing just two groups of people. And when the third group is thrown into the mix, you add "still" or "yet" to "others":
Some people do X, others do Y, still/yet others do Z.
The same…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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8
votes
3 answers
How to praise a toddler's effort in Russian (instead of intelligence?)
At the moment it is fashionable to not praise children on issues they don't control (inherent intelligence) and instead praise them on what they can control-- effort, hard work. Ref.
English doesn't have a tidy word for this that I can think…
MatthewMartin
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7
votes
3 answers
What does expression "тогда я в повидле" mean?
This is the 2nd year I'm taking Russian at my university and we've a couple of russian students. I was talking to a girl and told her I learned to write Russian letters on my own. She said "тогда я в повидле" (I asked her to write down what she…
bodacydo
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7
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3 answers
Not god-alluding expressions equivalent to "боже мой!", "о господи!"
The Russian expressions in the title refer to god. Are there equivalent interjections that do not refer to it?
c.p.
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7
votes
1 answer
What does the phrase "увидеть небо в алмазах" mean?
I understand the meaning of the component words, but what does the phrase mean and how is it used? From an internet search it seems to mean something akin to we will find our reward in heaven.
mjiap
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6
votes
4 answers
is 'Молодец! / молодцы́!' always a familiar expression?
I would like to know if the expression 'Молодец!' (or молодцы́!) in the context of 'good!', 'you did it right!', 'this is a great work!' ,'you accomplished a difficult work!' etc.... is always familiar or can be used for example with business…
user4256
6
votes
5 answers
What does "и" do in "Ну ты и дурак!"?
I come across "Ну ты и дурак!" often on the Internet. I understand that it means "What a fool you are!", however I cannot find what makes it a valid form in Russian.
My peeve is that "и" is used for no good reason.
What is "и" doing there?
The way I…
Trident D'Gao
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6
votes
3 answers
In Russian, how do you idiomatically say "a one-to-one mix"?
A one-to-one mix of coffee and milk, with foam on top.
In conversation, I wanted to express this idea in Russian. I'm looking for the Russian equivalent of "a one-to-one mix (of ...)" in the sense of "half coffee (and) half milk".
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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6
votes
3 answers
How do Russian speakers commonly express the idea of "a powder-keg situation"?
In conversation, I just said:
Обе стороны на грани. Достаточно одной искры, чтобы все пошло наперекосяк.
Here I wanted to express the idea of "a tinderbox situation waiting to ignite" or "a powder-keg situation waiting to explode". What is a…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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6
votes
2 answers
«повести бровью» vs. «повести бровями»
С английским выражением «he raised his eyebrows / he didn't even raise his eyebrows» обязательно следует, строго говоря, поставить существительное «eyebrows» во множественное число.
С точки зрения логики и имеет больший смысл повести обеими бровями…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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5
votes
4 answers
"I can't place her": How do Russian speakers express this idea colloquially?
In conversation, I wanted to express the idea of "I can't place her" in Russian -- informally/colloquially used when you think you recognise someone from somewhere and yet, frustratingly enough, can't put your finger on from where exactly. E.g.:
I…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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5
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2 answers
How to express "Wait...'was'?" in surprise?
Да. Это была именитая компания, щедрая на праздники!
Surprised to hear my girlfriend use "была" as if it were a thing of the past, I said:
Постой... Почему ты говоришь в прошедшем времени?
In English, this is where I would have gone with…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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