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ДУБРОВИН
РУССКИЕ
ФРАЗЕОЛОГИЗМЫ
В КАРТИНКАХ
Художник
В. И. Т и л ь м а н
И з д а н и е 3-е,
стереотипное
Москва
Русский я з ы к »
1987
M. I. DUBROVIN
A BOOK
OF RUSSIAN
IDIOMS
ILLUSTRATED
Drawings
by V. I. Tilman
3d stereotype
edition
4%
Moscow
R u s s k y Yazyk P u b l i s h e r s
1987
Б Б К 81.2Р — 9 6
Д 79
4602020000-289
А
015(01)-87
© И з д а т е л ь с т в о <Русский я з ы к » , 1977,
1980, с изменениями
PREFACE
2. Б Е Ж А Т Ь В Ы С У Н У В Я З Ы К
b'ezhat' v y s u n u v yasyk
To run with one's tongue
hanging out.
To r u n fast w i t h o u t
p a u s i n g for breath, to be
b r e a t h l e s s f r o m running.
Cf. To r u n as fast as one's
legs can carry one; to r u n
at a breakneck pace.
19
3. Б Е З СУЧКА Б Е З З А Д О Р И Н К И
b'es suchka b'ez zadorinki
Without a snag, without
any unevennes or roughness.
4. Б Е Л А Я В О Р О Н А
b'elaya vorona
A white crow.
Someone unusual, e x t r a o r d i n a r y ;
not like others; an outsider.
Cf. Rara avis.
20
5. Б И Т Ь В ОДНУ Т О Ч К У
bit' v odmi tochku
То keep striking the
same spot.
To concentrate one's
efforts on one thing in
seeking to attain a
specific goal.
6. БИТЬ КЛЮЧОМ
bit' kl'uchom
To well up, to bubble.
' To be in f u l l operation;
to proceed in a lively
manner.
Cf. To boil over;
to be in full swing.
21
7. Б И Т Ь С Я К А К Р Ы Б А О Б ЛЕД
^ bittsa как r y b a ob l'od
То beat against the ice like a fish.
To struggle desperately.
Cf. To pull the devil b y t h e tail.
8. Б Л У Ж Д А Т Ь В П О Т Е М К А Х
bluzhdat' v p o t ' o m k a k h
To grope in the dark.
22
9. Б О Л Ь Н О Е МЕСТО
bol'noye m'esto
A sore spot.
10. Б О Л Ь Н О Й ВОПРОС
bol'noy vopros
A sore question.
is difficult to solve.
Cf. A sore point.
11. Б О Я Т Ь С Я С О Б С Т В Е Н Н О Й ТЕНИ
boyattsa sobstvennoi t'eni
To be afraid of one's own shadow.
To be u n r e a s o n a b l y n e r v o u s due
to groundless and trivial fears.
Cf. To be a f r a i d of one's
o w n shadow.
12. Б Р А Т Ь кого-либо
ЗА С Е Р Д Ц Е / Д У Ш У
brat' za s ' e r t s e / d u s h u
To take someone by the
heart/soul.
To excite, to m o v e or
touch deeply; to cause
anxiety.
Cf. To pull at
someone's
heartstrings; to touch
24 someone's heart.
13. Б Р А Т Ь кого-либо
ПОД К Р Ы Л Ы Ш К О
brat' pod k r y l y s h k o
To take someone under
one's little wing.
To give someone
every care and
attention; to put
someone u n d e r one's
protection.
Cf. To take someone
u n d e r one's wing.
14. Б Р А Т Ь С П О Т О Л К А
b r a t ' s potolka
To take something from the ceiling.
To allege s o m e t h i n g without
sufficient factual grounds; to say
something w i t h o u t thinking, at
random.
Cf. To m a k e something up;
to talk t h r o u g h one's hat.
25
15. Б Р А Т Ь С Я ЗА УМ
brattsa za d m
То take oneself by the mind.
To stop b e h a v i n g i m p r u d e n t l y ;
to become sensible, reasonable.
Cf. To come to one's senses.
л л р у о ! *t>
плох cf
плохо; >*
26
17. Б Р О С А Т Ь СЛОВА НА В Е Т Е Р
brosat' slova па v'et'er
То throw words to the wind.
—
10 Б Р О С А Т Ь С Я СЛОВАМИ
brosattsa slovami
То throw one's words about.
28
Б Ы Т Ь М Е Ж Д У МОЛОТОМ
И НАКОВАЛЬНЕЙ
byt' m'ezhdu molotom i
nakoval'n'ey
To be between the sledge-hammer
and the anvil.
To be caught b e t w e e n t w o
equally serious evils or dangers.:rs.
Cf. To be b e t w e e n t h e
devil and the deep b l u e sea.
22. Б Ы Т Ь НА ГОЛОВУ В Ы Ш Е
byt' n a golovu v y s h e
To be a head taller than someone.
To be on i n t i m a t e or f r i e n d l y
t e r m s with someone.
Cf. To be on a g o o d / f r i e n d l y
footing w i t h someone.
24 Б Ы Т Ь НА Н О Ж А Х
byt' na nozhakh
To be on the knives.
To display m u t u a l hostility.
Cf. To be at daggers drawn;
to be at swords' points
with someone.
25 Б Ы Т Ь НА СЕДЬМОМ Н Е Б Е
byt' па s ' e d ' m o m n ' e b ' e
То be in the seventh heaven.
26. Б Ы Т Ь HE В СВОЕЙ Т А Р Е Л К Е
byt' n'e v svoyev tar'elk' e
To be not in one's personal plate.
28. Б Ы Т Ь HE К О ДВОРУ
byt' n'e ко dvorii
To be unfit for the courtyard.
To be unsuitable, to be
u n w a n t e d , not meeting
certain r e q u i r e m e n t s ;
to be an outsider.
Cf. Not to fit in.
г
30. Б Ы Т Ь ОДЕТЫМ С
ИГОЛОЧКИ
byt' o d ' e t y m s
igolochki
To be dressed as if
straight from the pin.
To be dressed in a
b r a n d - n e w suit,
dress, etc.
Cf. To be dressed up;
as neat as a n e w pin.
31. Б Ы Т Ь у кого-либо ПОД Б А Ш М А К О М
byt' pod b a s h m a k o m
То be under someone's shoe.
To be u n d e r someone's
p r e d o m i n a n t influence,
to be in complete subjection
(usually said of a m a n w h o
is d o m i n a t e d b y his wife).
Cf. To get someone b y the
short hairs;
to be h e n - p e c k e d ; to be u n d e r
someone's t h u m b .
34
33. В А Л И Т Ь В ОДНУ К У Ч У
valit' v odnii kuchu
To throw everything
into one heap.
To put together, to
mix u p
indiscriminately; to
l u m p everything
together.
34. В А Л И Т Ь С Б О Л Ь Н О Й Г О Л О В Ы
НА З Д О Р О В У Ю
v a l i t ' s bol'noy golovy па zdorovuyu
То shift something from an ailing
head onto the one that doesn't ail.
To b l a m e someone else
f o r one's own fault.
Cf. To lay one's blame
at someone else's door;
to shift the b l a m e on
someone. 35
35. В А Л И Т Ь С Я И З Р У К
valittsa iz гик
То fall out of one's hands.
36
37. В Б И В А Т Ь В ГОЛОВУ
vbivat' v golovu
То hammer something into someone's
head.
To m a k e something completely u n d e r s t o o d
by emphatic repetition; to keep reiterating
something to m a k e it stick in someone's
mind.
Cf. To h a m m e r / d r i v e something
into someone's head.
38. В Б И В А Т Ь К Л И Н м е ж д у кем-либо
vbivat' klin
To drive a wedge between two groups
of people or two individuals.
To cause a b r e a c h or separation,
t o split apart; to m a k e people quarrel.
Cf. To drive a wedge.
37
39 В Е Р Т Е Т Ь С Я К А К Б Е Л К А В К О Л Е С Е
v ' e r t ' e t t s a как b'elka v kol'es'e
То turn like a squirrel in a wheel.
On t h e v e r g e of being u t t e r e d ;
s o m e t h i n g at t h e back of one's
m i n d one w a n t s to s a y b u t w h i c h
is not q u i t e w i t h i n recall of m e m o r y .
Cf. To be on the tip of one's tongue.
38
41. В Е Ш А Т Ь HOC
v'eshat' nos
To hang one's nose.
To be crest-fallen, discouraged,
despondent; to look dejected.
To choose or u s e one's
words w i t h
deliberation;
to give something a :
comprehensive \ члХам, I
evaluation. Ц^с w w j
Cf. To weigh our'»
words.
43. В З Д О Х Н У Т Ь СВОБОДНО
vzdokhnut' svobodno
То breathe freely.
44. В З Я Т Ь Б Ы К А З А РОГА
vz'at' byka za roga
To take the bull by the horns.
46 В З Я Т Ь С Е Б Я В Р У К И
vzyat' s'eb'a v ruki
To take oneself in one's hands.
41
47. В З Я Т Ь СЛОВО
vz'at' slovo
То take the word.
To rise to s p e a k in a debate
at one's own r e q u e s t or initiative.
Cf. To take the floor.
43
51 ВИЛАМИ НА ВОДЕ ПИСАНО
vilami па vod'e pisano
Written with a pitchfork
on the water.
52. В И С Е Т Ь В В О З Д У Х Е
vis'et' v vozdukh'e
To be hanging in the air.
44
1
/ 53. В И С Е Т Ь НА В О Л О С К Е
о- vis'et' па volosk'e
То be hanging on a hair.
N
То be in a perilous state
Cf. To h a n g by a thread;
to hang by a single hair.
54. В И С Е Т Ь НА Т Е Л Е Ф О Н Е
vis'et' na t'el'efon'e
To be hanging on the telephone.
To live in a d r e a m world,
to indulge in d a y - d r e a m s not
a t t e n d i n g to e v e r y d a y matters;
to let one's t h o u g h t s w a n d e r .
Cf. To be u p
in the clouds;
0\ to g o / b e
wool-gathering.
56. В И Т Ь В Е Р Е В К И из кого-либо
vit' v'er'ovki
To plait ropes out of someone.
To h a v e a strong influence on
someone;
to h a v e a person entirely
s u b s e r v i e n t to one's will.
Cf. To twist someone
a r o u n d one's little finger.
46
57. В К Л А Д Ы В А Т Ь ДУШУ во что-либо
vkladyvat' d u s h u
То put one's soul into something.
58. В Л Е Т Е Т Ь В К О П Е Е Ч К У
vl'et'et' v k o p ' e y e c h k u
To fly into a little kopeck.
To be deeply e n a m o u r e d of
someone.
Cf. To be lu-ad over heels in love.
60. В О Г Н А Т Ь кого-либо В К Р А С К У
vognat' v k r a s k u
To drive someone into the dye.
To c a u s e someone to blush
from embarrassment.
Cf. To p u t someone to the blush.
4X
61. В О Д И Т Ь кого-либо З А НОС
vodit' za nos
То lead someone by the nose.
62. ВОДОЙ HE Р А З О Л Ь Ё Ш Ь
vodoy n'e razol'yosh
You couldn't split them apart with water.
To be v e r y good friends, close to each other;
i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m each other; to be always together.
Cf. As thick as thieves.
АЯКСЫ
63. В О Д Ы НЕ З А М У Т И Т
One w h o has e x t r e m e l y d e m u r e
expression a n d m a n n e r ; one w h o
is quiet, meek, gentle.
Cf. He wouldn't h u r t a fly; he looks
as if b u t t e r w o u l d n ' t melt in his
mouth.
64. ВОЙТИ В И С Т О Р И Ю
voyti v istoriyu
To go down in history.
To become f a m o u s ; to be r e m e m b e r e d as a r e m a r k a b l e event.
Cf. To m a k e history; to go down in history.
65. ВОЙТИ В К О Л Е Ю
voyti v kol'eyu
То get into the rut.
To r e t u r n to one's h a b i t u a l w a y of life
to settle down into a n o r d i n a r y w a y
to get back into one's routine;
to r e t u r n to normal.
66. ВОЙТИ В Р О Л Ь
voyti v гоГ
То enter into one's role.
52
69. В П И С А Т Ь Н О В У Ю С Т Р А Н И Ц У
во что-либо
vpisat' novuyu s t r a n i t s u
То write a new page into something.
To m a k e a discovery; to do s o m e t h i n g
outstanding, p r o m i n e n t in s o m e field.
Cf. To add a f r e s h page to something.
Someone or s o m e t h i n g is quite
inferior to; not to be c o m p a r e d with, not
nearly as good as.
Cf. Not fit to hold a candle to someone
to be not a patch on someone.
53
71. В Р А С Т А Т Ь К О Р Н Я М И
vrastat' korn'ami
То take root.
To become p e r m a n e n t l y and f i r m l y
established; to become attached
to something; to get fully
accustomed to something.
54
73. ВСТАВАТЬ С П Е Т У Х А М И
vstavat's p'etukhami
То rise with the cocks.
74. В С Т А В Л Я Т Ь П А Л К И В К О Л Е С А
vstavl'at' palki v kol'osa
To put sticks in the wheels.
To deliberately i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e
execution of a plan, operation, etc.
Cf. To put a spoke in someone's w h e e l
to throw a s p a n n e r in t h e works;
to throw m o n k e y w r e n c h e s in the
machinery.
55
75. В С Т Р Е Ч А Т Ь В Ш Т Ы К И
vstr'echat' v s h t y k i
76. ВСТУПИТЬ В С Т Р О Й
vstupit' v stroy
To step into formation.
5(i
77. В УС НЕ ДУТЬ
v us n'e dut'
Not to blow into one's
moustache.
57
79. В Ы Б И Т Ь И З К О Л Е И
vybit' is kol'ei
То kick someone out of the rut.
80 В Ы Б И Т Ь И З СЕДЛА
vybit' is s'edla
To knock someone out of the
saddle.
To d e p r i v e someone of his
position of control; to u n d e r m i n e
someone's confidence in
s o m e t h i n g completely; to
d i s t u r b someone's
peace of mind.
58
81. В Ы Б Р О С И Т Ь И З ГОЛОВЫ
vybrosit' iz golovy
То throw something
out of one's head-
To cause to forget;
to dismiss f r o m
one's mind; to give
u p the idea.
Cf. To put s o m e t h i n g
out of one's head.
To exasperate, i r r i t a t e someone.
Cf. To drive someone out of his wits / m i n d ;
to put someone beside himself. 59
83. В Ы В О Д И Т Ь И З СТРОЯ
vyvodit' is stroya
То take out of formation.
84. В Ы В О Д И Т Ь кого-либо
НА ЧИСТУЮ ВОДУ
vyvodit' па c h i s t u y u vodu
То conduct someone
out onto pure water.
60
85. В Ы Е Д Е Н Н О Г О ЯЙЦА НЕ СТОИТ
v y y e d ' e n n o v o yaytsa n ' e stoit
Not worth an empty egg-shell.
86. В Ы Й Т И И З П Е Л Ё Н О К
vyyti is p'el'onok
To come out of one's swaddling-clothes
To be carried away
by excitement; to lose
control of oneself;
to be w r o u g h t up.
Cf. To lose one's t e m p e r ;
to fly off t h e handle.
88 В Ы Й Т И И З СТРОЯ
vyyti is stroya
То step out of formation.
To be disabled, to become
unserviceable; to break
down, to be p u t
out of action.
ж mm
62 m
89. В Ы Й Т И СУХИМ И З В О Д Ы
vyyti s u k h i m iz vody
To come out of the water dry.
To escape d e s e r v e d
p u n i s h m e n t ; to come out
w i t h one's r e p u t a t i o n
unblemished.
Cf. To come out u n s c a t h e d ;
to get off scot-free.
90. В Ы Л Е Т Е Т Ь В Т Р У Б У
vyl'et'et' v trubii
То fly through the chimney
To come to ruin
financially, to go
b a n k r u p t ; to have
no m o n e y at all.
Cf. To go b u s t /
smash.
63
91. В Ы Н Е С Т И что-либо НА СВОИХ П Л Е Ч А Х
vyn'esti па svoikh pl'echakh
То bear something on one's own shoulders.
92. В Ы Н О С И Т Ь C O P И З И З Б Ы
vynosit' sor iz izby
To carry the rubbish
out of one's hut.
94. В Ы Р В А Т Ь что-либо С К О Р Н Е М
vyrvat's korn'em
To tear something out with root.
To allege s o m e t h i n g which
has n o f o u n d a t i o n in actual
fact, absolutely
groundless; to fabricate.
Cf. To make something
up; to spin something out
of thin air.
To stand stiffly
erect; to s t a n d
at attention.
66
ГАДАТЬ НА К О Ф Е Й Н О Й ГУЩЕ
gadat' па kof'eynoy gtishche
То tell fortunes by coffee ground.
To m a k e
groundless
statements; to
m a k e wild
guesses.
Cf. To tell
someone's fortune
from the
tea-leaves in his
cup.
ГЛАДИТЬ кого-либо ПО Г О Л О В К Е
gladit' ро golovk'e
То stroke someone's little headN
To show
approval,
to gratify;
to show
indulgence
towards,
to p a n d e r
to someone.
Cf. To pat
someone
on the back. 67
ГЛАДИТЬ кого-либо
ПРОТИВ ШЕРСТИ
gladit' protiv
shersti
To stroke someone
against his hair.
To do or say s o m e t h i n g
c o n t r a r y to someone's
prejudices, opinions, or
habits.
Cf. To r u b / s t r o k e someone
the w r o n g w a y .
100. Г Л А З А Р А З Б Е Г А Ю Т С Я
glaza razb'egayutsa
One's eyes are running
in different directions.
One doesn't k n o w w h a t to look at first;
one is dazzled b y t h e sight of so m a n y
things; one is u n a b l e to concentrate
on one thing.
68
101. ГЛАЗА Р А З Г О Р Е Л И С Ь
glaza razgor'elis'
One's eyes have lit up.
To say something
at t h e w r o n g time;
to d i s t u r b someone
w h e n he is
concentrating on
something; to
distract someone
by talking.
Cf. To put someone
off.
103. ГОЛОВА ИДЁТ К Р У Г О М
golova id'ot k r a g o m •
One's head is going round.
104. ГОЛОДНЫЙ К А К В О Л К
golodny к а к volk
Hungry as a wolf.
Terribly hungry.
Cf. H u n g r y as a h u n t e r .
70
105. ГОРИТ В Р У К А Х
gorlt v r u k a k h
It is burning
in one's hands.
106. ГОТОВ С К В О З Ь З Е М Л Ю П Р О В А Л И Т Ь С Я
gotov skvoz' z'eml'u provalittsa
Ready to fall through the ground.
71
107. ГУСЕЙ Д Р А З Н И Т Ь
gus'ey draznit'
То tease the geese.
To retaliate as vigorously as
one is attacked; to give as good as one
got; to r e t u r n insult for insult.
Cf. To a n s w e r in kind.
109. Д А Л Ь Ш Е Е Х А Т Ь Н Е К У Д А
dal'she y e k h a t ' n ' e k u d a
You can't go farther.
73
111. Д Е Л А Т Ь И З МУХИ
СЛОНА
d'elat' iz m u k h i slona
To make an elephant
out of a fly.
To exaggerate t h e i m p o r t a n c e
of a small m a t t e r .
Cf. To m a k e a m o u n t a i n out
of a molehill.
74
113. Д Е Л А Т Ь что-либо С З А К Р Ы Т Ы М И Г Л А З А М И
d'elat' z z a k r y t y m i glazami
То do something with one's eyes closed.
75
115. Д Е Л И Т Ь Ш К У Р У
НЕУБИТОГО МЕДВЕДЯ
d'elit' shkiiru n'eubitovo
m'edv'ed'a
To divide the skin
of an unkilled bear.
116. Д Е Н Е Г К У Р Ы HE К Л Ю Ю Т
d'en'eg kiiry n'e kl'uyut
The hens don't peck at the money.
118. Д Е Р Ж А Т Ь К А М Е Н Ь З А П А З У Х О Й
derzhat' k a m ' e n ' za p a z u k h o y
To keep a stone inside one's shirt.
To adapt to circumstances, u n s c r u p u l o u s l y
altering one's convictions or behaviour; to a d j u s t
to t h e situation.
Cf. To trim one's sails to the wind.
120. Д Е Р Ж А Т Ь СЕБЯ В Р У К А Х
derzhat' s'eb'a v r u k a k h
To keep oneself in one's hands.
78
121. Д Е Р Ж А Т Ь УХО ВОСТРО
d'erzhat' u k h o vostro
To keep one's ear sharp.
To b e h a v e circumspectly,
to act w i t h caution;
to be on guard;
to m i s t r u s t someone.
Cf. To w a t c h one's step;
to be on the qui vive;
to keep one's eyes peeled.
122. Д Е Р Ж А Т Ь Я З Ы К ЗА З У Б А М И
d'erzhat' yazyk za z u b a m i
To hold one's tongue behind one's
teeth.
79
123. Д Е Р Ж А Т Ь С Я В ТЕНИ
d ' e r z h a t t s a v t'eni
То hold to the shade.
To b e h a v e so as to r e m a i n unnoticed.
Cf. To stay in the background.
124. Д Л И Н Н Ы Й Я З Ы К
dlinny yazyk
A long tongue.
To get something no
m a t t e r how difficult.
Cf. To go to the end of the earth
to get something.
128. ДО УПАДУ
do u p a d u
Till one falls down.
82
129. Д О Х О Д И Т Ь ДО чьих-либо У Ш Е Й
dokhodit' do ushey
То come to someone's ears.
To become k n o w n to someone.
Cf. To reach someone's ears.
130 Д Р О Ж И Т К А К О С И Н О В Ы Й Л И С Т
drozhit к а к osinovy list
One shakes like an aspen leaf.
One t r e m b l e s violently
(usually with excitement
or fear).
Cf. To shake/quake
like an aspen leaf. 83
131 ДУША Н А Р А С П А Ш К У
dusha naraspashku
One's soul is open (unbuttoned)
To be f r a n k , sincere, candid,
straightforward.
Cf. O p e n - h e a r t e d .
84
133. ДУША УШЛА В И Я Т К И
ducha ushla v p'atki
One's soul has gone into one's heels.
Someone is g r e a t l y a l a r m e d by w h a t is
h a p p e n i n g or anticipated to happen;
terribly frightened.
134. Д Ы Р Я В А Я ГОЛОВА
d y r ' a v a y a golova
A holey head.
136. Е Х А Т Ь З А Й Ц Е М
yekhat' zaytsem
To ride as a hare.
To travel w i t h o u t paying
for a ticket.
86
137. Ж Д А Т Ь У МОРЯ ПОГОДЫ
zhdat' u m o r ' a pogody
То wait by the sea for the weather
87
139. Ж И Т Ь К А К К О Ш К А С С О Б А К О Й
zhit' как koshka s sobakoy
То live like a cat and a dog.
To be constantly snapping,
bickering and quarrelling.
Cf. To fight like
cats and dogs.
140. Ж И Т Ь К А К НА В У Л К А Н Е
zhit' к а к па vulkan'e
То live as on a volcano.
To be in constant
anticipation of trouble.
Cf. To sit on a powder-keg;
to be living on t h e edge of a volcano;
to be sitting on a volcano.
38
141. Ж И Т Ь НА Ш И Р О К У Ю НОГУ
zhit' па s h i r o k u y u nogu
То live on a broad foot.
142. Ж И Т Ь П Р И П Е В А Ю Ч И
zhit' prip'evayuchi
To live humming a tune.
To live in comfortable
circumstances; to live happily.
Cf. To be in clover.
89
143. З А Б Л У Д И Т Ь С Я
В Т Р Ё Х СОСНАХ
zabludittsa v
tr'okh sosnakh
To lose one's way
among three pines.
i lose one's w a y
in broad daylight. 144. З А В А Р И Т Ь К А Ш У
zavarit' kashu
To cook kasha *
To s t a r t a complicated, risky
or troublesome affair.
Cf. To stir u p trouble;
to m a k e a m e s s of something.
4
kasha — a dish of cooked
grain or groats
90
145. З А Г Л Я Д Ы В А Т Ь В ДУШУ
zagl'adyvat' v dtishu
То peep into someone's soul.
To try to f a t h o m someone's
i n n e r m o s t thoughts; to t r y to
find out w h a t is in someone
else's heart.
146. З А Г О В А Р И В А Т Ь
ЗУБЫ
zagovarivat' ziiby
To talk someone's
teeth.
148. З А Д Е Т Ь ЗА Ж И В О Е
zad'et' za zhivoye
To graze a raw place.
92
149. З А Д И Р А Т Ь HOC
zadirat' nos
To lift up one's nose.
To act in a s u p e r i o r
and affected m a n n e r ;
to become p u f f e d up,
conceited.
Cl'. To t u r n u p one's
nose; to put on airs;
to cock one's nose.
150. З А Й Т И В Т У П И К
zayti v t u p i k
To come into a blind alley.
152. З А К О Л Д О В А Н Н Ы Й К Р У Г
zakoldovanny k r u g
A bewitched circle.
A hopeless situation;
a s t a t e of affairs f r o m which it's
difficult to f i n d a w a y out.
Cf. A vicious circle.
153 З А К Р А Д Ы В А Т Ь С Я В ДУШУ
zakradyvattsa v dushu
То creep into someone's soul.
To destroy something
that can be used as
evidence; to conceal
one's m o v e m e n t s
or activities.
Cf. To cover u p one's
tracks/traces.
156. З А М К Н У Т Ь С Я В С Е Б Е
z a m k m i t t s a v s'eb'e
To get locked up in one's own self.
96
157. З А М О Р И Т Ь Ч Е Р В Я Ч К А
zamorit' c h e r v ' a e h k a
То underfeed the little worm.
To h a v e a little to eat.
Cf. To h a v e a snack; to have a bite;
to take t h e edge off one's hunger.
158. З А Р У Б И Т Ь НА НОСУ
zarubit' n a nosu
To make a notch on one's nose.
To r e m e m b e r something firmly, f o r e v e r .
Cf. Bear it in mind;
put t h a t into your pipe and
s m o k e it.
159. З А Т К Н У Т Ь ЗА ПОЯС
z a t k n u t ' za poyas
То stick someone behind one's
belt.
To sur{5Sss, to outstrip,
to outdo someone.
Cf. To o u t s h i n e someone;
to knock someone
into a cocked hat.
60. З В Ё З Д С Н Е Б А HE ХВАТАЕТ
zv'ozd s n'eba n ' e k h v a t a y e t
He/she doesn't snatch stars from the sky.
Cf. To know
something
inside out.
99
163. З Н А Т Ь ВСЕ Х О Д Ы И В Ы Х О Д Ы
znat' vs'e khody i v y k h o d y
To know all the entrances and exits
To know all the details or
intricacies; to be
thoroughly familiar w i t h w h a t
is to be done u n d e r t h e
circumstances.
164. З Н А Т Ь К А К СВОИ
ПЯТЬ ПАЛЬЦЕВ
znat' как svoyi p'at' pal'tsev
То know something as icell
as one's own five fingers.
To know one's
limits;
to be moderate;
to know when to
stop.
166 З О Л О Т А Я СЕРЕДИНА
zolotaya s ' e r ' e d m a
The golden middle.
101
167. З О Л О Т О Е ДНО
zolotoye dno
A golden bottom.
An inexhaustible source of
wealth.
Cf. A gold mine.
A m a s t e r of one's craft.
Cf. A clever
pair of hands;
skillful / d e f t
fingers.
102
169. З О Н Д И Р О В А Т Ь ПОЧВУ
zondirovat' pochvu
То probe the ground.
To t r y cautiously to discover someone's
inclinations, to test t h e views of others,
to sound out one's chances of success beforehand.
170. И Г Р А Т Ь П Е Р В У Ю С К Р И П К У
igrat' p e r v u y u skripku
To play the first violin.
103
171. ИГРАТЬ С ОГНЁМ
igrat' s ogn'om
То play with fire.
104
173. ИДТИ В ОГОНЬ И В ВОДУ
ittf v ogon' i v vodu
To go into fire and water.
To w a n d e r aimlessly; to go
wherever
one's feet will carry one.
105
175. ИДТИ НА ПОВОДУ
itti па povodii
То walk on someone';
То be d e p e n d e n t on someone.
Cf. To be led by;
to be u n d e r s o m e o n e ' s thumb.
106
177. ИДТИ И Р О Т И В ТЕЧЕНИЯ
itti protiv t'echeniya
То до against the stream.
To act against the general t r e n d of
thought, opinion, custom, etc.
Cf. To go against
the t i d e / c u r r e n t / s t r e a m .
178. И З Л И Т Ь ДУШУ
izlit' diishu
To pour out one's soul.
107
179. И З М Е Р И Т Ь кого-либо
ВЗГЛЯДОМ
izm'erit' vzgl'adom
То measure someone with
one's glance.
They a r e j u s t about t h e s a m e
in disposition, tastes, etc.
Cf. Two of a kind; the s a m e
breed; cut f r o m the same cloth;
birds of one f e a t h e r .
108
181. И З Р Я Д А ВОН В Ы Х О Д Я Щ И Й
iz r ' a d a von v y k h o d ' a s h c h y
Going out of the line.
Outstanding, exceptional,
out of t h e ordinary.
Cf. Out of t h e c o m m o n r u n .
182. И М Е Т Ь ВЕС
im'et' v'es
To have weight.
109
183. И М Е Т Ь ГОЛОВУ НА П Л Е Ч А Х
im'et' golovu па plechakh
То have a head on one's shoulders.
184. И С К А Т Ь В Ч Е Р А Ш Н И Й Д Е Н Ь
iskat' v c h e r a s h n y d'en'
To search for yesterday.
To w a s t e t i m e on a hopeless quest.
Cf. To go on a wild-goose chase.
1 10
185. И С К А Т Ь / НЕ НАЙТИ
ДНЁМ С ОГНЁМ
i s k a t ' / n ' e nayti dn'om
s ogn'om
To search for someone or
something by day with н light.
111
187. И С К Р Ы И З Г Л А З
ПОСЫПАЛИСЬ
i s k r y iz glaz posypalis'
Sparks began to pour out of one's
eyes.
112
189. И С П О Р Т И Т Ь ВСЮ М У З Ы К У
isportit' vs'u miizyku
То spoil all the music.
1 13
191 И Щ И ВЕТРА В П О Л Е
ishchi v ' e t r a v pol'e
Look for the wind in the field.
192. К А К А Р Ш И Н П Р О Г Л О Т И Л
к а к arshin proglotil
As if one had swallowed an
arshin*.
U n n a t u r a l l y erect, quite stiff;
rigid, u p r i g h t in bearing.
Cf. As stiff as a poker.
4
a r s h i n — a r u l e r one arshin in
length equivalent
to 28 inches.
I! I
193. К А К Б Е З Р У К
к а к b'ez гик
As if without the hands.
194. К А К В А П Т Е К Е
как v apt'ek'e
Just like at the chemist's.
115
195. К А К В ВОДУ ГЛЯДЕЛ
к а к v vodu gl'ad'el
Like having looked into the water.
As if s o m e t h i n g had been k n o w n
b e f o r e h a n d ; someone was able to
f o r e s e e f u t u r e events.
Cf. He m u s t have second sight.
196. К А К В ВОДУ О П У Щ Е Н Н Ы Й
к а к v vodu opiishchenny
As if lowered into the water.
Dejected, downcast,
depressed, crest-fallen.
Cf. To be down in the
116 chops / m o u t h .
197. К А К В Е Т Р О М
СДУЛО
как v'etrom sdulo
As if the wind blew
it away.
Someone or something has
rapidly and mysteriously
d i s a p p e a r e d without a trace.
Cf. To vanish into thin air.
198. К А К ГОРА С П Л Е Ч С В А Л И Л А С Ь
к а к gora s pl'ech svalilas'
As if a mountain had fallen off one's shoulders.
117
199. К А К ГРОМ СРЕДИ ЯСНОГО НЕБА
к а к grom sr'edi yasnovo n ' e b a
Like a thunder-clap out of a clear sky.
Suddenly, u n e x p e c t e d l y (said of
a s u d d e n and surprising event generally of
an u n p l e a s a n t nature).
Cf. Like a bolt from the
b l u e / o u t of a clear sky.
202. К А К З А К А М Е Н Н О Й СТЕНОЙ
к а к za k a m ' e n n o y st'enoy
As though behind a stone wall.
119
203. К А К И З - П О Д З Е М Л И В Ы Р О С
к а к is-pod z'emli vyros
As if grown up from under the
ground.
204. К А К И З РОГА И З О Б И Л И Я
к а к iz roga izobiliya
As if out of the horii of plenty.
In great plenty, in a b u n d a n c e .
120
205. К А К К О Р О В А Я З Ы К О М С Л И З А Л А
к а к korova yazykom slizala
As if a cow has licked it off with its tongue.
122
209. К А К П О МАСЛУ
к а к po m a s l u
Like sliding on oil.
210. К А К ПО НОТАМ Р А З Ы Г Р А Т Ь
к а к ро n o t a m razygrat'
As if played from music.
To accomplish something without a n y difficulty, efficiently,
according to a c a r e f u l l y thought-out plan; to p e r f o r m something
with clockwork precision.
123
211. К А К Р У К О Й СНЯЛО
к а к r u k o y sn'alo
As if taken off by the hand.
S u d d e n l y gone, completely
disappeared as if by magic
(usually said of pain or fatigue).
212. К А К Р Ы Б А В ВОДЕ
к а к r y b a v vod'e
Like a fish in water.
W i t h o u t p r o d u c i n g a n y effect;
w i t h o u t p a y i n g t h e slightest a t t e n t i o n .
Cf. L i k e w a t e r off a d u c k ' s back.
214. К А К С Е Л Ь Д Е Й В Б О Ч К Е
как sel'd'ey v bochk'e йтиеттй
Like herrings in a barrel.
T h e p l a c e is so c r o w d e d t h a t one
c a n ' t p u s h one's w a y t h r o u g h .
Cf. P a c k e d like s a r d i n e s .
125
215. К А К С К В О З Ь З Е М Л Ю П Р О В А Л И Л С Я
к а к skvoz' z'eml'u provalils'a
As if someone or something has fallen through the ground.
126
217. К А К Ч Е Р Т ОТ ЛАДАНА
к а к chort ot l a d a n a
Like the devil running away from
the incense.
218. К А М Е Н Ь НА СЕРДЦЕ
k a m ' e n ' na sertse
A stone on one's heart.
Someone feels d e p r e s s e d or u n h a p p y .
Cf. A heavy heart; to have
something weigh upon one's heart. 127
219. К А М Е Н Ь С ДУШИ СВАЛИЛСЯ
k a m e n ' s dushy svalils'a
A stone has fallen off one's heart.
220. К А М Н Я НА К А М Н Е HE ОСТАВИТЬ
k a m n ' a na k a m n ' e n ' e ostavit'
Not to leave one stone upon another stone.
128
221. К А П Л Я В МОРЕ
kapl'a v mor'e
A drop in the sea.
222. К А Т А Т Ь С Я К А К С Ы Р В М А С Л Е
k a t a t t s a к а к syr v masl'e
To be rolling like cheese in butter.
To be comfortably off.
224 К А Ш И HE С В А Р И Ш Ь
с кем-либо
k a s h y n ' e svarish
You won't cook kashct with someone.
130
225. К И Д А Е Т В Ж А Р
k i d a y e t v zhar
Thrown into a heat.
H e / s h e becomes e x t r e m e l y
agitated or anxious; h e / s h e feels
hot all over.
226. К Л Е В А Т Ь НОСОМ
kl'evat' nosom
To peck with one's nose.
, To nod; to be drowsy.
131
227. К Л И Н К Л И Н О М В Ы Ш И Б А Т Ь
klin klmom vyshybat'
То drive out one wedge with another.
230 К О Ш К И С К Р Е Б У Т НА ДУШЕ
koshki s k r ' e b u t na d u s h e
Cats are scratching on one's soul.
232. К Р А С И В Ы Й Ж Е С Т
krasivy zhest
A fine gesture.
134
233. К Р А С Н Ы Й К А К Р А К
k r a s n y как гак
Red as a lobster.
Red-faced; f l u s h e d w i t h anger
or e m b a r r a s s m e n t .
Cf. R e d as a lobster.
135
235. К Р И Ч А Т Ь о чём-либо НА В С Е Х П Е Р Е К Р Ё С Т К А Х
krichat' па vs'ekh p ' e r ' e k r ' o s t k a k h
То shout about something at all cross-roads.
236. К Р О В Ь С М О Л О К О М
k r o v ' s molokom
Blood with milk.
Someone w i t h fresh
complexion, in t h e best of
health; one who looks quite well.
Cf. The very picture
of health.
136
237 КТО В ЛЕС, К Т О ПО ДРОВА
kto v l'es kto ро drova
Some to the forest, some to gather firewood.
238. К У Д А В Е Т Е Р ДУЕТ
k u d a v'et'er d u y e t
Whither the wind is blowing.
240. К У Р А М НА СМЕХ
k u r a m na s m ' e k h
For the hens to laugh at.
138
241. К У С А Т Ь С Е Б Е Л О К Т И
kusat' s'eb'e lokti
То bite one's own elbows.
242 Л Ё Г К А Я Р У К А
l'okhkaya ruka
A light hand.
S o m e o n e is known to b r i n g
luck to any kind of u n d e r t a k i n g .
139
243. Л Е Г О К НА ПОДЪЕМ
l'ogok па pod'yom
Easy on the ascent.
A l w a y s r e a d y and willing to go
s o m e w h e r e or do something.
Cf. Quick off the m a r k ; quick on
one's toes.
244. Л Е Д ТРОНУЛСЯ
l'od tronuls'a
The ice has begun to break.
140
245. Л Е З Т Ь В Б У Т Ы Л К У
l'ezt' v b u t y l k u
То climb into the bottle.
246. Л Е З Т Ь В ДУШУ
l'ezt' v d u s h u
To climb into someone's soul.
141
247. ЛЕЗТЬ ИЗ К О Ж И ВОН
l'ezt' iz kozhy von
To climb out of one's skin.
142
249. Л И Т Ь К А К И З ВЕДРА
lit' к а к iz v'edra
То pour as from a pail.
To r a i n heavily.
Cf. It r a i n s cats and dogs.
250. Л И Т Ь К Р О К О Д И Л О В Ы
СЛЁЗЫ
lit' krokodilovy sl'ozy
To shed crocodile tears.
To complain hypocritically;
to show insincere, false
sorrow.
Cf. To shed
crocodile tears.
НЕРОН
143
251. Л О В И Т Ь НА ЛЕТУ
lovit' па l'etu
То catch something in flight.
To be quick to c o m p r e h e n d or to
learn something; to g r a s p s o m e t h i n g
easily, at once.
Cf. To be quick on t h e u p t a k e .
To m a k e someone do or promise to do
w h a t he said he would do.
Cf. To take someone at his word.
144
253. Л О В И Т Ь Р Ы Б У В МУТНОЙ ВОДЕ
lovit' r y b u v m u t n o y vod'e
To catch fish in turbid water.
To t h i n k hard, especially on
a difficult problem.
Cf. To r a c k / c u d g e l one's b r a i n s
over something; to break one's
head over something.
145
255. Л О М А Т Ь К О П Ь Я
lomat' kop'ya
То break spears.
То fight for something; to a r g u e heatedly.
Cf. To break a lance w i t h someone over something;
to cross swordsi
256. ЛОМИТЬСЯ В О Т К Р Ы Т У Ю Д В Е Р Ь
lomittsa v o t k r y t u y u dv'er'
To break through an open door.
To assert or t r y to prove s o m e t h i n g a l r e a d y w e l l - k n o w n
and undisputed.
Cf. To force a t / k n o c k
at an open door.
146
257. Л О П Н У Т Ь К А К М Ы Л Ь Н Ы Й
ПУЗЫРЬ
l o p n u t ' к а к m y l ' n y puzyr'
То burst like a soap-bubble.
258. М А С Т Е Р НА ВСЕ Р У К И
m a s t ' e r n a vs'e ruki
A master at all hands.
147
259. М А Х Н У Т Ь Р У К О Й
makhnut' rukoy
То wave one's hand at something or someone.
148
261. М Е Д В Е Ж Ь Я УСЛУГА
m ' e d v ' e z h ' y a usltiga
A bear's service.
262. МЕНЯТЬ К У К У Ш К У НА Я С Т Р Е Б А
3 m'en'at' k u k u s h k u па y a s t r ' e b a вт
То exchange a cuckoo for a hawk.
To select t h e worst f r o m a m o n g t h e
worse; to be out of one's reckoning;
to miscalculate.
Cf. To back the w r o n g horse. 149
263. М Е Р И Т Ь НА СВОЙ А Р Ш И Н
m'erit' па svoy a r s h y n
То measure by one's own arshin*.
To rage, to fulminate, to s p e a k w i t h
t h r e a t s a n d anger.
Cf. To r a n t and rave; to h u r l
150 thunderbolts; to blow one's top.
265. М И Р ТЕСЕН
mir t'es'en
The world is cramped.
You m a y u n e x p e c t e d l y r u n
across a p e r s o n you know
anywhere.
Cf. It's a small world.
МНОГО В О Д Ы У Т Е К Л О
mnogo vody u t ' e k l o
Much water has flowed away.
152
269. МОЯ ХАТА С К Р А Ю
moya k h a t a s krayu
My hut is on the periphery.
This has
nothing to do with m e ;
it's no business /
c o n c e r n of mine.
270. М У Р А Ш К И Б Е Г А Ю Т ПО С П И Н Е
m u r a s h k i b'egayut po spin'e
Little ants run along one's back.
e ?
153
271. МУТИТЬ ВОДУ
mutit' vodu
To muddy the water.
To deliberately m u d d l e m a t t e r s ;
to stir u p trouble; to c o n f u s e things.
272. МУХИ НЕ О Б И Д И Т
rmikhi n'e obidit
He/she wouldn't hurt a fly.
154
273 МЫШИНАЯ ВОЗНЯ
m y s h y n a y a vozn'a
/ Mice's fussing.
274. Н А Б И Т Ь Р У К У
nabit' ruku
То strengthen one's hand.
155
275. НАБРАТЬ В РОТ ВОДЫ
n a b r a t ' v rot vody
То fill one's mouth with water.
Someone or something is e x t r e m e l y
valuable or useful.
Cf. To be worth o n e ' s / i t s weight in gold.
156
277. Н А В О С Т Р И Т Ь Л Ы Ж И
То flee, to r u n away.
Cf. To t a k e to one's heels; to
show a clean pair of heels.
157
279. Н А В Я З Н У Т Ь В З У Б А Х
n a v ' a z n u t ' v zubakh
То get stuck in one's teeth.
158
281. НАДУТЬ Г У Б Ы
nadut' guby
То blow up one's lips.
Cf. To pout.
282. Н А Ж И М А Т Ь НА ВСЕ
КНОПКИ
n a z h i m a t ' na vs'e
knopki
To press on all the.
buttons
160
285. Н А Й Т И СЕБЯ
n a y t i s'eb'a
To find oneself.
286. Н А К Л Е И В А Т Ь Я Р Л Ы К И
nakl'eivat' yarlyki
To stick labels on someone or something.
To give a s t a n d a r d or s t e r e o t y p e d estimation of someone or
something (usually of a n e g a t i v e n a t u r e ) .
Cf^To pin a label on someone.
161
287 НА Л Б У НАПИСАНО
па lbu napisano
It's written on the forehead.
288. НАЛОМАТЬ Д Р О В
nalomat' drov
To break up some firewood
To commit follies;
to m a k e a mess of things.
162
289. Н А М Ы Л И Т Ь ШЕЮ
namylit' sheyu
То soap someone's neck.
To r e p r i m a n d or criticize
someone sharply; to give
someone a good rating.
Cf. To haul someone over the
coals; to give someone a
dressing-down.
163
291. Н А П У С Т И Т Ь
ТУМАНУ
napustit' tumanu
То let the fog in.
To o b s c u r e t h e issue;
to befog s o m e t h i n g ;
to c o n f u s e things;
to t r y to m i s l e a d s o m e o n e
292. Н А С О Л И Т Ь к о м у - л и б о
nasolit'
To salt someone.
To spite; to c a u s e s o m e o n e
a n n o y a n c e ; to do s o m e o n e
a bad turn.
164
293. НАСТУПАТЬ кому-либо НА П Я Т К И
n a s t u p a t ' па p'atki
То step on someone's heels.
294. НАХОДИТЬСЯ НА Т О Ч К Е З А М Е Р З А Н И Я .
nakhodittsa na tochk'e z a m ' e r z a n i y a
To be at freezing-point.
To r e m a i n in t h e s a m e state or
condition w i t h o u t developing
or progressing; to be at a standstill.
165
295. НАШЛА КОСА НА К А М Е Н Ь
nashla kosa na k a m ' e n '
The scythe has struck a stone.
166
297. НЕ В И Д Е Т Ь Д А Л Ь Ш Е СВОЕГО НОСА
j. n'e vid'et' d a l ' s h e svoyevo nosa
__ Not to see farther than one's nose.
298. НЕ В И Д Е Т Ь ЛЕСА ЗА Д Е Р Е В Ь Я М И
n'e videt' 1'esa za d'er'ev'yami
Not to see the wood beyond the trees.
167
299. НЕ ВИДЕТЬ СВЕТА Б Е Л О Г О
n ' e videt' sv'eta b'elovo
Not to see the white world.
S o m e t h i n g is about to h a p p e n v e r y
soon.
Cf. Near at h a n d .
302. НЕ Л Е З Т Ь ЗА СЛОВОМ В К А Р М А Н
n ' e l'ezt' za slovom v k a r m a n
Not to climb for a word into one's pocket.
169
303. НЕМ К А К Р Ы Б А
n'em как ryba
Dumb as a fish.
Someone says v e r y little or
nothing; reserved,
uncommunicative.
Cf. C l o s e / d u m b as an oyster;
silent as a grave; tight-lipped.
304 HE МЫТЬЕМ, Т А К К А Т А Н Ь Е М
n'e m y t ' y o m tak k a t a n ' y e m
If not by washing, then by mangling.
170
305. НЕ Н А Х О Д И Т Ь С Е Б Е МЕСТА
n'e nakhodit' s ' e b ' e m ' e s t a
То be unable to find a place for oneself.
306. НЕ Н Ю Х А Т Ь П О Р О Х У
n'e n ' u k h a t ' porokhu
Not to smell gun-powder.
171
307. НЕ ОТ М И Р А СЕГО
n'e ot mira s'evo
Not of this world.
172
309. НЕ УМЕТЬ ДВУХ СЛОВ СВЯЗАТЬ
n'e um'et' d v u k h slov sv'azat'
To be unable to tie two words
together.
310. НЕ Ф У Н Т И З Ю М У
n ' e f u n t iz'umu
That's not a pound of
raisins.
174
313. НИ ДВА НИ П О Л Т О Р А
ni dva ni poltora
Neither two nor one and a half.
314. НИ Ж И В НИ МЕРТВ
ni zhiv ni m'ortv
Neither alive nor dead
Despondent; p e t r i f i e d w i t h fear or a s t o n i s h m e n t .
Cf. More dead than alive. 175
315. Н И З А К А К И Е К О В Р И Ж К И
ni za k a k i y e k o v r i z h k i
Not for any gingerbread.
316. НИ К О Л А Н И Д В О Р А
ni kola ni d v o r a
Neither a picket nor a y a r d .
To be v e r y poor; not to h a v e a
roof over one's h e a d .
1 76 Cf. To h a v e n e i t h e r h o u s e nor h o m e .
317. НИ К СЕЛУ НИ К ГОРОДУ
ni к s'elu ni к gorodu
Neither to the village nor to the town.
Cf. N e i t h e r here
nor t h e r e .
318. НИ НА ЧТО HE П О Х О Ж Е
ni na shto n'e pokhozhe
It doesn't look like anything.
Very bad; unthinkable; u n h e a r d of; like nothing on earth;
t h a t won't do;
that's no good
at all.
177
319. НИ ПУХА НИ ПЕРА!
ni pukha ni p'era
Neither down nor feather.
Good luck!
320. НИ Р Ы Б А НИ МЯСО
ni r y b a ni m'aso
Neither fish nor meat.
A mediocre person.
Cf. Neither fish, flesh nor fowl.
178
321 Н О Ж О С Т Р Ы Й
nozh ostry
A sharp knife.
Something extremely u n p l e a s a n t
or painful; something is t h e source
of annoyance, grief, etc.
Н О М Е Р HE П Р О Й Д Ё Т
n o m ' e r n ' e proyd'ot
The number won't pass through.
179
323. НОСА НЕ ВЫСУНУТЬ
nosa n'e vysunut'
Not to peep out one's nose.
O n e can't go outside.
Cf. One can't even
stick his nose out of
the house.
To do something useless;
to w a s t e time.
Cf. To plough the sand.
180
1976
325. Н У Ж Е Н К А К П Р О Ш Л О Г О Д Н И Й СНЕГ
mizhen к а к proshlogodny sn'eg
As needed as last year's snow.
T h e r e is no need to.
326. О Б В Е С Т И В О К Р У Г П А Л Ь Ц А
obv'esti vokrug pal'tsa
To lead someone round a finger.
To promise
someone a
fortune; to
make
extravagant
promises.
Cf. To
promise the
moon.
328. О Б И В А Т Ь ПОРОГИ
obivat' porogi
To knock against the thresholds.
182
329. О Б Р А Т И Т Ь С Я HE ПО А Д Р Е С У
obratittsa n'e po a d r ' e s u
To apply to the wrong address.
To come to the w r o n g p e r s o n
or place to get w h a t one requires.
Cf. To come to t h e w r o n g shop.
330. ОДИН К А К П Е Р С Т
odin к а к p'erst
Alone as a finger.
334. О К А З А Т Ь С Я М Е Ж Д У Н Е Б О М И З Е М Л Ё Й
okazattsa m ' e z h d u n ' e b o m i z'eml'oy
To find oneself between the sky and the earth.
185
335. О К А Т И Т Ь ХОЛОДНОЙ водой
okatit' kholodnoy vodoy
То pour cold water over someone.
To disparage someone,
to discourage someone's enthusiasm; to d a m p someone's
a r d o u r ; to throw someone into confusion.
Cf. To t h r o w / pour cold w a t e r o n / o v e r
someone.
336. О К У Н У Т Ь С Я С ГОЛОВОЙ
o k u n u t t s a z golovoy
To plunge headlong.
To become u t t e r l y a b s o r b e d / e n g r o s s e d
in something; to be deeply immersed,
irrevocably involved.
340. ОСТАТЬСЯ У Р А З Б И Т О Г О К О Р Ы Т А
ostattsa u razbitovo koryta
To be left at the broken wash-tub.
342. О Т К Р Ы В А Т Ь А М Е Р И К У
otkryvat' am'eriku
To discover America.
189
343. О Т К Р Ы В А Т Ь кому-либо ГЛАЗА
на к о г о - л и б о / ч т о - л и б о
otkryvat' glaza
То open someone's eyes to someone or something.
344. О Т К Р Ы В А Т Ь кому-либо Д У Ш У / С Е Р Д Ц Е
otkryvat' d u s h u / s ' e r t s e
To open one's soul / heart to someone.
190
345. О Т К Р Ы В А Т Ь СВОИ К А Р Т Ы
otkryvat' svoyi karty
To show one's cards.
346. ОТКУДА С Ы Р - Б О Р З А Г О Р Е Л С Я
otkuda syr-bor zagor'els'a
That's how the wet pine forest caught fire
191
347. П А Л Е Ц О П А Л Е Ц НЕ У Д А Р И Т Ь
pal'ets о pal'ets n'e udarit'
348 П А Л К А О ДВУХ К О Н Ц А Х
palka о d v u k h k o n t s a k h
A staff with two ends.
192
349 ПАЛЬЦА В РОТ НЕ КЛАДИ
pal'tsa v rot n'e kladi
Don't put your finger
in his/her mouth.
193
351. П А Л Ь Ч И К И О Б Л И Ж Е Ш Ь
pal'chiki oblizhesh
You'll lick your fingers clean.
352. ПЕРВАЯ Л А С Т О Ч К А
p ' e r v a y a lastochka
The first swallow.
194
353 П Е Р Е Г И Б А Т Ь П А Л К У
p'er'egibat' palku
То benfi the stick.
354. П Е Р Е Л И В А Т Ь И З ПУСТОГО В П О Р О Ж Н Е Е
p'erelivat' is pustovo v porozhn'eye
To pour something from one empty vessel into another.
To w a s t e time on s o m e t h i n g useless; to w a s t e t i m e in
useless debate; to engage in idle chatter.
Cf. To mill t h e w i n d ; to beat t h e air.
195
355. П Е Р Е Л О М И Т Ь С Е Б Я
p'er'elomit' seb'a
То break oneself in two.
To m a s t e r oneself; to conquer
one's temper; t o c h a n g e one's
behaviour, character, habits; to
restrain or s u p p r e s s one's feelings;
to overcome oneself or s o m e t h i n g
in oneself.
356. П Е Р Е М Ы В А Т Ь К О С Т О Ч К И
p ' e r ' e m y v a t ' kostochki
To wash someone's bones.
Cf. To p i c k / p u l l
1У6 someone to pieces.
357. ПЕРЕПОЛНИТЬ
ЧАШУ ТЕРПЕНИЯ
p'er'epolnit' chashu t'erp'eniya
То overfill the cup of pat ience.
197
359. ПИСАТЬ К А К К У Р И Ц А ЛАПОЙ
pisat' к а к kuritsa lapoy
То write like a chicken with its claw.
To w r i t e quite indecipherably.
Cf. One's h a n d w r i t i n g
is like chicken tracks.
360. ПЛАВАТЬ К А К Т О П О Р
plavat' как topor
To swim like an axe.
To be a poor s w i m m e r or not
to be able to s w i m at all.
Cf. To swim like a stone / l i k e
a tailor's goose. cs»
198
361. П Л А К А Т Ь С Я В Ж И Л Е Т К У
p l a k a t t s a v zhil'etku
То weep into someone's waistcoat.
To bewail one's f a t e seeking s y m p a t h y or
consolation.
Cf. To cry on someone's shoulder.
199
363. П Л Е В А Т Ь В П О Т О Л О К
pl'evat' v potolok
То spit at the ceiling.
364. П Л Е С Т И С Ь К А К Ч Е Р Е П А Х А
pl'estis' k a k c h e r ' e p a k h a
To crawl like a tortoise.
200
365. П Л Ы Т Ь ПО Т Е Ч Е Н И Ю
plyt' ро t ' e c h e n i v u
То до down stream.
То do or t h i n k as m o s t people do; to allow one's actions a n d
principles to be guided solely by t h e prevailing t r e n d ;
to be carried a w a y by t h e course of events.
Cf. To go/ s w i m w i t h the
s t r e a m / current; to follow t h e crowd.
366. П О Б Ы В А Т Ь В чьей-либо Ш К У Р Е
pobyvat' v shkur'e
To be in someone else's hide.
To be in t h e s a m e u n p l e a s a n t position
or a d v e r s e circumstances as someone else.
Cf. To be in someone's s h o e s / s k i n .
201
367. ПОГНАТЬСЯ З А ДВУМЯ З А Й Ц А М И
pognattsa za d v u m ' a
zaytsami
To run after two hares.
To p u r s u e two different
aims simultaneously.
202
369. ПОДВЕРНУТЬСЯ ПОД Р У К У
p o d v ' e r n u t t s a pod r u k u
То turn up under one's hand.
Something t u r n s u p
w i t h o u t one's h a v i n g
to m a k e a special search for it.
Cf. To come to h a n d .
203
371. П О Д В О Д Н Ы Е К А М Н И
podvodnyye kamni
Under-water rocks.
A difficulty w h i c h is h a r d to foresee; a h i d d e n obstacle; a snag.
372. ПОД Г О Р Я Ч У Ю Р У К У
pod gor'achuyu r u k u
Under a hot hand.
205
375. П О Д Л О Ж И Т Ь С В И Н Ь Ю
podlozhit' svin'yu
То lay a pig near someone.
To do a vile t h i n g to someone
on t h e sly.
Cf. To play a d i r t y / m e a n
trick on someone.
376. ПОДНЕСТИ П И Л Ю Л Ю
podn'esti pil'ul'u
To bring a pill Jo someone.
> <5
To say or do s o m e t h i n g
unpleasant, annoying,
insulting.
Cf. To give someone a b i t t e r
pill to swallow.
206
377. ПОДНИМАТЬ НА Щ И Т
podnimat' па shchit
То raise something or someone
up on the shield.
378. П О Д Н О С О М
pod nosom
Under one's nose.
To d i s t u r b everyone; to raise t h e
alarm; to m a k e e v e r y o n e be
more active; to rouse everyone
to action.
208
381. П О Д Р Е З А Т Ь кому-либо К Р Ы Л Ь Я
podr'ezat' k r y l ' y a
То clip someone's wings.
382. ПОД С У Р Д И Н К У
pod s u r d i n k u
With a mute.
Softly, gently;
on t h e quiet;
on the sly;
w i t h o u t being noticed
209
383. П О Ж И Н А Т Ь ПЛОДЫ
pozhinat' plody
То reap the fruits.
To experience t h e results of
one's actions, deeds,
behaviour.
Cf. To r e a p t h e f r u i t s of
something.
384. ПОЙМАТЬ НА У Д О Ч К У
poymat' na udochku
To catch someone on one's fishing line.
210
385. П О К А З А Т Ь ,
ГДЕ Р А К И З И М У Ю Т
pokazat' gd'e r a k i z i m u y u t
To show someone where the
crayfish winter.
To teach someone a lesson; to p u n i s h someone; to scold
s o m e o n e severely.
Cf. To m a k e it hot
for someone;
to show someone
a thing or two.
386. П О К А З А Т Ь КОГТИ
pokazat' kogti
То show one's claws.
To show hostility, anger, or r e s e n t m e n t ;
to display a t h r e a t e n i n g attitude.
Cf. To show one's teeth.
211
387 П О К А З А Т Ь П Я Т К И
pokazat' p'atki
То show one's heels.
To r u n away; to escape.
Cf. To take to one's heels;
to show a clean pair of heels;
to take flight.
388. П О К А З Ы В А Т Ь Т О В А Р ЛИЦОМ
pokazyvat' tovar litsom
To show one's goods from the right side.
390. П О Л О Ж А Р У К У НА СЕРДЦЕ
polozha r u k u na sertse
With one's hand on one's heart.
To say s o m e t h i n g q u i t e frankly,
candidly, sincerely.
392. П О Л О Ж И Т Ь кого-либо
НА О Б Е Л О П А Т К И
polozhit' па ob'e lopatki
То put someone on both
his shoulder-blades.
214
393. П О Л О Ж И Т Ь чтй-либо ПОД СУКНО
polozhit' pod s u k n o
То put something under the cloth.
To delay or postpone
consideration of an official
paper; to pigeon-hole a
request or an application;
to shelve a problem or a plan
215
V
395. ПО П А Л Ь Ц А М М О Ж Н О СОСЧИТАТЬ
ро pal'tsam mozhno soshchitat'
They can be counted on one's fingers.
396. П О П А С Т Ь В П Е Р Е П Л Е Т
popast' v per'epl'ot
To get into a binding.
216
397. ПОПАСТЬ В Т О Ч К У
popast' v tochku
То hit the right point.
217
399. П О П А С Т Ь кому-либо НА З У Б О К
popast' па zubok
То find oneself on someone's little tooth.
To be s u b j e c t e d to biting or
sarcastic criticism; to become the
butt of ridicule.
Cf. To be torn to pieces.
400. ПОПАСТЬ HE В Б Р О В Ь , А В Г Л А З
popast' n'e v brov' a v glaz
To hit not the eyebrow but the eye.
To say or do s o m e t h i n g t h a t is far f r o m -
being correct or quite out of place; to
a n s w e r irrelevantly.
Cf. To g e t / t a k e the
w r o n g sow by
:
t h e ear; ^
to be w i d e of / w a y
off the m a r k .
To permit
oneself to be
fooled; to fall for a h o a x or trap; to
accept a proposal, an offer, etc. m a d e
to t e m p t one to do something.
404. П О Р О Х У HE ХВАТАЕТ
porokhu n'e k h v a t a y e t
Not enough gunpowder.
220
405. ПОСАДИТЬ кого-либо В ГАЛОШУ
posadit' v galoshu
То put someone into a galosh.
To p u t someone into
an e m b a r r a s s i n g
or u n c o m f o r t a b l e
situation; to be m a d e f u n
of; to get someone into
a fix; to be in an
a w k w a r d predicament.
406. П О С Л Е Д Н И Й К Р И К МОДЫ
posl'edny krik m o d y
The latest cry of fashion.
221
407. ПОСЛЕДНЯЯ К А П Л Я
posl'edn'aya kapl'a
The last drop.
T h e final circumstance of a
series t h a t m a k e s a situation
unbearable.
Cf. The last straw.
222
m —
••—
409. ПОСЛЕ Д О Ж Д И Ч К А В ЧЕТВЕРГ
posl'e dozhdichka v chetv'erg
After a little rain on a Thursday.
No one k n o w s w h e n .
Cf. When pigs fly; w h e n two F r i d a y s come together.
To a n n o u n c e or s t a t e s o m e t h i n g
categorically; to say s o m e t h i n g in a
m a n n e r t h a t leaves no room
for doubt; to ask s o m e t h i n g directly,
openly; to put a question point-blank.
Cf. Not to mince words.
223
411. П О С Т А В И Т Ь ВСЕ
НА К А Р Т У
postavit' vs'o па
kartu
То put everything
on the card.
412. П О С Т А В И Т Ь кого-либо В Т У П И К
postavit' v tupik
To put someone in a blind alley.
To bewilder, to puzzle, to n o n p l u s
someone; to t h r o w someone into
confusion.
224
413. П О С Т А В И Т Ь К Р Е С Т
на к о м - л и б о / ч ё м - л и б о
postavit' kr'est
То put a cross on
someone / something.
416. П Р И Б И Р А Т Ь К РУКАМ
pribirat' к r u k a m
To take something in one's
hands.
226
417. П Р И В Е С Т И кого-либо В С Е Б Я
priv'esti v seb'a
То bring someone into oneself.
To cause someone to
regain consciousness; to revive someone.
Cf. To bring someone r o u n d / t o .
418. П Р И Л О Ж И Т Ь Р У К У к чему-
либо
prilozhit' r u k u
To put one's hand to something.
To be actively involved in
s o m e t h i n g (usually reprehensible,
blameworthy).
Cf. To h a v e / t a k e a hand in
something; to have a finger in the
pie.
227
419. П Р И Н И М А Т Ь ЗА ЧИСТУЮ МОНЕТУ
p r i n i m a t ' za chistuyu m o n ' e t u
To take for a pure coin.
420. П Р И П И Р А Т Ь
кого-либо К СТЕНКЕ
pripirat' k s t ' e n k ' e
To press someone against the
wall.
To m a k e use of s o m e t h i n g without
adequate grounds; to advance f a r -
fetched a r g u m e n t s .
Cf. To drag s o m e t h i n g in.
422. П Р О Б Н Ы Й Ш А Р
probny shar
A trial ball.
An a p p r o a c h or device
(usually by m a k i n g discreet
inquiries) used to clarify a
situation or test t h e opinions
or feelings of others.
Cf. A trial balloon; a feeler.
229
423. П Р О В А Л И Т Ь С Я С Т Р Е С К О М
provalittsa s t r ' e s k o m
То collapse with a bang.
424. П Р О Г Л О Т И Т Ь П И Л Ю Л Ю
proglotit' pil'ul'u
To swallow the pill.
To disregard an insult;
to e n d u r e a n offence patiently,
without resistance or complaint.
230
425. П Р О Г Л О Т И Т Ь Я З Ы К
proglotit' yazyk
То swallow one's tongue.
Cf. To lose ft
one's tongue.
To bore someone b y
telling h i m s o m e -
thing over a n d over
again; to keep
dinging s o m e t h i n g
into someone's
ears.
Cf. To talk
someone's ears off
about something; to
drone on at
someone; to go
rabbiting on. 231
427. П Р О Й Т И К Р А С Н О Й Н И Т Ь Ю
proyti k r a s n o y nit'yu
То run through something with a red thread.
П Р О Й Т И СКВО 31
ОГОНЬ И ВОДУ
proyti skvoz' ogon'
i vodu
To go through fire
and water.
Cf. To go through
fire and w a t e r ;
to go through
232 t h e mill.
429. П Р О Й Т И С Ь ПО
чьему-либо АДРЕСУ
proytis' po a d r ' e s u
To walk up and down
someone's address.
To m a k e a snide r e m a r k about
someone; to m a k e f u n of
someone; to m a k e an
implied criticism.
Cf. To have a fling
at someone; to give
someone a bad w r i t e - u p .
430 П Р О П У С К А Т Ь МИМО
УШЕЙ
propuskat' mimo ushey
To let something pass by
one's ears.
432 П Т И Ч Ь Е Г О М О Л О К А HE ХВАТАЕТ
ptich'yevo moloka n'e k h v a t a y e t
Sovieone lacks bird's milk.
A great a b u n d a n c e of everything.
234
433. ПУД СОЛИ С Ъ Е С Т Ь
с кем-либо
p u d soli s'yest'
То eat a pood* of salt
with someone.
To live w i t h or know pood — an old Russian
someone for a long time; unit of weight (16.38 kg
or approx. 36 lb.).
to spend a long t i m e
together w i t h someone.
434. П У С К А Т Ь К О З Л А В ОГОРОД
puskat' kozla v ogorod
To let the goat into the kitchen garden.
235
435. П У С К А Т Ь кому-либо П Ы Л Ь В ГЛАЗА
puskat' pyl' v glaza
То throw dust in someone's eyes.
436. П У Ш К О Й HE П Р О Ш И Б Ё Ш Ь
p u s h k o y n'e proshib'osh
You won't breach it with a cannon-ball.
You can't
p e r s u a d e him,
you can't
influence him,
you can't
236 budge him.
437. Р А Б О Т А Т Ь
ЗАСУЧИВ РУКАВА
rabotat' zasuchiv r u k a v a
To work with one's sleeves
rolled up.
To w o r k assiduously,
strenuously.
438 Р А Б О Т А Т Ь НЕ П О К Л А Д А Я Р У К
rabotat' n'e pokladaya r u k
To work without giving rest to one's hands.
237
439. Р А З Б И В А Т Ь С Я В Л Е П Ё Ш К У
razbivattsa v 1'ep'oshku
То smash oneself into aflat cake.
440. Р А З В Е С И Т Ь УШИ
razv'esit' ushi
To hang out one's ears
To be so carried a w a y by w h a t one
hears t h a t one doesn't react properly or
forgets a b o u t something important.
238
441. Р А З В Я З А Т Ь кому-либо
РУКИ
razv'azat' ruki
То untie someone's hands.
To give someone f r e e d o m of
action, choice or j u d g e m e n t in a
matter.
Cf. To give someone a f r e e hand;
to u n t i e someone's hands.
442. Р А З В Я З А Т Ь Я З Ы К
razv'azat' yazyk
To untie one's tongue.
444. Р А С Х Л Е Б Ы В А Т Ь К А Ш У
r a s k h l ' o b y v a t ' kashu
To eat up kasha
To disentangle something;
to put things right;
to clear u p a mess;
to get oneself out
of a mess.
240
445. Р В А Т Ь И МЕТАТЬ
rvat' i m e t a t '
То tear and throw.
To get irritated; to be in
a towering rage; to show
angry impatience; to
w o r r y oneself into a s t a t e
of temper.
Cf. To f r e t and f u m e
446. Р В А Т Ь НА С Е Б Е В О Л О С Ы
rvat' na s ' e b e volosy
To tear one's hair.
To be desperate; to be distressed;
to grieve.
Ж
448. Р Е В Е Т Ь БЕЛУГОЙ
revet' belugoy
To roar like a beluga.
242
449. РОДИТЬСЯ В С О Р О Ч К Е
rodittsa v sorochk'e
То be born with a shirt on.
243
451. Р У Б И Т Ь С П Л Е Ч А
rubit' spl'echa
То chop straight from the shoulder.
452. Р У Б И Т Ь СУК, НА К О Т О Р О М
СИДИШЬ
rubit' s u k па kotorom sidish
To be hewing down a bough
on which you are sitting.
To act in such a w a y as to do
oneself harm.
Cf. O n e w o u l d n ' t
think twice about
doing s o m e t h i n g ;
without a qualm.
454. Р У К А H E П О Д Н И М А Е Т С Я
ruka n'e podnimayetsa
One's hand won't rise.
O n e can't b r i n g himself to do s o m e t h i n g ;
one is h e s i t a n t a b o u t d o i n g s o m e t h i n g .
One doesn't h a v e
enough authority,
power or s t r e n g t h to do
something; one
is in no position
to do something.
Cf. J u s t t r y !
You couldn't
if you tried!
456. Р У К И HE ДОХОДЯТ
r u k i n'e dokhod'at
One's hands don't reach.
246
457. Р У К И ЧЕШУТСЯ
ruki c h e s h u t s a
One's hands are itching.
Someone is
anxious to
do something.
Cf. One's
fingers/hands
itch to do
something.
458. Р У К О Й HE Д О С Т А Н Е Ш Ь
r u k o y n ' e dostan'esh
You can't reach someone with your hand.
247
459. Р Ы Т Ь ЯМУ кому-либо
ryt' y a m u
То dig a pit for someone.
Cf. To m a k e / p r e p a r e a pitfall
for someone.
460. САДИТЬСЯ НА Л Ю Б И М О Г О
КОНЬКА
sadittsa na l'ubimovo kon'ka
To mount one's favourite pony.
Cf. To m o u n t / r i d e one'
hobby/hobby-horse.
248
461. САДИТЬСЯ НА Ш Е Ю
sadittsa па s h e y u
То sit down on someone's neck.
To u n d e r t a k e to do s o m e t h i n g one knows
nothing about or w h i c h one w h o has i n a d e q u a t e
knowledge, training, etc.; to occupy a post
for w h i c h one is unsuited.
249
463. С А М И С У С А М И
sami s usami
We too have a
moustache of our
own.
Not y o u n g in
w i s d o m ; no w o r s e
than.
Cf. We w e r e n ' t
born yesterday.
464. С А П О Г И В С М Я Т К У
sapogi v s m ' a t k u
Soft-boiled boots.
Rot, n o n s e n s e , r u b b i s h ,
a t r i f l i n g m a t t e r , nothing.
250
465. С Б Р А С Ы В А Т Ь МАСКУ
sbrasyvat' masku
То throw off the mask.
To show one's
t r u e self,
one's t r u e
character
and intentions.
Cf. To t h r o w
off the mask.
251
467 СВОДИТЬ К О Н Ц Ы С К О Н Ц А М И
svodit' kontsy s kontsami
To bring the ends together.
468. С В О Р О Т И Т Ь Г О Р Ы
svorotit' gory
To shift mountains.
252
469. С В Я З А Т Ь кого-либо
ПО Р У К А М И НОГАМ
sv'azat' ро r u k a m i nogam
То tie someone's
hands and feet.
To d e p r i v e someone of t h e
possibility to act freely; to
completely r e s t r a i n someone's
activities b y conditions or rules.
Cf. To b i n d / t i e
someone h a n d
and foot.
253
471. СГОРАТЬ CO СТЫДА
sgorat' so styda
To burn with shame.
472. СГУЩАТЬ К Р А С К И
sgushchat' kraski
То thicken the paints.
J o exaggerate; to picture s o m e t h i n g
as being w o r s e t h a n it really is.
Cf. To lay it on thick.
254
473. СДАВАТЬ В А Р Х И В
А РХИВ
sdavat' v arkhiv
То relegate to the archives.
255
475. С Е М Ь ПЯТНИЦ НА НЕДЕЛЕ
s ' e m ' p'atnits па n'ed'el'e
Someone has seven Fridays in one week.
476. СЕРДЦЕ / Д У Ш А HE Л Е Ж И Т
к чему-либо / кому-либо
s e r t s e / d u s h a n ' e l'ezhit
One's heart/soul doesn't
lie for something or someone.
478. СЕСТЬ В Л У Ж У
-j s'est' v luzhu
To sit down into a middle.
То get into an e x t r e m e l y
difficult situation;
to be in u n s a t i s f a c t o r y circumstances,
especially w i t h little money.
Cf. To be on the
rocks; to be in
low water; to be in a
tight corner.
480. С Ж Е Ч Ь К О Р А Б Л И / М О С Т Ы
szhech k o r a b l i / m o s t y
To burn the ships /bridges.
258
481 СИДЕТЬ МЕЖДУ ДВУХ СТУЛЬЕВ
sid'et' m'ezhdu dvukh stul'yev
To sit between two chairs.
To t r y to a d h e r e to t w o d i f f e r e n t ,
i r r e c o n c i l a b l e p o i n t s of view; to t r y
to k e e p t h e f a v o u r of both sides in a
dispute.
Cf. To r u n w i t h t h e h a r e a n d h u n t
w i t h t h e h o u n d s ; to play a d o u b l e
game. жЯ
P a c k e d a n d w a i t i n g to go.
2 5l>
483. СИДЕТЬ С Л О Ж А Р У К И
sid'et' slozha n i k i
То sit with one's arms folded.
484. С К Л О Н Я Т Ь кого-либо
ВО ВСЕХ П А Д Е Ж А Х
sklon'at' vo vs'ekh p a d ' e z h a k h
To decline someone in all
the cases.
486. С К О Л Ь К О ЛЕТ, С К О Л Ь К О З И М !
skol'ko l'et skol'ko zim
So many summers, so many winters!
261
487. С Л А Б А Я С Т Р У Н К А
slabaya striinka
A weak string.
T h e most v u l n e r a b l e a s p e c t
of s o m e o n e ' s c h a r a c t e r ; a m a t t e r
u p o n w h i c h one is easily a f f e c t e d
or m o s t s e n s i t i v e .
Cf. A w e a k / ' s o f t point.
F r e e f r o m sorrow,
discomfort, a n x i e t y ,
misgivings.
Cf. With a light
heart.
489. С Л Ё Г К О Й Р У К И
s l'okhkoy ruki
From the light hand of someone.
490. СЛЕД П Р О С Т Ы Л
sl'ed prostyl
Someone's footprints have
grown cold.
2(i3
491. С Л О М А Т Ь Л Ё Д
s l o m a t ' l'od
То break the ice.
To p u t a n e n d to f o r m a l i t y , s t i f f n e s s or s h y n e s s i n one's
r e l a t i o n s w i t h people; to m a k e t h e f i r s t step; to m a r k
t h e b e g i n n i n g ; to c a u s e a n y m a t t e r to s t a r t moving.
Cf. To s t a r t t h e ball rolling; to b r e a k t h e ice.
492. С Л У Н Ы С В А Л И Л С Я
s luny svalils'a
One has fallen from the moon.
S o m e o n e is puzzled; s o m e o n e d o e s n ' t u n d e r s t a n d w h a t is
"^ e v i d e n t to e v e r y o n e .
264 Cf. As if h e w e r e b o r n y e s t e r d a y ; to fall f r o m t h e m o o n .
493 С Л Ы Ш Н О , К А К МУХА П Р О Л Е Т И Т
slyshno к а к miikha prol'etit
One could hear a fly flying past.
494. С Л Ю Н К И Т Е К У Т
sl'iinki t'ekut
Saliva is f lowing.
S o m e o n e is anxious to p a r t a k e
of s o m e tasty food or drink.
Cf. To m a k e someone's m o u t h
water. 265
495 СМАТЫВАТЬ У Д О Ч К И
s m a t y v a t ' udochki
reel in the lines.
To depart in haste.
Cf. To t a k e / s l i n g one's hook;
to take to one's heels: to clear out.
496. СМЕЯТЬСЯ В К У Л А К
s m ' e y a t t s a v kulak
To laugh into one's fist.
266
497. С М О Т Р Е Т Ь В К О Р Е Н Ь
smotret' v kor'en'
To look d e e p into t h e m a t t e r ;
То look into the root. to i n v e s t i g a t e t h e m a t t e r
t h o r o u g h l y ; to t r y to g r a s p t h e
c r u x of a m a t t e r ; to t a c k l e
s o m e t h i n g at its source.
^ To get (o t h e h e a r t / r o o t of
omething
498 С М О Т Р Е Т Ь В ОБА
s m o t r ' e t ' v oba
To look through both.
To look a t t e n t i v e l y ; to b e closely
o b s e r v a n t ; to be on t h e alert; to be
particularly watchful.
Cf. To k e e p o n e ' s eyes peeled skinned.
267
499. С М О Т Р Е Т Ь к о м у - л и б о В Р О Т
s m o t r ' e t ' v rot
То look someone in the mouth.
To l i s t e n a t t e n t i v e l y a n d s e r v i l e l y
to w h a t one says; to f a w n on s o m e o n e .
Cf. To h a n g on
someone's words.
To look at or assess s o m e o n e or
something in a different way.
Cf. To look w i t h a n o t h e r eye u p o n .
26,X
501. С М О Т Р Е Т Ь К А К Б А Р А Н Н А Н О В Ы Е В О Р О Т А
s m o t r ' e t ' к а к b a r a n па n o v y y e v o r o t a
То look at someone or something like
a ram at a new gate.
To look a t s o m e o n e
or s o m e t h i n g w i t h
a puzzled, p e r p l e x e d
or d i s m a y e d
e x p r e s s i o n on o n e s
face; to look r a t h e r
stupid, not
understanding
w h a t is going on;
to look q u i t e lost.
502. С М О Т Р Е Т Ь С В Е Р Х У В Н И З
s m o t r ' e t ' s v e r k h u vniz
To look down at someone from above.
To r e g a r d s o m e o n e as i n f e r i o r or w i t h
d i s a p p r o v a l ; to t r e a t s o m e o n e h a u g h t i l y ,
disdainfully.
Cf. To look d o w n on s o m e o n e ; to look d o w n
o n e ' s n o s e at s o m e o n e .
2n4
503. С М О Т Р Е Т Ь С К В О З Ь П А Л Ь Ц Ы
s m o t r ' e t ' skvoz' pal'tsy
То look through one's fingers.
Cf. To m a k e light
of; to t u r n a blind
eye to; to look the
other w a y ;
to look through one's
fingers.
504. С М О Т Р Е Т Ь С К В О З Ь Р О З О В Ы Е О Ч К И
s m o t r ' e t ' skvoz' rozovyve ochki
To look through rose-coloured glasses.
270
505. С Н И М А Т Ь П Е Н К И
snimat' penki
То skim.
То a p p r o p r i a t e t h e best
p a r t of t h e r e s u l t s of
s o m e o n e else's l a b o u r .
Cf. To s k i m t h e c r e a m off.
506. С Н И М А Т Ь с кого-либо
СТРУЖКУ
snimat' struzhku
To take the shavings
someone.
To criticize s o m e o n e s e v e r e l y ,
to r a t e s o m e o n e soundly, to
scold s o m e o n e .
Cf. To t e a r s o m e o n e off a strip.
271
507. С Н Я Т Ь перед кем-либо ШЛЯПУ
sn'at' shl'apu
То take off one's hat before someone.
To e x p r e s s respect,
a d m i r a t i o n for a p e r s o n ' s
achievements.
O n e h a s a c q u i r e d g r e a t skill or
e x p e r i e n c e in s o m e t h i n g ; one
knows something thoroughly;
one is a n e x p e r t in s o m e t h i n g .
Cf. To h a v e s o m e t h i n g a t o n e ' s
f i n g e r t i p s ; to k n o w s o m e t h i n g
i n s i d e out; to k n o w t h e r o p e s ;
he's been around.
Ill
509. СОВАТЬ HOC во что-либо
so vat' nos
To stick one's nose into
something.
510. СОН В Р У К У
son v r u k u
The dream has come
into one's hand.
273
511. С О Р И Т Ь Д Е Н Ь Г А М И
sorit' d'en'gami
То litter with money.
To s p e n d a large s u m of m o n e y
r e c k l e s s l y ; to s q u a n d e r m o n e y .
Cf. To t h r o w one's m o n e y a b o u t .
512. CO С К Р И П О М
so s k r i p o m
With a creak.
To do s o m e t h i n g v e r y -
slowly, w i t h g r e a t "
d i f f i c u l t y or effort,
reluctantly. ^ ^
274
513. С О Т К Р Ы Т О Й Д У Ш О Й /
ОТКРЫТЫМ СЕРДЦЕМ
s otkrytoy dushoy/
otkrytym s'ertsem
With an open heart/soul.
To treat, s o m e o n e or
do s o m e t h i n g
sincerely, trustfully,
f r a n k l y , openly,
without prejudice.
To sleep s o u n d l y .
2 75
515. С П Л Е Ч ДОЛОЙ
s pl'ech doloy
Off one's shoulders.
To spoil or r u i n someone's
plans; to upset someone's
calculations.
To w a s t e energy in
combating i m a g i n a r y
evils or difficulties;
to attack an
imaginary foe.
Cf. To tilt at
windmills.
To assign p r i m a r y
i m p o r t a n c e to something;
to consider something
to be indispensible.
- 0 p
277
519. С Т А В И Т Ь кого-либо НА Н О Г И
s t a v i t ' п а nogi
То put someone on his feet.
To c u r e s o m e o n e of an illness.
520. С Т А В И Т Ь НА О Д Н У Д О С К У
s t a v i t ' па odmi d o s k u
To put someone on the same
board with someone else.
To put s o m e o n e on t h e s a m e level w i t h
s o m e o n e else; to consider one p e r s o n
278
comparable with another.
521. С Т А В И Т Ь что-либо С НОГ НА ГОЛОВУ
s t a v i t ' s nog па golovu
То put something from its
feet into its head.
279
523. СТАНОВИТЬСЯ НА Д Ы Б Ы
stanovittsa па d y b y
То stand up on one's hind legs.
524. СТАРО К А К М И Р
s t a r o к а к mir
As old as the world.
280
525. С Т И Р А Т Ь ГРАНИ
stirat' grani
То grind off the edges.
To r e m o v e differences
or distinctions.
526. СТОИТ К А К В К О П А Н Н Ы Й
stoit к а к v k o p a n n y
One stands as if dug in.
To d e f e n d s o m e o n e or s o m e t h i n g
w i t h all one's might, by e v e r y
possible m e a n s ; to be solidly
b e h i n d s o m e o n e or s o m e t h i n g ;
to s t a n d f i r m or stick u p
for s o m e o n e or s o m e t h i n g .
Cf. To s t a n d f o r s o m e o n e
t h r o u g h thick a n d thin;
to b a c k s o m e o n e u p to t h e
hilt.
528. С Т О Я Т Ь НАД Д У Ш О Й
stoyat' nad dushoy
To stand over someone's soul.
To a n n o y s o m e o n e b y c o n s t a n t l y
w a t c h i n g him; to i m p o r t u n e
someone.
Cf. To s t a n d over s o m e o n e ;
to b r e a t h d o w n s o m e o n e ' s n e c k ;
to w o r r y t h e life out of s o m e o n e .
2S2
529. С Т О Я Т Ь П О П Е Р Е К Г О Р Л А
s t o y a t ' р о р ' е г ' о к gorla
То stand across someone's throat.
To b e c o m e u n b e a r a b l e ,
u n e n d u r a b l e ; to be a source of
annoyance, irritation, especially
a p e r s i s t e n t one.
Cf. A t h o r n in o n e ' s f l e s h / s i d e .
To be a n obstacle, h i n d r a n c e or
i m p e d i m e n t to s o m e o n e ; to h a m p e r
s o m e o n e ' s c h a n c e s of success or
** I В . _ progress.
A person experienced in t h e
m a t t e r at hand; someone not
easily deceived.
Cf. An old hand; a knowing old bird.
х
532. С Т Р Е Л Я Т Ь И З П У Ш К И ПО В О Р О Б Ь Я М
str'el'at' is pushki ро v o r o b ' y a m •щ^г
То fire a cannon at sparrows.
534. С Т Р О И Т Ь НА П Е С К Е
stroit' na p'esk'e
To build something on sand.
To m a k e plans,
organise a scheme,
etc., on an insecure
foundation.
Cf. To build on
>' sand. 285
535. С Т Я Ж Ё Л Ы М С Е Р Д Ц Е М
.ч t ' a z h o l y m s ' e r t s e m
With a heavy heart.
To b e a n x i o u s , d e p r e s s e d , in low s p i r i t s :
to h a v e a p r e s e n t i m e n t t h a t s o m e t h i n g
u n p l e a s a n t or u n d e s i r a b l e is a b o u t to h a p p e n .
Cf. With a h e a v y h e a r t .
536. С Ч И Т А Т Ь В О Р О Н
shchitat' voron
To count the crown.
To g a p e at s o m e t h i n g ; to b e d i s t r a c t e d ,
i n a t t e n t i v e ; to be bored.
2Sfi
537. С Ы Т НО ГОРЛО
syt ро gorlo
Full right up to t he
throat.
Т А Н Ц Е В А Т Ь ОТ П Е Ч К И
t a n t s e v a t ' ot p'echki
To dance from the stove.
2N7
539. Т А С К А Т Ь
К А Ш Т А Н Ы И З ОГНЯ
taskat' k a s h t a n y iz ogn'a
To pull the chestnuts
out of the fire.
540. Т А Щ И Т Ь З А У Ш И
tashchit' za u s h y
To pull someone by the
A highly paid a p p o i n t m e n t
or job; a profitable position.
Cf. A c u s h y / s n u g job.
542. Т Е Р Я Т Ь ГОЛОВУ
t ' e r ' a t ' golovu
To lose one's head. To become flustered,
confused, panic stricken; to lose one's
self-control.
Cf. T o j o s e one's h e a d / w i t s ; to lose
one's presence of m i n d .
289
543. Т Е Р Я Т Ь ПОЧВУ ПОД НОГАМИ
t ' e r ' a t ' pochvu pod nogami
To lose the ground under one's feet.
544. Т И Ш Е ВОДЫ, Н И Ж Е Т Р А В Ы
t i s h e vody nizhe t r a v y
Quieter than water, lower than grass.
To do useless work,
to engage in fruitless talk
t h a t can h a v e no results,
to w a s t e time.
Cf. To beat the air; to mill the
wind.
546. Т Р Е Щ А Т Ь ПО ШВАМ
t r ' e s h c h a t ' po s h v a m
To burst at the seams.
To b e on t h e verge of destruction,
collapse, ruin.
Cf. To g o / f a l l to pieces; to f a l l / b u r s t
apart at the seams.
291
547. Т Я Ж Ё Л А Я А Р Т И Л Л Е Р И Я
t'azholaya artil'eriya
Heavy artillery.
Something t h a t can be u s e d
in an emergency as an effective
m e a n s of achieving an end.
M — * —
548. Т Я Ж Ё Л НА П О Д Ъ Ё М
t'azhol na pod'yom
Heavy on the rise.
Slow or unwilling to do
something; sluggish,
h a r d to move or rouse
to action.
292
549. Т Я Н У Т Ь ВРЕМЯ
t'amit' vr'em'a
То drag the time.
To be slow in acting; to
procrastinate; to wait for
a f a v o u r a b l e opportunity.
Cf. To bide one's time.
550. Т Я Н У Т Ь ЗА Я З Ы К
t'arnit' za yazyk
To pull someone by the
tongue.
To m a k e someone s a y
something; to p u m p someone.
293
551. УБИТЬ ДВУХ ЗАЙЦЕВ
ubit' d v u k h zaitsev
То kill two hares.
To amaze, to
perplex, to s t u n
someone; to take
someone aback.
Cf. To knock
someone down with
a feather; to knock
294 someone off his pins.
553. У Д А Р И Т Ь ПО Р У К А М
u d a r i t ' po r u k a m
To strike each other's
hands.
To c o n f i r m an a g r e e m e n t or a
b u s i n e s s deal; to strike a bargain.
Cf. To s h a k e h a n d s on it.
554. У З Н А Т Ь что-либо И З П Е Р В Ы Х Р У К
uznat' is p e r v y k h r u k
To learn something from the first hands.
295
555. УЙТИ В К У С Т Ы
uyti v k u s t y
То до into the
shrubs.
То w i t h d r a w f r o m one's promise or an u n d e r t a k i n g ; to
disclaim f u r t h e r responsibility for something.
Cf. To m a k e oneself scarce; to back out; to show t h e w h i t e
feather.
To become w i t h d r a w n ,
uncommunicative; to become
less sociable and m o r e r e s e r v e d .
Cf. To retire into oneself;
296 to w i t h d r a w into one's shell.
557. УЙТИ С ГОЛОВОЙ
во что-либо
uytl z golovoy
То до headlong into
something.
558. У К А З А Т Ь кому-либо НА
ДВЕРЬ
ukazat' па dv'er'
То point to the door.
P e r e m p t o r i l y to ask a person,
whose p r e s e n c e is unwelcome,
to leave t h e house, room, etc.
Cf. To show someone the door.
297
559. У М Ы В А Т Ь Р У К И
u m y v a t ' ruki
То wash one's hands.
To divest oneself of a n y f u r t h e r
connection w i t h or
responsibility for something;
to a b a n d o n the m a t t e r entirely.
Cf. To w a s h one's h a n d s
of something.
To flee; to r u n as f a s t as
one's legs will c a r r y one:
to h a v e a n a r r o w escape.
Cf. To escape
by the skin
298 of one's teeth.
561. У П А С Т Ь С Н Е Б А НА З Е М Л Ю
u p a s t ' s n ' e b a па z'eml'u
То fall from the sky to the earth.
To be disillusioned;
to abandon f a n t a s y a n d
r e t u r n to practical realities.
Cf. To come down to e a r t h .
m
TL
562. УСТРАИВАТЬ СЦЕНУ
ustraivat' stsenu
To make a scene.
To start a noisy or violent
a r g u m e n t , quarrel or s c r a p w i t h
someone, expressing one's
dissatisfaction, irritation, etc.
Cf. To s t a g e / k i c k u p a row;
to m a k e a scene.
299
563. У Т Е Р Е Т Ь кому-либо НОС
u t ' e r ' e t ' nos
То wipe someone's nose.
To w i n an advantage over
someone; to humiliate or
cause disgruntlement;
to m a k e a clever retort.
564. УХО Р Е Ж Е Т
likho r'ezhet
Something cuts one's ear.
300
565. У Ш И ВЯНУТ
ushy v'anut
One's ears fade.
It is so ridiculous, a b s u r d
or silly t h a t it's disgusting
to listen to.
566. Х В А Т А Т Ь З В Ё З Д Ы С Н Е Б А
k h v a t a t ' zv'ozdy s n'eba
To snatch the stars from the sky.
To be v e r y good at something; to be
able to do s o m e t h i n g r e m a r k a b l e .
Cf. H e is as good as they come.
301
567. ХВАТАТЬСЯ З А ГОЛОВУ
khvatattsa za golovu
То clutch one's head.
To be struck w i t h horror; to
a b a n d o n oneself to despair.
568. ХВАТАТЬСЯ З А С О Л О М И Н К У
k h v a t a t t s a za solominku
To clutch at a straw.
W h e n in e x t r e m e danger,
difficulty, etc., to try to seize
a n y chance, h o w e v e r small or
useless, of getting out of it.
Cf. To c a t c h / c l u t c h at a straw.
302
569. Х О Д И Т Ь В О К Р У Г ДА О К О Л О
khodit' vokriig da okolo
To walk round and about.
570. Х О Д И Т Ь НА ГОЛОВЕ
khodit' na golov'e
To walk on one's head.
To get into mischief; to play p r a n k s ; to be n a u g h t y (usually
said of children).
303
571. ХОДИТЬ ПО К Р А Ю П Р О П А С Т И
khodit' ро krayu propasti
То walk on a brink of an abyss.
572. ХОДИТЬ ПО С Т Р У Н К Е
khodit' po strtink'e
To walk on a string.
574. Х О Т Ь ШАРОМ П О К А Т И
khot' s h a r o m pokati
You could even roll a ball through it.
576. ХУДОЙ К А К С П И Ч К А
k h u d o y к а к spichka
Thin as a matchstick.
Very thin.
Cf. Thin as a
lath / r a k e .
306
577. Ц Е Н Ы НЕТ
к о м у - л и б о / чему-либо
t s e n y n'et
There's по price on someone
or something.
Someone or something is
priceless, invaluable.
J g j ! ™
С Г В
578. Ч Е Р Е З чью-либо ГОЛОВУ
cher'ez golovu
Over someone's head.
I To do s o m e t h i n g w i t h o u t i n f o r m i n g
one's i m m e d i a t e superior; to
a p p l y to a higher a u t h o r i t y b y
p a s s i n g an i n t e r m e d i a t e one.
Cf. To go over someone's head.
307
579. Ч Е Р Е З ЧАС ПО Ч А Й Н О Й Л О Ж К Е
cher'ez chas ро c h a y n o y lozhk'e
One teaspoonful every other hour.
580. Ч Е Р Н А Я К О Ш К А П Р О Б Е Ж А Л А
c h o r n a y a koshka prob'ezhala
A black cat has run between them.
There's a coolness b e t w e e n t h e m ;
t h e y have become estranged.
Cf. They have fallen out.
308
581. Ч Е Р Н Ы М ПО Б Е Л О М У
c h o r n y m ро b'elomu
In black on white.
582. Ч Е Р Т О В А
ДЮЖИНА
chortova d'tizhina
A devil's dozen.
Thirteen.
Cf. A d e v i l ' s / a
baker's dozen. 309
583. Ч Е С А Т Ь Я З Ы К
chesat' yazyk
То scratch one's tongue.
584. Ч И Т А Т Ь М Е Ж Д У С Т Р О К
chitat' m'ezhdu strok
To read between the lines.
To discern t h e concealed m e a n i n g ;
to d r a w conclusions w h i c h a r e not
obvious in something said or w r i t t e n .
586. Ч У Ж И М И Р У К А М И Ж А Р З А Г Р Е Б А Т Ь
chuzhimi r u k a m i zhar zagr'ebat'
To bank up the fire with someone else's hands.
Cf. To m a k e a
c a t ' s - p a w of
someone; to pull
someone's chestnuts
out of t h e fire.
311
587. Ш А П К А М И З А К И Д А Е М
s h a p k a m i zakidayem
We'll pelt you (him, etc.)
with our caps.
588. ШАПОЧНОЕ З Н А К О М С Т В О
shapochnoye z n a k o m s t v o
A cap acquaintance.
A slight acquaintance.
Cf. A n o d d i n g / b o w i n g a c q u a i n t a n c e .
312
589. Ш И Т О БЕЛЫМИ НИТКАМИ
shito b'elymi nitkami
It is scum with white thread.
It is a f l i m s y story or excuse
easily seen through; it is all too
obvious; it is quite t r a n s p a r e n t .
590. Ш У Т К И В СТОРОНУ
s h u t k i v storonu
Jokes aside.
313
591. Я Б Л О К У НЕГДЕ УПАСТЬ
yabloku n'egd'e u p a s t '
No room for an apple to fall.
Used to indicate t h a t t h e r e is a
large n u m b e r of people i n one
place, that t h e place is
overcrowded, t h a t t h e r e is
h a r d l y room to m o v e or t u r n
around.
592. Я З Ы К С Л О М А Е Ш Ь
yazyk slomayesh
You can break your tongue.
314
593. Я З Ы К ХОРОШО П О Д В Е Ш Е Н
yazyk horosho p o d v ' e s h e n
One's tongue is hung well.
Someone is a s m o o t h
talker; someone has
a glib tongue.
Cf. To h a v e t h e gift
of t h e gab.
М а р к И с а а к о в и ч Дубровин
И з д а н и е 3-е, стереотипное
Зав. р е д а к ц и е й Л. П. Попова
Р е д а к т о р В. И. Чёрная
Р е д а к т о р ы английского текста Р. Ньюнэм,
Е. Г. Коненкин
Х у д о ж н и к В. И. Тильман
Х у д о ж е с т в е н н ы й редактор М. В. Водинская
Технический редактор М. В. Биденко
К о р р е к т о р Г. Н. Кузьмина
И Б 5284
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