Russian Language Stack Exchange
Russian Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [идиомы]

Words or phrases that have a specific, figurative or non-literal meaning.

79 questions
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Почему как стартовую команду применяют фразу «три-четыре»?

Почему когда русскоязычный человек начинает физическую нагрузку, он иногда говорит фразу «Три, четыре»? Почему пропускают «раз два»?
Daniel B
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Is there a Russian exclamation that would fit the scene below?

I'm writing Russian subtitles for an American film. In one scene, a character says to another: "How ya' doin'?" The second character replies, kind of half-jokingly, "Beats the hell outta me," then goes on to ask "What brings you here?" The first…
Chris Carr
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What's a good translation for "unscratchable itch" in Russian?

An "unscratchable itch" is an issue that's very important to someone, but which they can't do anything about. What would be a more or less close Russian equivalent of this phrase (apart from журавль в небе)? Update 1: Example of usage in a…
Glory to Russia
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Meaning of "тренироваться на кошечках"

I Listened to a podcast, in which the speaker attempted to explain what тренироваться на кошечках means and how it's used, yet I failed to grasp the meaning. Can someone explain?
CocoPop
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How and when do you use "А разговоров-то было!"

I've seen the expression а разговоров-то было in memes and just encountered it in a Russian forum. I can't find it in dictionaries. In what context is it used and what does it imply?
CocoPop
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Russian equivalents of "all men, young and old"

Выходит, что мужчины -- что старые, что молодые -- просто не могут пройти мимо такой красавицы. In conversation, I wanted to express the idea of "all men, young and old". I wonder if my phrasing above got my meaning across. How do native speakers…
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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How does "Чья бы корова мычала" have the meaning "You're a fine one to talk"?

Чья бы корова мычала... Is this expression said sarcastically, with "чья" alluding to "твоя"? Whose cow would be mooing/complaining? Don't tell me it's yours (of all people/cows who should be mooing/complaining).
Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
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Translation of idiom "Not to put too fine a point on it"

Какая самая близкая русская идиома? Edit: including definitions and usage examples from Idioms by The Free Dictionary. Figurative: a phrase introducing a fine or important point, apologetically. Rachel: Not to put too fine a point on it, Mary, but…
Aryeh
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Russian version of "The apple didn't fall far from the tree"

This idiom means that children usually end up being similar to their parents. Are there any Russian versions of this that are not direct translations?
Adam
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How would I say in Russian: "This made my day"?

I'm not asking for a translation because the literal meaning is obvious. Rather, I'm looking for the closest expression that conveys the same meaning and emotions. So: How would I say "This made my day" in Russian? UPDATE: In English, when…
Trident D'Gao
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"Бьёт, значит любит?" - is it ironic?

Which relationship aspects are meant with this idiom, is it some specific irony?
J. Doe
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What does it mean to tell someone to take an implement в зубы and do a task with it?

I recently came across this line: [Father to son upon seeing how messy his room is] —Так, пылесос в зубы, и чтоб через час здесь был порядок как в казарме! Then, researching this idiom online further, the only other example I found was this…
CocoPop
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Are there natural ways to say "No small feat"?

I'd like to be able to say a phrase like "no small feat", if Russians ever talk that way. In other words, I want to express that something has a level of difficulty which might be underestimated or underappreciated, but shouldn't be. What are some…
rh-calvin
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Correct use of the the idiom 'Гнать/Катить бочку'

I heard both versions, which one is correct? 'Гнать' or 'Катить'? If I want to say: "не гони бочку на китайцев, падла. кто бы нам пособил электронику и одёжку, если не их пацаны на тех жутких круглосуточныx заводах?!" is the sentence correct, or…
user12176
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Meaning of "компостировать мозги"

I need help with the meaning of the idiom "компостировать мозги" the full sentence being "прекрати компостировать мозги". What is the English version of this
bird
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