Categories: Grammar

List of Idioms and Proverbs in Russian Language

Russian idioms can be described as group of words whose the true meanings don’t match their literal meanings. Idioms are more like words of expression with specific meaning that so difficult when translating, but actually they are exists in any language. Idioms and Proverbs in Russian Language has their own unique, why don’t you visit How to Learn Russian for Beginners for basic Russian lesson, try to read them as part of your learning process. Well let’s take a look at list

Example of some Russian idioms and their English translation

[table]

[tr][th]Russian[/th] [th]Translation[/th] [th]Meaning[/th][/tr]

[tr][td]Артельный горшок гуще кипит[/td] [td]An artel’s pot boils denser[/td] [td]Working with others produce better result[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Без муки нет науки[/td] [td]Without torture no science[/td] [td]Adversity is a good teacher[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше[/td] [td]Being a guest is good, but being at home is better[/td] [td]Wherever you go, there is no place like home[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Глаза боятся, а руки делают[/td] [td]Eyes are afraid, but hands are doing the job[/td] [td]You never know your ability till you try[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Делу время, потехе час[/td] [td]Time for business, an hour for fun[/td] [td]There’s a time for work and a time for play[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Едешь на день, хлеба бери на неделю[/td] [td]If you go for a day trip, take some bread as a supply for a week[/td] [td]always be prepared[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Жизнь коротка, а дел много[/td] [td]Life is short, but there’s a lot to be done[/td] [td]Life is short[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]За спрос не бьют в нос[/td] [td]They don’t hit you in the nose for asking[/td] [td]Asking will not hurt you[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]И на старуху бывает проруха[/td] [td]Even an old lady makes mistakes[/td] [td]Everyone makes mistakes, To err is human[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Как нажито, так и прожито[/td] [td]How is gained, and lived[/td] [td]Easy come, Easy go[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Лучше меньше, да лучше[/td] [td]It’s better less but better[/td] [td]Too much thing is not good[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Много шума из ничего[/td] [td]Much noise from nothing[/td] [td]Much ado about nothing
[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Не всё то золото, что блестит[/td] [td]Not every glittering thing is gold[/td] [td]All that glitters is not gold[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Одна голова – хорошо, а две – лучше[/td] [td]One head is good; two heads are better[/td] [td]Two heads are better than one[/td][/tr]

[/table]

[table]

[tr][th]Russian[/th] [th]Translation[/th] [th]Meaning[/th][/tr]

[tr][td]Первый блин всегда комом[/td] [td]The first pancake is always a blob[/td] [td]Things don’t work at the first time you run it[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Раз на раз не приходится[/td] [td]Each time it is different[/td] [td]You can’t expect perfection every time[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Сделал дело, гуляй смело[/td] [td]Business before pleasure[/td] [td]When you have done the job, you may take a vacation[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Тише едешь – дальше будешь[/td] [td]Ride slower – you’ll get further[/td] [td]Slow and steady, surely wins the race[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]У бабы волос долог, да ум короток[/td] [td]Woman’s hair is long, and mind is short[/td] [td]Experienced is not determine by age, but who’s seen it all[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Фараон гордился, да в море утопился[/td] [td]Pharaoh was proud, but drowned in the sea[/td] [td]if you are arrogant, then it will deliver misery[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Хлеб-соль ешь, а правду-матку режь[/td] [td]Eat bread and salt, cut the mother truth[/td] [td]Honesty is the best policy[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Цыплят по осени считают[/td] [td]Don’t count your chicken before they are hatched[/td] [td]One should count chicks in autumn[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Что было, то прошло[/td] [td]Things past cannot be recalled[/td] [td]Что было, то прошло[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Шила в мешке не утаишь[/td] [td]The truth will always out; What is done by night appears by day[/td] [td]you cannot hide an awl in a sack[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Щедрость не имеет пределов[/td] [td]Generosity has no bounds[/td] [td]Generosity has no bounds[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Язык до Киева доведёт[/td] [td]Your tongue can get you all the way to Kiev[/td] [td]A clever tongue will take you anywhere[/td][/tr]

[/table]

That’s all about list of idioms and proverbs in Russian language including literal translation and meaning. There are still lot of unique idioms and proverbs in Russian that you need to explore.  To enrich your vocabularies we recommend you to visit Basic Russian Words for Beginners after that continue to practicing with your collague with  Common Greetings in Russian to start your communications. Keep your spirit to learn Russian Language!

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