February 2011
12 posts
daily-russian-saying
The daily-russian-saying can from now on (just in case you somehow missed this) be found at daily-russian-saying-2.tumblr.com, leaving this site as an archive, and this post as the last ever here. Bye!
daily-russian-saying - NOTICE
I will be uploading a daily-russian-saying to “daily-russian-saying-2” from now on, and will discontinue uploading to “daily-russian-saying”. “daily-russian-saying” will remain, however, as an archive. “daily-russian-saying-2” can follow others (“daily-russian-saying” can’t - it’s a sub-blog of my main blog,...
daily-russian-saying
Если враг не сдается, мы его уничтожаем
If the enemy won’t surrender, we’ll destroy him. Stalin-era saying.
daily-russian-saying
Копейка рубль бережет
Take care of the kopecks and the roubles will take care of themselves
daily-russian-saying
Водка без пива - деньги на ветер
Drinking vodka without beer is just a waste of money [throwing your money to the wind]
daily-russian-saying
Плетью обуха не перешибешь
Needs must when the devil drives
daily-russian-saying
Век Вольвы не видать
May I never see a Volvo (New Russian bastardization of yesterday’s daily-russian-saying)
daily-russian-saying
Век воли не видать
May I never see freedom [again] [if I’m lying] (criminal oath)
daily-russian-saying
Любопытной Варваре нос оторвали
Curiosity killed the cat (lit.: curious Barbara (the cat) had her nose torn off!)
daily-russian-saying
В союз печать - говно качать
To Soyuz-Pechat - to pump shite. A rude remark to someone who, in Soviet times, had just declared they’re going to [a] Soyuz-Pechat, an official kiosk selling newspapers, magazines, etc.
daily-russian-saying
Кто ест скоро, тот работает споро
Quick at meat, quick at work / who eats quickly will [tend to] work efficiently
daily-russian-saying
В каждое истине есть доля правды
Jocular distortion of yesterday’s daily-russian-saying: In every fact there lies some truth
January 2011
22 posts
daily-russian-saying
В каждой сказке есть доля правды
In every fairy tale there’s some truth
daily-russian-saying
В гости, глодать кости
Lit.: On a [social] visit [to someone’s residence] one has to gnaw at one’s hands (said by folk not all that into making social visits)
daily-russian-saying
Бэ тоже витамин и цэ не отрава
Lit.: B is also a vitamin and C isn’t poisonous. Used as a petulant answer to an annoying enquiring “а?” (“eh?”), continuing the alphabet - a, b, c.
daily-russian-saying
Было ваше, стало наше
It was yours, now it’s ours (a rhyming phrase to justify unjustifiable misappropriation)
daily-russian-saying
Бывают в жижни огорчения, вместо хлеба кушаешь печенье
Lit.: Life has its disappointments - instead of bread, sometimes you get to eat biscuits
daily-russian-saying
На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай
Lit.: Put hope in God, but don’t make [your own] blunders. God helps those who help themselves; put your trust in God, but keep your powder dry…
daily-russian-saying
Не реви раньше смерти
Lit.: Don’t cry out before death. Cross that bridge when one comes to it, a man dies but once, don’t count your chickens…
daily-russian-saying
“Бывают в жизни злые шутки,” сказал петух, слезая с утки.
Lit.: “In life there are many evil jokes”, said the cock [male chicken (sic.)], climbing off the duck. Rude phrase used to express “life is hard / a bitch,” etc.
daily-russian-saying
Будь проще, и к тебе потянутся люди
Lit.: Be simpler [just be yourself] and people will reach out to you
daily-russian-saying
Будь здоров, расти большой, не будь лапшой
An expression told to kids when they sneeze. Lit.: Be healthy [what is said to adults], grow up to be big, and don’t be a noodle!
daily-russian-saying
Будете рядом - проходите мимо
Lit.: If you’re passing by - don’t drop in, walk past. A warning to keep away; a play on the original “If you’re passing by - drop in”
daily-russian-saying
Бригада “ух!” работает до двух
Lit.: The “ugh” brigade only works till 2pm. A rhyming phrase having a pop at inefficient/lazy workers, particularly in the former Soviet Union
daily-russian-saying
Борис - на говне повис
Lit.: Boris is hanging from shit. Rhyming tease directed at someone called Boris.
daily-russian-saying
Больше скорость - меньше ям и рессоры по хуям
More speed, less potholes - but your suspension get’s fucked up (a vulgar rhyming retort to yesterday’s daily-russian-saying)
daily-russian-saying
Больше скорость - меньше ям
The faster, the better (lit.: More speed, less potholes). Used as a retort to yesterday’s (spelling-corrected - thanks fuckyeahtherussia, waltercuthbertblythe, and whenitsnows) daily-russian-saying
daily-russian-saying
Тише едешь - дальше будешь
The slower you go the further you get
daily-russian-saying
Болтун - находка для шпионов
Lit.: A chatterbox is a gift to a spy. Stop gossiping/babbling/keep your mouth shut/loose lips sink ships…
daily-russian-saying
Бобик здох (и лапку к верху)
It’s all over / curtains. Lit.: Bobik [a dog] is dead (with his paws in the air)
daily-russian-saying
Беречь фазу
To stay out of trouble, take it easy, chill…
daily-russian-saying
Белое - несмелое, красное - напрасное, водка - в сердце прямая наводка
Lit.: White wine is timid, red wine is in vain, but vodka goes straight to the heart
daily-russian-saying
Без рубашки - ближе к Машке
Lit.: Without your shirt on, you’re nearer to Mary - a play on yesterday’s daily-russian-saying referring to sexual relations
daily-russian-saying
Своя рубашка - ближе к телу
Charity begins at home (lit.: One’s own shirt is nearer one’s body)
December 2010
25 posts
daily-russian-saying
Пусть каждое мгновение праздников и каждый день в новом году будет мирным и счастливым для Вас!
Hoping every moment of the holidays and every day of the New Year will bring you peace and happiness!
daily-russian-saying
Из двух зол выбирают меньшее
Better the devil you know
daily-russian-saying
Кто говорит, что хочет, услышет, чего и не хочет
He who says what he likes, shall hear what he does not like
daily-russian-saying
Между двумя стульями не усидишь
You can’t have it both ways / you can’t have your cake and eat it too
(btw - never understood “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” until just recently - I thought “have your cake” meant eating it (not, like, putting it under your arm - keeping it/having it) , so I thought it was some olde-English nonsense. Ho, ho.)
daily-russian-saying
Из огня да в полымя
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
daily-russian-saying
Без пол-литра не разобраться
It can’t be understood without half a litre (of vodka)
(Used in protest when faced with a complicated task)
daily-russian-saying
Рад будешь, как долг избудешь
Out of debt, out of danger
daily-russian-saying
Ищи ветра в поле
You might as well look for a needle in a haystack
daily-russian-saying
Много захочешь - последее потеряешь
He is not poor that has little, but he that desires much
daily-russian-saying
Кашу маслом не испортишь
You can’t have too much of a good thing
daily-russian-saying
Арбуз растет, а кончик сохнет
Lit.: The watermelon grows, but the stem shrivels (describing aging men)
daily-russian-saying
Андрюха! Хер тебе в ухо!
Another rhyming teaser for Andreys: Lit.: Andrukha! A xxxx in your ear!
daily-russian-saying
Кто скоро помог, тот дважды помог
Lit.: Who gives quickly gives more
daily-russian-saying
Есть еще порох в пороховницах
There’s life in the old dog yet (lit.: there’s still gunpowder in the flask!)
daily-russian-saying
Кто всем угодлив, тот никому непригодлив
A friend to all is a friend to none
daily-russian-saying
Андрей! Держи хер бодрей!
Lit.: Andrey! Keep your rod erect! (Nonsense childish rhyme to tease someone called Andrey - for being called Andrey)