Phraseologisms examples with explanation 6. Phraseologisms that exist only in the Russian language
Phraseology is one of the branches of linguistics that studies stable combinations of words. Surely each of us is familiar with the expressions “beat the bullshit”, “led by the nose”, “out of the blue”, “carelessly”, etc. But how many of us have ever thought about where they came from? our language? I bring to your attention a small selection of phraseological units with their meanings and history of origin, thanks to which you may learn something new and be able to make your speech more expressive and varied.
Let's start, perhaps, with such a well-known expression as "Augean stables", used to describe a very dirty place that will require considerable effort to clean. The phraseology originates from the times of Ancient Greece, where King Augeas lived, who loved horses very much, but did not care for them: the stables where the animals lived had not been cleaned for about thirty years. According to legend, Hercules (Hercules) entered the service of the king, who received orders from Augeas to clean out the stalls. To do this, the strongman used a river, the flow of which he directed into the stables, thereby getting rid of the dirt. Impressive, right?
"Alma mater"(from Latin “mother-nurse”)
In ancient times, students used this phraseological turn to describe an educational institution that, as it were, “nourished”, “raised” and “educated” them. Nowadays it is used with some irony.
"Achilles' heel"(weak, vulnerable spot)
The source of this phraseological unit is ancient Greek mythology. According to legend, Thetis, the mother of Achilles, wanted to make her son invulnerable. To do this, she dipped him into the sacred river Styx, forgetting, however, about the heel by which she held the boy. Later, while fighting his enemy Paris, Achilles received an arrow in this heel and died.
"Gogol to walk"(walk around with a very important air, self-confidently)
No, this expression has nothing to do with the famous Russian writer, as it might seem at first. Gogol is a wild duck who walks along the shore with his head thrown back and his chest puffed out, which prompts comparison with a man trying to show all his importance.
"Nick down"(very good to remember something)
In this expression, the word “nose” does not mean a part of the human body. In ancient times, this word was used to refer to tablets on which all sorts of notes were made. People carried it with them as a reminder.
"Get away with your nose"(leave with nothing)
Another phraseological unit associated with the nose. However, like the previous one, it has nothing to do with the organ of smell. This expression originates from Ancient Rus', where bribery was widespread. People, when dealing with the authorities and hoping for a positive outcome, used “prizes” (bribes). If the judge, manager or clerk accepted this “nose”, one could be sure that everything would be resolved. However, if the bribe was rejected, the applicant left with his “nose”.
"Pandora's Box"(source of troubles and misfortunes)
An ancient Greek myth says: before Prometheus stole fire from the gods, people on earth lived in joy and did not know any troubles. In response to this, Zeus sent a woman of unprecedented beauty to earth - Pandora, giving her a casket in which all human misfortunes were stored. Pandora, succumbing to curiosity, opened the casket and scattered them all.
"Filka's letter"(a document of no value, a meaningless piece of paper)
This phraseological turn is rooted in the history of the Russian state, or more precisely, during the reign of Ivan IX the Terrible. Metropolitan Philip, in his messages to the sovereign, tried to convince him to soften his policies and to abolish the oprichnina. In response, Ivan the Terrible only called the Metropolitan “Filka”, and all his letters “Filka”.
These are just some of the phraseological units of the Russian language that have a very interesting history behind them. I hope that the material presented above was useful and interesting for you.
Phraseology is a branch of the science of language that studies stable combinations of words. Phraseologism is a stable combination of words, or a stable expression. Used to name objects, signs, actions. It is an expression that arose once, became popular and became entrenched in people's speech. The expression is endowed with imagery and may have a figurative meaning. Over time, an expression can take on a broad meaning in everyday life, partially including the original meaning or completely excluding it.
The phraseological unit as a whole has lexical meaning. The words included in a phraseological unit individually do not convey the meaning of the entire expression. Phraseologisms can be synonymous (at the end of the world, where the raven did not bring bones) and antonymous (raise to heaven - trample into the dirt). A phraseological unit in a sentence is one member of the sentence. Phraseologisms reflect a person and his activities: work (golden hands, playing the fool), relationships in society (bosom friend, putting a spoke in the wheels), personal qualities (turning up his nose, sour face), etc. Phraseologisms make a statement expressive and create imagery. Set expressions are used in works of art, journalism, and everyday speech. Set expressions are also called idioms. There are many idioms in other languages - English, Japanese, Chinese, French.
To clearly see the use of phraseological units, refer to their list or on the page below.
Phraseologisms are popular expressions that do not have an author. Authorship doesn't matter. These “highlights” have become firmly established in our language, and are perceived as a natural element of speech, coming from the people, from the depths of centuries.
Phraseologisms are a decoration of speech. Imagery, which is easily perceived in native speech, becomes a stumbling block in a foreign language. We absorb our language model with mother's milk.
For example, when you say “a storehouse of knowledge”, you don’t think about the fact that a storehouse is a well! Because when you say this, you don’t mean a well at all, but an intelligent person, from whom, like from a well, you can draw useful information.
Phraseologisms and their meanings Examples
The meaning of phraseological units is to give an emotional coloring to an expression and enhance its meaning.
Since water plays a big role in human life, it is not surprising that there are so many phraseological units associated with it:
- Water doesn't cloud your mind.
- Water doesn't cry for water.
- The water is breaking the dam.
- Water will find a way.
Below, as examples, are phraseological units that are somehow related to water:
Beat the key– about a stormy, eventful, fertile life: by analogy with a gushing spring in comparison with calmly flowing sources of water.
Fight like a fish on ice- persistent but vain efforts, fruitless activities
Storm in a teacup- great anxiety over a trivial matter.
Written on the water with a pitchfork– it is not yet known how it will be, the outcome is not clear, by analogy: “grandmother said in two”
You can't spill it with water- about strong friendship
Carry water in a sieve- waste time, do useless things Similar to: pounding water in a mortar
I put water in my mouth- is silent and doesn't want to answer
Carry water(on sb.) - burden him with hard work, taking advantage of his flexible nature
Still waters run deep- about someone who is quiet, humble only in appearance
Come out dry from water- without bad consequences, go unpunished
Bring to light- to expose, to catch in a lie
Drive the wave- carry gossip, provoke scandals
Ninth wave- severe test (high wave)
Money is like water — meaning the ease with which they are spent
To stay afloat — be able to cope with circumstances and conduct business successfully
Blow on water after getting burned on milk- be overly cautious, remembering past mistakes
Wait by the sea for weather- wait for favorable conditions that are unlikely to happen
From empty to empty (pour)- engage in empty, meaningless reasoning
As two drops of water- similar, indistinguishable
Like looking into the water- foresaw, accurately predicted events, as if he knew in advance
How he sank into the water- disappeared without a trace, disappeared without a trace
Down in the mouth- sad, sad
It's raining like buckets- heavy rain
Like water through your fingers- one who easily escapes persecution
How do you not know the ford? , then don't go into the water- warning not to take hasty action
How to give something to drink- accurately, undoubtedly, easily, quickly; as easy as giving a traveler a drink
Like a fish in water- very well oriented, understand something well, feel confident
Like water off a duck's back- no one cares about anything
Out of the blue- unexpectedly, suddenly
A drop wears away a stone — 0b perseverance and perseverance
Sink into oblivion- To be consigned to oblivion, to disappear without a trace and forever
Crocodile tears- insincere compassion
Swim in gold- to be very rich
The ice has broken- the matter has begun
Fish in troubled waters- to benefit for oneself without advertising it
Much water has passed under the bridge(since then) - a lot of time has passed
Reckless- about a decisive, gallant, courageous person
Sea of tears- cry a lot
Darker than a cloud- very angry
Muddy the waters- deliberately confuse, confuse or cause confusion
On the wave of success- take advantage of the opportunity
On the crest of a wave- is in favorable conditions
At the bottom- low (including in a figurative sense)
Build up the atmosphere- exaggerate the seriousness of the situation
You cannot enter the same river (water) twice- you can enter the stream of water again, but it will no longer be the same, because in life you cannot repeat some moments, you cannot experience them twice
If we don't wash, we'll just ride- not in one way, but in another, by any means (to achieve something, to annoy someone). The expression comes from the speech of village washerwomen
Slurping not salty- return without profit
Live from bread to water- to be in poverty, to starve
To pour (water) from empty to empty- engage in monotonous, meaningless activities
Washing the bones- to slander, gossip, gossip about someone
Fill up the cup- make you nervous
To go with the flow- submit to the influence of circumstances, the course of events
After the rain on Thursday- never. The phraseological unit is associated with the veneration of the god Perun (the god of thunder and lightning) by the ancient Slavs. Thursday was dedicated to him. In Christian times the expression began to express complete distrust
Last straw- something after which a turning point occurs
Pass fire, water and copper pipes- survive life's trials, difficult situations
A dime a dozen- a large number of
Flog a dead horse- a useless matter Similarly:
Pound water in a mortar- engage in useless, empty work
Seventh water on jelly- distant relatives
Seven feet under the keel- have a good, unobstructed road
Don't drink water from your face- they persuade you to love a person not for external data, but for internal qualities or other less visible advantages.
Hide the ends in water- hide traces of the crime.
Quieter than water, below the grass- behave modestly, inconspicuously
Wash your hands- to distance yourself from something, to relieve oneself of responsibility for something. Among some ancient peoples, judges and prosecutors performed a symbolic ritual as a sign of their impartiality: they washed their hands. The expression became widespread thanks to the Gospel legend, according to which Pilate, forced to agree to the execution of Jesus, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said: “I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One.”
The sea bay has nothing to do with it. From the bay-flounder means “to act unexpectedly, thoughtlessly.” The phraseological unit is formed from the verbs “thump” and “flounder” and is associated with the image of a person who accidentally fell into the water and is forced to splash helplessly in it. The situation is so-so, so try to act thoughtfully, and not from the start.
2. Procrustean bed
You wouldn't want to end up in it. Procrustes is a hero of ancient Greek myths and a robber who caught travelers and subjected them to a kind of torture. He put people on his bed and checked whether it was the right length for them. If a person turned out to be shorter, then Procrustes stretched his legs; if he was longer, he chopped off his legs. It is noteworthy that the box was not enough for the robber himself, for which he subsequently paid.
The expression “Procrustean bed” is used when they try to fit some phenomenon to given standards, deliberately distorting it.
3. The muslin young lady
It should be clear who this “young lady” is, and “muslin” means “dressed in a dress made of muslin, thin cotton fabric.” This elegant but impractical outfit was popular at the end of the 18th century, but then went out of fashion and became a symbol of inability, affectation, effeminacy and even stupidity.
4. Enough of the irritation
Kondrashka is not a friendly neighbor, but a euphemism for a stroke or apoplexy. The expression means the same as “died suddenly.” It is believed that the disease was not called by its own name, so as not to accidentally inflict it on oneself: superstitious people believed that it worked. Sometimes Kondrashka is replaced with the more honorable Kondratiy.
5. On the zugunder
If someone threatens to take you on a zugunder, run. Because it means “to punish” or “to put on trial.” The phraseology came from the German language and dates back approximately to the 17th–19th centuries, when arrested soldiers were sentenced to one hundred blows with flexible whips, or spitzrutens. "Zu hundert" means "ko hundred" in German.
6. Tara-bars-rastabars
The expression has nothing to do with Rastafarian bars or the containers in which the products are packaged. It means "to chat in vain." The phraseological unit comes from the verbs “taratorit” and “tarabanit”, meaning “to chatter, idle talk”, and is most often used in conjunction with the verb “to babble”. Create taras-bars-rastabars in the bar.
7. Saddlebag
The opportunists and chameleons of all Rus' were called that way. Initially, the phrase meant a bag hanging on an animal. To ensure that the load was distributed evenly, the bag was divided into two parts and thrown over the saddle. Subsequently, the word “shifty” acquired a negative meaning: this is what they said about a person without principles who occupies the most advantageous position.
8. Breed turuses on wheels
Cowards have nothing to do with it. Turusa on wheels is a wooden siege tower covered with skins. These were used by the ancient Romans. Warriors were planted inside it to move the structure to the enemy’s fortress wall. Contemporaries of Alexander Pushkin did not believe that such towers could exist, so they said about everything incredible “to breed turuses on wheels,” meaning “to talk nonsense.”
9. Sing Lazarus
A very undignified occupation. A flattering beggar is called Lazarus, and the expression itself means “to complain about one’s fate, to pretend to be unhappy.” It came from the Gospel parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. According to it, Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate while he feasted and led a riotous lifestyle. After death, the beggar went to heaven, and the rich man went to hell. The rich man was suffering in hell from the heat and wanted Lazarus to give him water. But God refused him, saying that the rich man had already enjoyed life enough.
10. Throwing pearls before swine
Sounds like an interesting game, but it's not. This phraseology also came to us from the Gospel and is used in relation to a person who is unable or does not want to understand someone’s thoughts and feelings. The original text read: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.” In other words, don't waste your resources on those who will never appreciate it.
11. Not a big deal
A very useful expression if you are a teacher or boss. It means “to know and understand nothing” and is translated from Tatar as “he does not know.” At first in Rus' an ignoramus was called belmes, and then people noticed the sound similarity between the words “demon” and “belmes” and began to use the latter to mean “not a damn thing” and “doesn’t understand a damn thing.”
12. Rest in the Bose
This expression means “to die, pass away,” but is now more often used with an ironic connotation, “to cease to exist.” It came from the Church Slavonic language and was used in funeral prayers. The expression “to rest in God” literally means “to fall asleep in God,” that is, to give one’s soul to God. But you can use it in relation, for example, to closed projects and companies.
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rain cats and dogs – pouring like buckets
face like thunder - darker than a cloud
storm in a teacup - storm in a glass of water, much ado about nothing
chase rainbows – chase the unattainable
lightning-fast - lightning fast
have one "s head in the clouds - soar in the clouds
be snowed under – to be overloaded with work
be under the weather – to be unwell
twist in the wind – to languish
under and cloud – under suspicion
as right as rain - in perfect order
for a rainy day - for a rainy day
bolt from the blue – out of the blue
- 21 August 2018, 01:24
Goal like a falcon
The expression means extreme poverty, need.
Arshin swallowed
An expression denoting a person standing at attention or adopting a majestic, arrogant pose with a straight back.
Scapegoat
This is the name given to a person who has been given all the blame for some kind of failure or failure.
Screams at the top of Ivanovo
That is, he screams loudly, at the top of his voice, attracting attention.
Clear out these Augean stables
Deal with an incredibly neglected mess of cyclopean proportions.
bosom friend
Now a positive expression denoting a long-time and trusted friend. Previously it was negative, because I meant drinking buddy.
- 03 April 2013, 00:25
I
It won’t be me if... - I won’t justify my character, myself, my habits, if... It won’t be me if I don’t achieve my goal.
I will give you! (colloquially fam.) - an expression of threat. I'll let you steal apples!
I am for you (those, for you; colloquial) - used to express prohibition, threat. I'll lie on the couch for you!
I you (him, you, them; colloquial) - used to express a threat. Find out this very hour who dared to talk to me, I him! A. Pushkin.
APPLE
The apples have a horse color: with dark round small spots on the fur. Six dapple grays were walking at a fast trot from the Nikolsky Gate. A.N. Tolstoy.
An apple of discord is something that gives rise to a quarrel, discord, an object of contention [in ancient Greek. the myth of the apple presented by Paris to the goddess Aphrodite as a prize for beauty, and which served as the cause of discord between her and the goddesses Hera and Athena]. Among the movables was the famous tarantass, which almost served as a bone of contention between mother and son. M. Saltykov-Shchedrin.
There is nowhere for the apple to fall (colloquial) - (translated) about extreme cramped conditions. There is such a crush that there is no room for an apple to fall. N. Gogol. There were so many people in the church that there was nowhere for an apple to fall. A. Pisemsky.
BERRY
Our (one, our) field berry (colloquial fam.) - similar to someone. or suitable for smb. a person completely his own in spirit and behavior. Both in his position and in his mood, he was our berry. M Gorky.
LANGUAGE
Sticking out your tongue (run) (spacious) - quickly, without taking a breath. He rushed home, sticking out his tongue.
Keep your mouth shut - remain silent, don’t speak when you don’t need to. He knows how to keep his mouth shut.
Long tongue (who has) - (translated) about a talkative person. I don't like long tongues.
To bite your tongue is to refrain from speaking, to remain silent. Then Ivan Ignatich noticed that he had let it slip and bit his tongue. A. Pushkin.
Evil tongues - translation. about gossipers, slanderers, about people who spread malicious rumors about someone/something. Ah, evil tongues are worse than a pistol. A. Griboyedov. All this is said by evil tongues.
Broken tongue - distorted, with an incorrect pronunciation (about language, speech). In broken French, he had difficulty explaining what he needed.
In the language - in your speech, in your words. Why, I’ll tell you straight, should I be so intemperate with my tongue? A. Griboyedov. Sharp on the tongue.
In language - 1) used to denote a strong desire to say, speak out, pronounce something. These objections were on my tongue last spring. M. Saltykov-Shchedrin. There’s a word on the tip of my tongue, I can’t catch it. M. Gorky. 2) in speech, conversation. A drunk has what is on his mind and on his tongue. Proverb.
Common language (with someone - something) mutual understanding between someone - something. Find a common language with colleagues.
Hold your tongue (colloquial) - refrain from speaking, remain silent. Hold your tongue, it's too crowded here.
Swallow your tongue - about a silent person who cannot or does not want to say anything. - Tell me what's on your mind?
Well!.. why did you swallow your tongue? P. Melnikov-Pechersky.
Loose your tongue (colloquial) - 1) (to someone or something) to give an opportunity, encourage or force to talk. Your honey and velvety beer have loosened my tongue today. A.A. Pushkin. An unexpected circumstance happened that loosened his tongue. G. Uspensky. 2) (without additional) start talking, start talking a lot (after silence). It’s true that I loosened my tongue at the wrong time. I. Nikitin.
It came off the tongue - unexpectedly, suddenly become said, pronounced (colloquial). A final, inspired sound escaped his lips. I. Turgenev. The stupid word just rolled out of my mouth. I. Turgenev.
To pull or pull the tongue (colloquial) - to force one to speak, to speak out. No one is pulling your tongue.
A well-hung or hanging tongue about a person who speaks smartly, smoothly, well. He has a good tongue.
A tongue without bones (colloquial translation) - about a person who says unnecessary things. Now your tongue is boneless, now it’s boneless; he keeps on talking and talking. A. Ostrovsky.
The tongue will not dare to say - there is no determination to say. I wouldn't dare tell him now that I love him. L. Tolstoy, How did your tongue turn?
To wag your tongue (scratch, chat, grind; colloquial) - talk (in vain, to no avail, to pass time). Talk with your tongue, but don’t give free rein to your hands. Proverb.
Swallow your tongue - very tasty. They cook great cabbage soup - you'll swallow your tongue. P. Melnikov-Pechersky.
The tongue has loosened - someone (colloquial) - someone. got talking, started talking a lot (after silence). Tongues were loosened and a frank conversation began. Melnikov-Pechersky.
Scratch your tongue (colloquial) - talk in vain, to no avail, to pass time. Are you tired of scratching your tongue yet?
The tongue itches (colloquial) - there is a desire, I want to say, to speak out. My tongue itches to admit everything,
- 03 April 2013, 00:24
SKIRT
In a skirt (colloquial joke or ironic obsolete) - in a female form (usually equivalent to the word “woman” when applied to a word denoting some kind of profession, occupation, among those considered in bourgeois society to be the exclusive or predominant property of men ). Professor in a skirt (i.e. female professor). Sorry for my frankness, a sparrow can give any philosopher in a skirt ten points ahead. Chekhov.
hold on to whose skirt (colloquial fam. joke) - transl. not to show any independence, to obey someone in everything. What do you thank me for? - Because you don’t overdue, you don’t hold on to a woman’s skirt. L. Tolstoy.
HUMOR
Gallows humor [translation from German. Galgenhumor] (ironic) - jokes, witticisms of a person who is in desperate need of replenishment, who is in danger of death.
- 03 April 2013, 00:24
ENCYCLOPEDIA
A walking encyclopedia (joking) is a person from whom you can always make inquiries on a wide variety of subjects. We had our own walking encyclopedia in our class.
STAGE
By stage or stage (historical) - under the protection of special escort teams (about the method of transferring those arrested by the police in Tsarist Russia). For lack of legal identity, he was sent to his place of residence. A. Ostrovsky. In stages we lead thieves and convicts in chains. Nekrasov.
- 03 April 2013, 00:24
STEP
A few (or two, three) steps away - very close, very close. He lives two steps away from us.
At every step - incessantly, every now and then; everywhere, everywhere. Here, at every step, in the face of nature, his soul opened up to peaceful, soothing impressions. Goncharov. There are typos at every turn in this book.
Not one step or not a single step (do not move away, do not let go, etc.) - without leaving even a close distance. We will be with you, not a step away from you. Sukhovo-Kobylin. Sit with the patient day and night, without leaving a single step! A. Pushkin. Now I won’t let her go even one step away from me. A. Ostrovsky.
One step from what to what - transfer. about an easy transition from one thing to another, about a close connection between something. From hatred to love there is only one step, it is known. A. Pushkin. From the great to the ridiculous there is one step. Proverb.
First steps - transfer. initial period in some. activities. First steps in the career field. Achieve success from the first steps.
The first step (to take) is transfer. take the initiative in something, act first. I won't take the first step. L. Tolstoy.
Step by step (obsolete) - slowly, quietly. The animals trudge along step by step, their souls barely holding on. Krylov.
Step by step - gradually, measuredly, steadily. Step by step, the couple reached the descent machine among the crowd. Leukin. Step by step we got to the heart of the matter.
It is impossible (or cannot) take a step without someone - it is impossible (or cannot) be without someone. Without him, Mr. Polutykin could not take a step. Turgenev.
A step not to do for what - not to do anything (to achieve something). Turgenev did not take a step to return the property so illegally taken from him. Grigorovich.
CRAZY
A stray bullet is about a bullet that accidentally hits someone. Chu! long shot... A stray bullet buzzed. Lermontov. Killed by a stray bullet.
Easy money is money obtained without much effort. - I sewed this when I was still in the service. Then I had crazy money. A. Ostrovsky.
A CAP
Without hats (colloquial) - with bare heads. Without hats they crowd at the entrance. A.K. Tolstoy. A thief's hat is on fire - a saying about a guilty person who gives himself away.
Under a red hat - to become a soldier. How long does it take to fall under the red cap?
According to Senka, a hat (colloquial) - he deserves no more than what he has, that’s exactly what he deserves.
Let's throw our hats (colloquial fam.) - an expression of cheeky self-praise towards the enemy, meaning the confidence that the enemy is very easy to defeat. And if he comes to us with a new army, to a hungry land, we will throw our hats at them. A.K. Tolstoy.
Twist your hat - put it on one side in a jaunty way. Reckless and cheerful, he rides on a black horse, with his arms akimbo and his hat pulled back in a smart manner. Gogol.
To break one's hat - to whom (colloquial) - to bow humbly, ingratiatingly. Men in white shirts broke their hats in front of us. Babel.
To the head (to come, to appear; colloquial) - to the very end, to the end of something. Get dressed, mother, otherwise you'll come to a hat showdown. Leskov.
Casual acquaintance (colloquial) - an acquaintance devoid of any intimacy, in which they only bow when they meet. Our acquaintance was casual.
Cap acquaintance (colloquial) - an acquaintance with the Crimea there is only a casual acquaintance. I don’t really know anything about him, he’s just a casual acquaintance.
- 03 April 2013, 00:21
TEA
For tea (to give, to take; spacious, fam.) - reward for small services (to a doorman, waiter, etc.) in addition to salary.
Tip (give, take) - reward for small services (to a doorman, waiter, etc.) in addition to salary (pre-revolutionary custom). Here's a couple of rubles for your tip. Gogol. I’ll try to give you a tip, maybe I’ll find a room. Leukin.
For a cup of tea (to invite, call, etc.; colloquial) - to visit, to spend time over tea with a treat. In the fall of 1765, Catherine invited the dignitaries closest to the court to a cup of tea. Shishkov.
Tea and sugar or tea and sugar! (colloquially outdated) - greeting, good wishes to those who were caught drinking tea. - Tea and sugar! said Smolokurov, greeting his acquaintance. “You’re welcome for tea,” answered the corpulent, bald merchant. Melnikov-Pechersky.
HOUR
Admiral's hour (joking) - time to drink and have a snack. [From the time of Peter I, when meetings of the admiralty boards ended at 11 a.m. and it was time for lunch.]
For an hour (ironically) - for a short time, temporarily. “A Knight for an Hour” (the title of Nekrasov’s poem). King for a day.
Not by days, but by hours (colloquial) - very quickly, soon. And the child grows there by leaps and bounds. A. Pushkin.
The hour is uneven - used in the meaning. an introductory word to express fear of something. unexpected in the meaning: what if. - That’s it, you know, it’s better to have a receipt. The hour is uneven... anything can happen. Gogol.
From hour to hour (about something expected) - every minute, in the very near future. A thunderstorm could break out any hour now. The entire Korolev family, who had been waiting for their Volodya from hour to hour, rushed to the windows. Chekhov. Any hour now we should have expected Pugachev’s attack. A. Pushkin.
Hour by hour [hour without stroke.] - with each passing hour (to indicate the gradual strengthening or weakening of the degree of something). From hour to hour, danger and work become more dangerous and difficult. A. Pushkin. It doesn't get any easier hour by hour.
- 03 April 2013, 00:19
QUEEN
Queen of Heaven (obsolete) is one of the names of the Mother of God. A drunkard and a libertine such that the Queen of Heaven would not even bring him. Chekhov.
KINGDOM
Kingdom of heaven to whom (obsolete) - used when mentioning a deceased person, original. like a wish to go to heaven. I had an uncle - may he rest in heaven! Grigorovich.
TSAR
Someone who has a king in his head or with a king (or with his own king) in his head is smart; opposite without a king in my head (colloquial). You can go everywhere. - there would be a king in my head. Saltykov-Shchedrin. Somewhat stupid and, as they say, without a king in his head. Gogol. He liked to present himself more as an executor of someone else's idea than with his own king in his head. Dostoevsky.
Under Tsar Pea (joking) - in the immemorial past, a very long time ago. This all happened under Tsar Gorokh.
COLOR
In (in) the color of something (years, strength, etc.) - in the period of full development, blossoming of something. He died in the bloom of better days. Lermontov. Fades in the bloom of youth alive. A. Pushkin.
FLOWERS
These are only (or more) flowers (colloquial) - transl. about the very beginning, the embryo of something, mainly. bad, unwanted. These are flowers, and the berries are ahead. Proverb. - Just wait... These are still flowers, but there will already be berries! Saltykov-Shchedrin. These are just flowers, and the real fruit is ahead. Dostoevsky.
WHOLE
Entirely and completely (new) - the same as entirely, used for greater expressiveness.
In general - in general, without touching on particulars or details. As far as I can tell, (the commissioner) is a rather private person. But overall he seems nice. N. Nikitin.
PRICE
In price - very expensive, very expensive, highly valued. This product is now in price.
A penny is the price of something - 1) about a very cheap thing; 2) transfer about something that has no meaning. Take the money from him, the whole price is worthless to him. A. Ostrovsky.
At an expensive price - transfer. by spending a lot of effort, after a lot of stress, losses. The victory came at a high price.
To know the price of someone or something is peren. be able to appreciate, correctly evaluate someone. Know your worth. Know the price of flattery.
There is no price for someone - 1) about a very expensive thing; 2) transfer About someone of great importance, valuable in some way. relationships. This Annushka was good, submissive, serious - just like her mother. There would be no price for her if she had gotten another husband. Mamin-Sibiryak.
GYPSY
Gypsy sweat (breaks through; jokingly, outdated) - chills, feeling of cold. But as soon as the cold starts, the gypsy sweat will begin to break through. Leukin.
- 03 April 2013, 00:18
HAM
Hamovo's spawn (despise, abuse, obsolete) - original. was used by people from the privileged classes to designate people from the exploited classes of society and was widely used as a curse word. [After the name of the biblical Ham, the disrespectful son of Noah.] - Why did he file a crime against me? Well, aren't you a boorish brat? Chekhov.
CHARACTER
In whose character - characteristic of someone. It's not in your nature to regret it. Turgenev.
Maintain character (colloquial) - do not reveal weaknesses, remain firm, true to yourself. He remained silent for three days, maintaining his temper.
HATA
My house is on the edge (colloquial) - this doesn’t concern me, it’s a silent matter, I don’t want to deal with anything. Let the one who is to blame answer, my house is on the edge.
GRAB, GRAB
There are not enough stars from the sky (colloquial upon.) - nothing outstanding, modest abilities. He is an experienced engineer, but there are not enough stars in the sky.
Grabbing the head or hair (colloquial) - transl. come to your senses, come to your senses, remembering that something has been done. not this way. After these troubles, he grabbed his head, but it was too late to do anything.
Grab your wits - become smarter, come to your senses. - And now they’ve come to their senses, but it’s too late, my friend: everyone has long known that he is our regimental sharper. L. Tolstoy.
Enough hot to tears (colloquial fam.) - translated. experience something unpleasant.
Grab the quick (colloquial) - greatly excite, excite, touching something. intimate, very dear, important to someone. He touched many people with his story.
Enough (intercept) over the edge (colloquial fam.) - say something. unnecessary, to do something. completely inappropriate. Well, okay, I got excited and went overboard - is it really possible to be angry with an old man? Kuprin.
Grab-praise (spacious) - grabbed, began to look for (something that had disappeared, lost). Grab, grab, no chervonets! Saltykov-Shchedrin. The next morning, praise and praise, there is no Parasha, and that’s enough! Grigorovich.
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FACT
The fact is that (colloquial) - the fact is that... [under the influence of the expression “the fact is that” is sometimes wrong, they also say “the fact is that”]. The fact is that I forgot my books at home.
FANFARE
To blow a fanfare [wrong, the interpretation of the word “fanfare” as a “trumpet” in general] (iron.) - translated. make a fuss about something, talk noisily about something, proclaim something.
STYLE
Keep the style (spacious) - put on airs, force yourself. Nervous, keep it in style.
Not a style (spacious) - not suitable, should not be. It's not fashionable to do this.
FERT
stand (look, stare, etc.) with your arms akimbo (so that it looks like the letter “f”), cheekily, brazenly. Hands on hips, look with enthusiasm, look with fervor - we look and just spit. Dostoevsky. The guy is a craftsman - he looks like a devil. Nekrasov.
FIG
To look (look) at a book and see a fig (colloquial fam.) - to understand nothing. I, brother, if it’s written in German, then I look at the book and see a fig. Leukin. Another looks at the matter and sees it as a fig. Saltykov-Shchedrin.
Fig with butter (spacious, fam.) - about the fruitless outcome of something. affairs, requests. You'll get a fig with butter.
Fig leaf - 1) an image of a leaf (originally a fig leaf) in place of the genitals of naked figures in sculpture; 2) transfer a hypocritical cover for deliberately shameless actions and dishonest actions. They cover themselves with fig leaves so that no one notices what is being done behind them. Sheller-Mikhailov.
INCENSE
To smoke or burn incense to someone (book) - translated. flatter, flatteringly praise someone. I smoked incense for others, but I carried you in the shrine of my heart. Baratynsky.
FLAG
To keep (your) flag where (marine) - to have a stay (on some kind of ship). The admiral held the flag on the battleship.
Stay behind the flag - trans. fall behind others, fail to achieve the goal. Auntie completed the difficult mission so quickly and deftly that all the rival parties remained behind the flag. Saltykov-Shchedrin.
Under whose flag (mar.) - having someone on board. (which is indicated by raising a certain flag). The squadron sailed under the flag of the fleet commander.
BACKGROUND
Von Baron (colloquially joked) is an arrogant, arrogant, overly self-important person. What kind of von baron are you that you can’t even say a word?
FRONT
Change the front (book) - change the line of behavior, the direction of activity.
On two fronts - in two directions. You can't work on two fronts. ugh
Fu-you, well-you (colloquial) - 1) used to express surprise (with exclamation intonation). - Fu-you, well-you got scared! Even the veins are shaking. Chekhov. 2) used to express smug satisfaction. - She married a good man and a rich man, and walked like a peahen... Ew, well, well! Is it not life? A. Ostrovsky.
LB
That's a pound! (spacious) - an expression of surprise or disappointment. That's a pound! Was I really that drunk! Leukin.
Not a pound of raisins (colloquial joke) - not a trifle, not a trifle. This is not a pound of raisins!
CASE
Man in a case - trans. a person isolated in a circle of narrow, philistine interests, afraid of any innovations and assessing every matter from an official, formal point of view [from the title of the story. A.P. Chekhov]. It’s not at all interesting to talk to him, he’s a man in a case.
