RUSSIAN PROVERBS

New additions are added at the top

In fact it's all new at present as I have only just found time to get it into some sort of order and upload it.

Translation in black, English equivalent expressions in blue

A pink asterisk * means I'd be glad of a clue to the hidden meaning <g>

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 :meri lang@meirionnydd.force9.co.uk

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Без отдыха, и конь не скачет

 All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Even a horse will not jump with no rest.

 Без муки нет науки

 Adversity is a good teacher.

There is no science without trouble

 с миру по нитке голому рубашка

 Every little helps.

Всё что ни делается, всё к лучшему.

It's all for the best

[Something unwelcome has happened but may may be a good thing in the end.]  

 Пугана ворона куста боится

A burnt child dreads the fire   Once bitten, twice shy

Друзья познаются в беде

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Ворон ворону глаз не выклюет.

A raven will not peck the eye of another raven

Мягко стелет, да жёстко спать.

A soft made bed may still be hard to sleep in. Beware of attractive offers.

Слово не воробей - вылетит не поймаешь.

A word is not a sparrow; when it flies out you can not catch it.

Ночью все кошки серы.

All cats are grey at night.

Все дороги ведут в Рим. 

All roads lead to Rome

Всё полезно, что в рот полезло.

All that gets into the mouth is useful. It's all grist to the mill.

Не всё то золото, что блестит.

All that glitters is not gold.

Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается.

All's well that ends well.

Ласковое теля двух маток сосётн - брюха не расколет.

An affectionate calf sucks two mothers. (A flatterer gains double profit).

Flattery will get you everywhere.

opposite -Flattery will get you nowhere.

Дорого яичко ко христову дню.

An egg is valuable to Christ's day (Easter).

Око за око, зуб за зуб.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Незваный гость хуже татарина.

An uninvited visitor is worse than a Tatar.

Семь бед - один ответ

 As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.

 Как постелешь, так и поспишь.

 As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.

Посади свинью за стол - она и ноги на стол. .

Ask a pig to sit at the dinner table it will put its legs on the table. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Лучшее - враг хорошего.

Best is the enemy of Good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Лучше синица в руках, чем утка под кроватью.

Better a bluetit in the hand than a duck under the bed.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Волк плохой, но он понятный

Better the devil you know.

Лучше умереть от обжорства, чем от голода

Better to die of gluttony than starvation.

Берегись тихой собаки да тихой воды.

Beware of a quiet dog and still water. Still waters run deep.

Узнают птицу по полёту.

By their actions ye shall know them.

Actions speak better than words.

В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не суйся.

 

Do not come in another's monastery with your own Charter. Do not teach your hosts what to do.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Не рой яму ближнему - сам в неё попадёшь.

Do not dig a hole for someone else or you yourself will fall into it you'll be hoist on your own petard.

От сумы да от тюрьмы не зарекайся.  

 

Do not renounce the pauper's bag and prison. Never say "never".

There but for the grace of God go I.

Не говори "Гоп", пока не перепрыгнул.

Do not say "I'm up" you  jump. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched

Не хвались, идучи на рать.

Do not swagger going to battle. Pride comes before a fall

Не в свои сани не садись.

 

Do not try to sit in the sledge not belonging to you. (Do not try to take up a post for which you are not qualified).

Do not get ideas above your station.

Нельза на зеркало пенять, коли рожа крива.      

Don't blame the mirror if your face is crooked.

Don't shoot the messenger

- Цыплят по осени считают.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Лежачего не бьют

Don't hit a man when he's down.

 Дарёному коню в зубы не глядят

 Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Не давши слово - держись, а давши - крепись

Don't promise lightly but having given your word, keep it.

Не кладите все яйца в одну
корзину.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. -

Лошадей на переправе не меняют

Don't swap horses in mid stream

 пиво без водки - деньги на ветер (toast)

Drinking the beer without vodka is simply to spend money

Капля камень точит.

Dripping water wears away the stone.

Яйца курицу не учат.

Eggs cannot teach a hen. Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

Выпивали - веселились, подсчитали - прослезились

 

Enjoy when drinking (vodka), - cry when calculating.

Take your pleasure, repent at leisure.

С паршивой овцы хоть шерсти клок.

 

Even a tuft of wool from a mangy sheep. Anything is better than nothing

И бородавка - телу прибавка.

Even a wart adds something to the body.

И на старуху бывает проруха

Even an old women can make a mistake.

You're never too old to learn.

На миру и смерть красна.

Even death is beautiful if you are not alone.

Куда ни кинь - всё клин.

Everywhere you cast - all is a wedge. Between the rock and the hard place.

Добрая слава лежит, а дурная бежит.     

Fame travels slowly, notoriety travels fast.

Для милого дружка хоть серёжку из ушка

For a dear friend even the ear-ring from one's ear.         For a friend -- anything.

На всякого мудреца довольно простоты

For each wise man there is quite enough silliness.

Дружба - дружбой, а табачок врозь.

Friendship is one thing, but tobacco is another matter.

Из чужих саней среди грязи долой!

From someone else's sledge you get out in the dirt. (If you take up a post for which you are not qualified you will find yourself in very dangerous circumstances) Don't bite off more than you can chew.

Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог даёт.

God gives to him who gets up early.

The early bird catches the worm.

Бережёного Бог бережёт.

God takes care of the one who takes care of himself.

Обжегшись на молоке, дуют на воду.

в юмористическом варианте: Обжегшись на молоке дуют водку.

Having been burnt by milk, one blows on water. Once burned, twice shy.

humorus version: Having been burnt by milk, one blows on vodka.

Снявши голову, по волосам не плачут.

Having cut off the head, do not cry for the hairs. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

Сколько волка не корми, а он всё в лес глядит.

However much you feed a wolf it will still looks to the forest.

The leopard cannot change his spots.

Лень - мать всех пороков.

Idleness is the mother of all vices. The Devil makes work for idle hands.

Если бы да кабы, да во рту росли грибы (бобы). (То был бы не рот, а целый огород).

If ifs and ands were pots and pans, mushrooms [beans] would grow in the mouth. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Если бы да кабы ..... . .

If ifs and ans were pots and pans ....

Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла!

If only youth could know and old age could do!

Недосол - на столе, пересол - на спине.

 

If the cook puts too little salt in the food it can be corrected during a meal, if he puts too much his back is to be beaten.

You can put more in but you can't take it out.

Волков бояться -- в лес не ходить.

If you are afraid of the wolf, don't go into the forest. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Поспешишь - людей насмешишь.

If you are in too much of a hurry you may be laughed at.

More haste less speed

За двумя зайцами погонишься, ни одного не поймаешь

If you chase two hares, you won't catch either. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Назвался груздём - полезай в кузов.

If you claim to be a mushroom, get into the basket. If the cap fits (wear it).

Кабы знать, где упадёшь - соломки бы подстелил.

If you knew where you would fall. you would spread some straw.

Век живи - век учись. (Дураком помрёшь).

If you live hundred years, you never stop learning. (Nevertheless you will die a fool). You live and learn.

Ври да не завирайся.

If you tell lies,don't become tangled in lies. Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive. Sir Walter Scott

Я не так богат, чтобы покупать дешевые вещи.

Где дешево там и дорого.

Дешевое наводит на дорогое.

I'm not rich enough to buy cheaply

Cheap goods are expensive.

i.e. buying cheap is a false economy

На вкус и цвет - товарищей нет.

In matters of taste and colour no one has friends

На чужой роток не накинешь платок.

It is impossible to throw a kerchief over someone else's mouth. You can't guarantee another's silence.

В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше.

It is nice to go away, but better to come home.

Home is where the heart is.

Безумно жить одной мечтой; ещё глупей не иметь ни одной.

It may be mad to live by a dream, but it is insane to live without one.

Безумно жить одной мечтой; ещё глупей не иметь ни одной.

It may be insane to live in a dream.... but it is madness to live without one.

После драки кулаками не машут.

It's no good waving your fists after the fight. To flog a dead horse  

Не всё коту масленица - бывает и великий пост..

It's not always Pancake week for the cat. You have to take the rough with the smooth.

Это вода на нашу мельницу

It's water to our mill [helps our cause] It's all grist to the mill

Всяк сверчок - знай свой шесток.

Let every cricket know his own hearth.

The cobbler should stick to his last.

не зная броду, не суйся в воду  

Look before you leap.

Уcпаси меня Бог от друзей, а от врагов я сам спасусь.

Lord, rescue me from friends, from enemies I can rescue myself. With friends like that, who needs enemies

Любовь зла - полюбишь и козла.

Love is vicious - you can fall in love with the billy-goat. Love is blind.

Ешь щи с мясом, а нет так, хлеб с квасом.

 Make do and mend.     Make the best of things.

Нужда всему научит

Necessity is the mother of invention

Не откладывай на завтра то, что можно сделать сегодня

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Нет ничего постояннее, чем сделанное временно

Nothing lasts longer than that which is done temporarily.

Со своим самоваром в Тулу не ездят.

One does not go to Tula with one's own samovar. Don't take coals to Newcastle

Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.

One fisherman sees another from afar.

It takes one to know one.

Пришла беда - отворяй ворота.

Open gate when disaster is coming. Know when to quit.

С глаз долой из сердца вон.

Прочь из виду, прочь из памяти.

Out of sight - out of mind

ditto

из огня да в полымя.

Out of the fire into the flame

Out of the frying-pan into the fire.

Вали кулём, потом разберём!

Put it all in one heap, we'll sort out later

Тише едешь - дальше будешь.

Riding slowly you will get more distant places.

More haste, less speed.

 Рим строился не в один день.

Москва не сразу строилась.

 Rome was not build in a day.

The Moscow one comes from the title song of the film Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears

Кому пироги да пышки, а кому синяки да шишки.

Some get cakes and buns, some get bruises and bumps.

 В тихом омуте черти водятся.

 Still waters run deep.

По одёжке протягивай ножки.

 

Stretch your legs according to your clothes. Cut your suit according to your cloth.

Дают - бери, бьют - беги.

Take what is offered and run if they chase you.

Дурака учить - что мёртвого лечить.

Teaching a fool is the same as curing a dead man.

Апетит приходит во время еды.

The appetite comes during a meal. Enthusiasm comes with doing the job.

аппетит приходит во время еды

the appetite comes with eating

Сколько верёвочка не вейся, а кончику быть.

The cord may wind long but the end must appear.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Куда конь с копытом - туда и рак с клешнёй.

The crab with his claw tries to take the same way as the horse with his hoof. Don't try to run before you can walk

Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют.

The devil is not so black as he is painted.

Страшен сон - да милостив Бог.

The dream is terrible but the Lord is merciful.

Kонец - делу венец.

The end is the crown of any work. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Первая - колом, вторая - соколом, а третья - мелкой пташечкой.

 The first (glass of vodka) goes like a post, the second like a falcon and the third like a little bird.

Утро вечера мудренее.

The morning is wiser than the evening = Sleep on it.

Блин не клин - брюха не расколет.

The pancake is not like a wedge- it will not split your belly. (Do not worry eating many pancakes). *

Гром не грянет - мужик не перекрестится.  

The peasant will not cross himself until it begins to thunder.

Плетью обуха не перешибёшь      

 

The weakest goes to the wall [you can't break an axe head with a whip]

Нет худа без добра

There is no bad without good.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

 На милость нет образца.

There is no standard for charity. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth 

Время - деньги.

Time is money.

Время - лучший лекарь

Time is the best healer.

Время не ждёт

Time waits for no one.

Всему свое время.

Всякому овощу своё время.

To everything there is a season.

Every has its season.

 Убить двух зайцев одним выстрелом. Одним ударом двух мух убить.

 To kill two birds with one stone.

 На бога надейся, а сам - не здошай.

 Trust in God but don't be a fool yourself

  Правда глаза колет.

  Truth splits the eyes. Nothing hurts like the truth  

За двумя зайцами погонишься - ни одного зайца не поймаешь!

Trying to catch two hares, you lose both.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Под лежачий камень вода не течёт

Water does not flow under a stationary stone. Nothing venture nothing gain. / No pain, no gain.

Что имеем - не храним, потерявши - плачем.

We do not appreciate the value of a thing until we have lost it).

что с воза упало, то пропало

What has fallen from the cart is lost. There's no use crying over spilt milk

Бедному жениться - ночь коротка.

When a poor man marries the night is very short.

flippant version ? Diamonds are a girl's best friends.

Взялся за гуж - не говори, что не дюж.

 

When taking hold of the rope do not say "I can't". In for a penny, in for a pound.

На безрыбье и рак - рыба.

When there are no fish, even the crab can be one. Any port in a storm.

Better to be a large fish in a small pond.

Где тонко - там и рвётся.

Where something is thin, that's where it  tears [the weakest link].

Где хотенье, там и уменье

 Where there is a will there is a way.

Пока живу - надеюсь

While there's life there's hope.

С кем поведёшься - от того и наберёшься.

Whomsoever you consort with, something is bound to rub off on you. If you sup with the devil, use a long spoon.

Без труда не выловишь и рыбку из пруда

Without trouble you won't get even a fish from the pond. Nothing venture nothing gain.

Работа не волк - в лес не убежит.

Work is not like wolf - it won't run away. Never do today what you can do tomorrow.

Рад бы в рай - да грехи не пускают.

Would be glad to get to paradise but sin does not allow it.

Рад бы в рай - да грехи не пускают.  

Would be glad to get to paradise but sinners go not there.

Выше головы не прыгнешь.

You can not jump above your head. Everyone has his limitations. Know when you are beaten!

На всякое чихание не наздравствуешься.

You can't say, "Bless you!" for every sneeze

Дорого да мило, дешево да гнило.

You get what you pay for.

Перед смертью не надышишься.  

You only live once.

Что посеешь - то и пожнёшь.

You reap what you sow.

Своя рубашка к телу ближе.

Your own shirt is nearer to your body. Charity begins at home.

  

 

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