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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> To email me use the address below but remove the space between meri and lang. I am trying to avoid spam :meri lang@meirionnydd.force9.co.uk |
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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. |
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Без муки нет науки |
Adversity is a good teacher. There is no science without trouble |
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с миру по нитке голому рубашка |
Every little helps. |
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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.] |
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Пугана ворона куста боится |
A burnt child dreads the fire Once bitten, twice shy |
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Друзья познаются в беде |
A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
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Ворон ворону глаз не выклюет. |
A raven will not peck the eye of another raven |
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Мягко стелет, да жёстко спать. |
A soft made bed may still be hard to sleep in. Beware of attractive offers. |
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Слово не воробей - вылетит не поймаешь. |
A word is not a sparrow; when it flies out you can not catch it. |
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Ночью все кошки серы. |
All cats are grey at night. |
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Все дороги ведут в Рим. |
All roads lead to Rome |
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Всё полезно, что в рот полезло. |
All that gets into the mouth is useful. It's all grist to the mill. |
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Не всё то золото, что блестит. |
All that glitters is not gold. |
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Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается. |
All's well that ends well. |
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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. |
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Дорого яичко ко христову дню. |
An egg is valuable to Christ's day (Easter). |
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Око за око, зуб за зуб. |
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. |
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Незваный гость хуже татарина. |
An uninvited visitor is worse than a Tatar. |
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Семь бед - один ответ |
As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb. |
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Как постелешь, так и поспишь. |
As you make your bed, so you must lie on it. |
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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. |
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Лучшее - враг хорошего. |
Best is the enemy of Good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. |
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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 |
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Волк плохой, но он понятный |
Better the devil you know. |
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Лучше умереть от обжорства, чем от голода |
Better to die of gluttony than starvation. |
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Берегись тихой собаки да тихой воды. |
Beware of a quiet dog and still water. Still waters run deep. |
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Узнают птицу по полёту. |
By their actions ye shall know them. Actions speak better than words. |
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В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не суйся.
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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. |
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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. |
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От сумы да от тюрьмы не зарекайся.
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Do not renounce the pauper's bag and prison. Never say "never". There but for the grace of God go I. |
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Не говори "Гоп", пока не перепрыгнул. |
Do not say "I'm up" you jump. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched |
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Не хвались, идучи на рать. |
Do not swagger going to battle. Pride comes before a fall |
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Не в свои сани не садись.
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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. |
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Нельза на зеркало пенять, коли рожа крива. |
Don't blame the mirror if your face is crooked. Don't shoot the messenger |
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- Цыплят по осени считают. |
Don't count your chickens before they hatch. |
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Лежачего не бьют |
Don't hit a man when he's down. |
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Дарёному коню в зубы не глядят |
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. |
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Не давши слово - держись, а давши - крепись |
Don't promise lightly but having given your word, keep it. |
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Не кладите все яйца в одну |
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. - |
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Лошадей на переправе не меняют |
Don't swap horses in mid stream |
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пиво без водки - деньги на ветер (toast) |
Drinking the beer without vodka is simply to spend money |
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Капля камень точит. |
Dripping water wears away the stone. |
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Яйца курицу не учат. |
Eggs cannot teach a hen. Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs. |
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Выпивали - веселились, подсчитали - прослезились
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Enjoy when drinking (vodka), - cry when calculating. Take your pleasure, repent at leisure. |
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С паршивой овцы хоть шерсти клок.
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Even a tuft of wool from a mangy sheep. Anything is better than nothing |
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И бородавка - телу прибавка. |
Even a wart adds something to the body. |
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И на старуху бывает проруха |
Even an old women can make a mistake. You're never too old to learn. |
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На миру и смерть красна. |
Even death is beautiful if you are not alone. |
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Куда ни кинь - всё клин. |
Everywhere you cast - all is a wedge. Between the rock and the hard place. |
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Добрая слава лежит, а дурная бежит. |
Fame travels slowly, notoriety travels fast. |
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Для милого дружка хоть серёжку из ушка |
For a dear friend even the ear-ring from one's ear. For a friend -- anything. |
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На всякого мудреца довольно простоты |
For each wise man there is quite enough silliness. |
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Дружба - дружбой, а табачок врозь. |
Friendship is one thing, but tobacco is another matter. |
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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. |
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Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог даёт. |
God gives to him who gets up early. The early bird catches the worm. |
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Бережёного Бог бережёт. |
God takes care of the one who takes care of himself. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Лень - мать всех пороков. |
Idleness is the mother of all vices. The Devil makes work for idle hands. |
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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. |
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Если бы да кабы ..... . . |
If ifs and ans were pots and pans .... |
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Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла! |
If only youth could know and old age could do! |
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Недосол - на столе, пересол - на спине.
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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. |
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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. |
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Поспешишь - людей насмешишь. |
If you are in too much of a hurry you may be laughed at. More haste less speed |
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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. |
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Назвался груздём - полезай в кузов. |
If you claim to be a mushroom, get into the basket. If the cap fits (wear it). |
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Кабы знать, где упадёшь - соломки бы подстелил. |
If you knew where you would fall. you would spread some straw. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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На вкус и цвет - товарищей нет. |
In matters of taste and colour no one has friends |
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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. |
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В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше. |
It is nice to go away, but better to come home. Home is where the heart is. |
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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. |
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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. |
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После драки кулаками не машут. |
It's no good waving your fists after the fight. To flog a dead horse |
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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. |
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Это вода на нашу мельницу |
It's water to our mill [helps our cause] It's all grist to the mill |
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Всяк сверчок - знай свой шесток. |
Let every cricket know his own hearth. The cobbler should stick to his last. |
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не зная броду, не суйся в воду |
Look before you leap. |
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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 |
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Любовь зла - полюбишь и козла. |
Love is vicious - you can fall in love with the billy-goat. Love is blind. |
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Ешь щи с мясом, а нет так, хлеб с квасом. |
Make do and mend. Make the best of things. |
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Нужда всему научит |
Necessity is the mother of invention |
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Не откладывай на завтра то, что можно сделать сегодня |
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. |
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Нет ничего постояннее, чем сделанное временно |
Nothing lasts longer than that which is done temporarily. |
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Со своим самоваром в Тулу не ездят. |
One does not go to Tula with one's own samovar. Don't take coals to Newcastle |
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Рыбак рыбака видит издалека. |
One fisherman sees another from afar. It takes one to know one. |
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Пришла беда - отворяй ворота. |
Open gate when disaster is coming. Know when to quit. |
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С глаз долой из сердца вон. Прочь из виду, прочь из памяти. |
Out of sight - out of mind ditto |
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из огня да в полымя. |
Out of the fire into the flame Out of the frying-pan into the fire. |
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Вали кулём, потом разберём! |
Put it all in one heap, we'll sort out later |
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Тише едешь - дальше будешь. |
Riding slowly you will get more distant places. More haste, less speed. |
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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 |
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Кому пироги да пышки, а кому синяки да шишки. |
Some get cakes and buns, some get bruises and bumps. |
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В тихом омуте черти водятся. |
Still waters run deep. |
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По одёжке протягивай ножки.
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Stretch your legs according to your clothes. Cut your suit according to your cloth. |
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Дают - бери, бьют - беги. |
Take what is offered and run if they chase you. |
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Дурака учить - что мёртвого лечить. |
Teaching a fool is the same as curing a dead man. |
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Апетит приходит во время еды. |
The appetite comes during a meal. Enthusiasm comes with doing the job. |
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аппетит приходит во время еды |
the appetite comes with eating |
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Сколько верёвочка не вейся, а кончику быть. |
The cord may wind long but the end must appear. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
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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 |
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Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют. |
The devil is not so black as he is painted. |
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Страшен сон - да милостив Бог. |
The dream is terrible but the Lord is merciful. |
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Kонец - делу венец. |
The end is the crown of any work. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. |
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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. |
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Утро вечера мудренее. |
The morning is wiser than the evening = Sleep on it. |
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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). * |
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Гром не грянет - мужик не перекрестится. |
The peasant will not cross himself until it begins to thunder. |
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Плетью обуха не перешибёшь
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The weakest goes to the wall [you can't break an axe head with a whip] |
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Нет худа без добра |
There is no bad without good. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
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На милость нет образца. |
There is no standard for charity. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth |
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Время - деньги. |
Time is money. |
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Время - лучший лекарь |
Time is the best healer. |
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Время не ждёт |
Time waits for no one. |
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Всему свое время. Всякому овощу своё время. |
To everything there is a season. Every has its season. |
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Убить двух зайцев одним выстрелом. Одним ударом двух мух убить. |
To kill two birds with one stone. |
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На бога надейся, а сам - не здошай. |
Trust in God but don't be a fool yourself |
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Правда глаза колет. |
Truth splits the eyes. Nothing hurts like the truth |
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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 |
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Под лежачий камень вода не течёт |
Water does not flow under a stationary stone. Nothing venture nothing gain. / No pain, no gain. |
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Что имеем - не храним, потерявши - плачем. |
We do not appreciate the value of a thing until we have lost it). |
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что с воза упало, то пропало |
What has fallen from the cart is lost. There's no use crying over spilt milk |
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Бедному жениться - ночь коротка. |
When a poor man marries the night is very short. flippant version ? Diamonds are a girl's best friends. |
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Взялся за гуж - не говори, что не дюж.
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When taking hold of the rope do not say "I can't". In for a penny, in for a pound. |
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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. |
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Где тонко - там и рвётся. |
Where something is thin, that's where it tears [the weakest link]. |
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Где хотенье, там и уменье |
Where there is a will there is a way. |
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Пока живу - надеюсь |
While there's life there's hope. |
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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. |
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Без труда не выловишь и рыбку из пруда |
Without trouble you won't get even a fish from the pond. Nothing venture nothing gain. |
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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. |
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Рад бы в рай - да грехи не пускают. |
Would be glad to get to paradise but sin does not allow it. |
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Рад бы в рай - да грехи не пускают. |
Would be glad to get to paradise but sinners go not there. |
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Выше головы не прыгнешь. |
You can not jump above your head. Everyone has his limitations. Know when you are beaten! |
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На всякое чихание не наздравствуешься. |
You can't say, "Bless you!" for every sneeze |
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Дорого да мило, дешево да гнило. |
You get what you pay for. |
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Перед смертью не надышишься. |
You only live once. |
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Что посеешь - то и пожнёшь. |
You reap what you sow. |
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Своя рубашка к телу ближе. |
Your own shirt is nearer to your body. Charity begins at home. |
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Follow the wizard for Russian tuition -- residential or by post |
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