Funny Russian expressions discussed in the different episodes of Very Much Russian podcast.
хорошее дело браком не назовут
no good deal can be called marriage/defect
хорошая мысля приходит опосля
~ good thoughts come afterwards, describes the cases when the right solution to a situation comes much later when it was needed
изюмительный
something amazing, interesting; comes from изумительный (amazing) and изюм (raisin)
что такое не везет и как с ним бороться
what is “not lucky” and how to fight it
никогда такого не было, и вот опять
It never happened before, and here again.
сопли в сахаре
snot in sugar (about something extremely tearful and sugary, like movies or stories)
те же яйца, только в профиль
the same balls, only in profile (equivalent of “the same dish, just under a different souce”)
цирк уехал, клоуны остались
The circus has left, the clowns have stayed.
Describes a situation when the people around behave inadequately, weird, silly or just fool around.
добровольно-принудительный
Voluntary-compulsory.
Comes from the time of the USSR and is applied to actions committed by the individual as if in the name of the Great Idea, but in fact under fear of punishment.
a good thought comes after (i.e. a good idea always comes post factum)
что ни съем, то понадкусываю
What I don’t eat, I bite.
Comes from an Ukranian anecdote.
чем бы дитя не тешилось, лишь бы траву не курило
Whatever the child is doing, the most important that he/she does not smoke grass.
хочешь как лучше, а получается как всегда
you want it as best but it ends up as always
вот где собака порылась!
distorted variant of ‘вот где собака порылась’, means the same
офисный планктон
office plankton (small office employees)
только шнурки поглажу
a way to refuse to do something (just wait me while I’m ironing my laces)
сиди, я сам открою
a description of a dumb person, comes from an anecdote
это было давно и неправда
(lit: it was a long time ago and it’s not true) about something that chanded since then
как всё запущено…
(lit. – how much neglected is everything) what a sad state of affairs! what a disaster! [used to express the fact that the things could be better if one took care about them]
меня не кантовать
(lit. – do not turn me over) do not disturb me, don’t bother me
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