В тесноте, да не в обиде
With accent marks:
В тесноте́, да не в оби́де.
Translation:
Crowded, but not aggrieved.
Meaning:
This Russian proverb dates back to the XVII-XVIII centuries, when people used to live very tightly in peasant huts. Оne room could accommodate a father, a mother, their already adult sons with their wives and children. But if the family was friendly, then crowding did not bother anyone, everyone got along peacefully.
Nowadays, the proverb is sometimes remembered when a lot of people get into public transport at rush hour. Since everyone needs to go, nobody should complain.
The closest English equivalents of this proverb are: "the more the merrier" and "plenty is no plague"
Other Russian proverbs
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Measure seven times, cut one.
-
Your own shirt is closer to your body.
-
Чем дальше в лес, тем больше дров
The further into the forest, the more firewood is there.
-
The beauty of a debt is its payment
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На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай
Put your trust in God, but don't make mistakes yourself
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Where it is thin, it breaks.
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Заставь дурака богу молиться – он и лоб расшибёт
Make a fool pray to God - he will break his forehead.
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Where there is no fish even a crayfish is a fish.
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