This section of the magazine – “Moscow Vocabulary” – was born of remembering … Ronald Reagan, who appeared to be a fan – and collector – of Russian proverbs and sayings. Well, and we would like to guide you into a world of Russian idioms – just as bright and colorful.
ВИДНО КАК НА ЛАДОНИ – vidno kak na ladoni.
(Seen as if it were on the palm of one’s hand)
Explanation: Easy to see or comprehend.
ВЗВЕШИВАТЬ СВОИ СЛОВА – vzveshivat’ svoi slova.
(To weigh one’s words)
Explanation: To choose or to use one’s words with deliberation.
ВЗДОХНУТЬ СВОБОДНО – vzdokhnut’ svobodno.
(To breathe freely)
Explanation: To feel relieved of one’s cares or troubles.
БРАТЬ С ПОТОЛКА – brat’ s potolka.
(To take something from the ceiling)
Explanation: To say something without thinking.
БРАТЬСЯ ЗА УМ – brattsa za um.
(To take oneself by the mind)
Explanation: To become sensible.
ТЯЖЕЛ НА ПОДЪЕМ – tazhol na podyom.
(Heavy on the rise)
Explanation: Slow or unwilling to do something.
ПОСТАВИТЬ ВСЕ НА КАРТУ – postavit’ vse na kartu.
(To put everything on the card)
Explanation: To risk all that one has.
ПОСЛЕ ДОЖДИЧКА В ЧЕТВЕРГ – posle dozhdichka v chetverg.
(After a little rain on Thursday)
Explanation: No one knows when or never.
ЛЕЗТЬ В ДУШУ – lezt’ v dushu.
(To climb into someone’s soul)
Explanation: To try to find out someone’s intimate feelings, thoughts.
СМОТРЕТЬ ДРУГИМИ ГЛАЗАМИ – smotret’ drugimi glazami.
(To look at someone or something with different eyes)
Explanation: To look at someone or something in a different way.
ПРИЛОЖИТЬ РУКУ к чему-либо – prilozhit’ ruku.
(To put one’s hand to something)
Explanation: To have a hand in something.
ПОЙМАТЬ НА УДОЧКУ – poimat’ na udochku.
(To catch someone on one’s fishing line)
Explanation: To trick or to fool someone.
