A book of Russian idioms, illustrated

349 Pages·1980·35.161 MB·English

by  M I Dubrovin

A Boookf
RUSSIANI DIOMS
Illustrated
M. ID.u brovin
DrawinBgys
V. TIi.l man
PERGAMON PRESS
OXFORD · NEW YORK · TORONTO
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AllR ightRse serveNdo parto ft hipsu blrcatmzaoyn b e
reproducsetdo, remda r etneval syorst treamn smitmt ed
any formo r by any means.e lectromecl,e ctrostatic,
magnetitca pem,e chanicaplh,o tocopyirnegc,o rdionrg
otherwiswez,t houtpe rmissimo n wntmg from the
copynghhto lden
Thise diti1on9 81
British Library CatianlP ougbluiicnagt iDoant a
DubroviMn ,
A Booko fR ussiaInd iomIsl lustrated
I Russialna nguag-eC onversatainodnp hrase
books
I.T itle
491.7'8'3421P G2689
ISBN0 ·08·023594-8
Madei nG reatB ritain
PREFACE
TheR ussilaann guiashg ieg hildyi omaTthieic d.i opmasr,t
andp arcoeftl h lea nguaadgdei ,m mensteoil tyrs i chnTehsesi.r
variiesta yc counftoerbd y t heh istodreivceallo pomfet nhte
Russilaann guaMgoer.eo ftetnh anno tR ussiiadni oamrse
a stumblbilnogcf ko rn on-Russspieaank aersts h,e fayi lt o
undersRtuasnsdib aontw,hr itatnedsn p okweint,h tohumeta stery
ofa sufficineunmtb eorfi dioemssp,e ctihaolslweyh icohc cur
mosfrte quently.
Thibso oiksi ntenpdreidm afroiErln yg lsipseha ksitnugd ents
ofR ussiwahnoh avae k nowleodfgt eh ee ssenotfiR aulsss ian
grammaanrda rfaem iliwairta h b asRiucs sivaonc abulary.
Thet wot ypeosfi dioamrsem aingilvye ni nt heb ook:
phrasegoiclfaouls iwoonrscd,o mbinawthioosnmese anicnagn not
bed erifrvoemdt hmee anionftg h eeilre me(net.csg o.6 aCKbye A,
wMopu11mebp 6J1a'1nKdpa h)r,a seoulnoigtiwicoearscld,o mbinations
whosmee aniinspg a rtidaelpleyn doennt th em eanionfgt heir
indiviwdourad(lse .0g6.ca a nonzaapK aa,n 6AM JIo pe).
Thei dioamrsae r ranged alpahsua nbietItsfti. hc meaal ilny
vercba nb eu sebdo tihn t hiem perfecatnidpv eer fecatsipveec ts,
thei dioimsg iveinnt hea spetchta otc cumrosr efr equently
ins peecIhd.i oimnsw hicthh eo rdeorf c omponeinsnt ost
fixsetdr iacrtgeli yv iennt hemiors tty pifcoarlm .
Eacehn trcyo nsiosfat sR ussiiadni oimt,ts r ansliteration,
litetrraaln slaantdei xopnl anaAtlisioonn c.l uwdheedr etvheery
weraev ailaarbeEln eg,l ish eq(uGiivvaielnnme anntyis n.s tances
aret woo rt hreEen gliisdhi ocmosv ertihnemg e anionfgt he
Russiiadni om).
Thef uertarla nslmaettihowonad n ttsw oe xplanaFtiirosnts,.
5
itw as sometimiesm possibtloe s ticskt ricttol ya word for
wordt ranslawtiitohno muatk inigt s ounldi kneo nsensWeh.e nt his
ist hec asaed ditiownoarld wse rea ddetd ot heE nglitsrha nslations
to make thems oundm ore or lessc omprehensi(bsleeef ,or
examp,l eeoooHue p a1011beAlwsbo)w .it ht hate ndi nv iewt he
wordss omethoirn sgo meonweer eo fteand dedt o theE nglish
translation.
Secondw,e aref ullayw arteh aatn yi diolmi tertarlalnys lated
intoa nothelra nguaigmem ediatleolsye ist si diomatfoircc ea nd
veryo ftepnr esenat mso sta wkwaradp pearanMcoer.e oveirti s
evidetnhta t the amno irdei omg etsr ido f a direcrte ference
to thel itermaela ninogf itsc omponentthse m orei ta ssumes
then aturoef a reaild iom.
Stiwlel belietvhea ti ft hes tudeknnto wsw hatt hec ompo­
nentosf t hei diomm ean,h e wilolf tefinn d ite asiterou nder­
stantdh em eaninogf t hei diom.
A numbero f Russiaind iomisn cludme dt heb ookh ave
moret hano nem eaningI.nt hicsa seg iveins t hem eanintgh at
ism oref requeinntc onversation.
Eache ntrya,s a rulei,s s uppliweidt ht wo picturoense,
wherevpeors sibtloe i llusttrhaetl ei termaela ninogf t hei diom,
andt heo thetro i llustirtasrt eea mle aninWge. hopet hatw hile
thefi rstp ictucraen h elpc onveyt hel itermaela ninogf the
idiomo,r in otherw ords, prietssecn otm ponenttsh,es econd
pictuwriels lh owh owt hei diobme haveis.e, .i nw hatc ircumstances
itc ouldb e usedI.t s houlbde bornei n mind,h owevert,h at
sometimae nsu mbeorf s ynonymomuesa ninagrse g ivetno e xplain
thei diomw,h ereatsh es ituatiiolnlauls trraetfieotrnos o nlyo ne,
whicihs t hec ommonest.
Theu seo fh umoroudsr awinignst hibso oki si, no urv iew,
justifibeyd t hef actt hatt heries m uch humouri n Russian
idiomsB.e sidetsh,e s ituatiodnraalw inggsi vet hei diomtsh e
emotioncaoll ourtihnagi ts c haracteroifts hteiicur s agien s peech.
Russiaind iomasr el argeolfy p opulaorr igihne:n cet heir
subject-miasth tuemra nl ifoer,, b ettetro s ay,h umanr elations.
Int hirse spewcet w ouldl ikteo p oinotu tt hatt hew ordo ywa
(souw[)h.i chi sa componenotfm anyR ussiaind iomdso,e sn ot
6 havea nym ystisce nseT.h isc anb e seenf romt hef actt hati n
mostc asetsh ew ordo yumc anb e and veryo fteins r eplaced
by thew ordc epOlf(eh eawritt)h oucth angitnhge m eaninogf t he
idiom( e.g . omKpb16aomybzu y/ cepOl6fpaem,b 1 a cepOlof_evf­
wy,e tc.T)h.a ti sw hy a symboldirca winogf t heh umanh eart
wasg ivetno repretsheewn otr do rzua.
Finallwye, w ouldl iket o sayt hata lthougthh isb ooki s
somethilnigk ae dictioniatri )s,n oti ntendfeodr u seo nlya s
suchT.o be suret,h ati so neo f itsf unctiobnust,i tso verall
purposgeo esb eyontdh isW.e hopet hatt her eadewri lfiln d it
interesetnionugg ht o usei tn ot onlyf orl ookinugp one or
anotheird iotmh atn e'eedxsp lainHien gw.i lall sfoi ndit a good
companiotnh awti lhle lph img eta tastoef thep eculicahra rm
andv ividntehsasti diomlse ndR ussiasnp eecOhn.l yi fu sedi n
thiwsa y wiltlh eb ookh avej ustiftiheedw orkt hath asb een
puti ntiot .
In thise ditioan fe w picturweesr ei mproveadn d about
thirnteyw English equiovfaR luesnstisa ind iomwse rei ncluded.
As far asw e knowt hiksi ndo fb ooki st hefi rsta ttempt
top reseRnuts sian idfioorfm osr eisgtnu denitnss ucha peculiar
mannert;h erefaonryec riticism cotnhceew rhnoilnbego oko ra ny
aspecotfi tw ilble w elcome.
Translitesryamtboilotsno d esignsaotmeed ifficluelttt ers
andc ombinatoifol nest tienr sR au ssiwaonr d
roa tt hee nd=v o oii=oy
e,e .JO , H aftear v owel. TCH=tsa
b,'b andi nt heb eitinningT bCHt=t sa
= ye, yo, yu,y a x=kh
e,e ,JO , H aftear c on- u=ts
sonan= t' e,' o.' u.' a w=shch
lK=Zh bla ftear c onsonanyt =
Hii,b lila tt hee nd=y b aftear consonant=·
ii aftear v owely=
LISOTF IDIOMS
I.I> a6ywKaH ansoeC Ka1aJ1a. 23.I> bITbH a npylKeCKOHHo re.
2.I> elKaTbB bICYHllY3Bb IK. 24.b blTbH a HOlKax.
3.I> e1c y'!K6ae 33 allOp11HKl1. 25.I> bITbH a cenbMOMH e6e.
4.I> eJJallB OpOHa. 26.b blTHbe B CBOeHr npeJJKe.
5.b l1TbB OLIHYT O'!Ky. 27.I> bITbH e 111 po6Koron e-
6.b l1TbK ol!O'IOM. ClITKa.
7.b l1TbCllK aKp b16a0 6 .len. 28.b b!THhe KO llBOpy.
8.I> JJylKnaTBb noTeMKaX. 29.b blTbH e Ha CBOeMM eCTe.
9.b O.lbHOMee CTO. 30.b blTobn eTblcM lf fOJIO'IKl1.
10.I>o .lbHOsHo npoc. 31.I> bITby Koro-.•11n6o0n
11.I> olITbCcllo 6crneHHTOeHH 11. 6awMaKOM.
12.I> paTbK oro-J111610a cepn­ 32.b blThC Bll3aHHblCMB Ol1M
ueI n ywy. ColOBOM.
13.I>p aTbK oro-m1n6o0n K pb1- 33.B a.111Tsb o nHyK y'ly.
.lllblKlO. 34.B a,ll1Tcb 6 oJibHOHr o.lOBbI
14.I> paTbc nOTOcJKa. Ha 1noposyio.
15I>.pa TbC3SIa yM. 35.B aJ111Tb11C1ll p yK.
16.I>p ocaTb KaMewBr 'nl eii­ 36.B ap11TbCBSI co6crneHHOM
,1116o0r opon. COK y.
17.I> pocaTbc .lOBHaa seTep. 37.B 611BaTbB ro,1osy.
18.I> pocaTbCKSIO My-.1116B0 38.B 611saTKb. 111MHe lKnyK eM­
r.1a1a. ,11160.
19.I> pocaTbCCllJ JOBaM11. 39.B epTeThKCallK 6 eJJKBa K o­
20.I> poCl1TbT eHb Ha KOf0- ·•e.c e
.1 1160I' ITO-Jil160. 40.B eprnTClly Koro-.111H6a0
21.b blTbM elKllYM 0,10TO11M ll3h!Ke.
HaKOBaJibHeH. 41.B ewaTbH OC.
22.b blTbHa fOJIOBBYbll !le. 42.8 1sew11BaTChB Ol1C JJOBa 9
43.8 3LIOXHYTCbB 060LIHO. 73.B crnBaTch n eTyxaMH.
44.B 3l1Th6 b1K1aa p ora. 74.B cTaBJJJInTahJ JKBH KO-
45.8 3JITbf OJlbIpMyHK aMH. JJeca.
46.8 JJ1Thc e6J1 pBy KH. 75.B CTpe'lBa Tlhl lThIKH.
47.8 3J1TbC J10BO. 76.B cTynHTBh C Tpoil.
48.B HneThK oro-JJH6oHa -77.B ye He nyTh.
CKB03h. 78.B bI6HBaTyh K0f0-JIH60
49.B HllHOK aKH a JJallOHH. nO'IBHY3 -nOHllo r.
50.B Hntton THllnYo noJJeTy7.9 .B hr6HTHh3 KoJJeH.
51.B HJJaMHH a Bonen HCaHo.8 0.B b16HTHhJ cenJJa.
52.B HceTBh B03llyxe. 81.B b16pocHHTJh r oJJoBhI.
53.B HCeTHha BOJIOCKe. 82.B hIBOllHTKho ro-JJH6HoJ
54.B HceTHha TeJJecjloHe. ce6J1.
55.B HTaThB o6JJaKax. 83.B bIBOllHHT3b C TpOll.
56.B HTb BepeBKHH 3 KOro­84.B hIBOllHTKho ro-JJH6Hoa
JJH6o. 'IHCTYIO BOLiy.
57.B KJJallhIBllaTYbl lBlOY ' ITO-85.B hreneHHOJIrHoU aH e CTO-
JJH6o. HT.
58.B JJeTeBT Kho nee'!Ky. 86.B hrilTHHJ rreJJeHoK.
59.B "1106HTnhoC yJ1rn H. 87.B hittTHn3 ce611.
60.B ornaTh Koro-sJ KJpHa6-o8 8.B bIHTHH3 CTpOll.
cKy. 89.B hittTcHy xHMH 3B OllhI.
6J .8 0llHTbK OfO-JJH36a0H OC. 90.8 bIJ1eTBe TTphy 6y.
62.B onoilH e pa30JJhernh. 91.B hrneC'TIHT O-JJHHa6c os o­
63.B oLihIHe JaMyTHT. HX nJJe'!ax.
64.B ottTHB HCTOpH!O. 92.B hIHOCHcTohp H 3 H36hr.
65.B oilTHB KOJJe!O. 93.B hrpacrnsTh 'lhX-HJJH6o
66.B oilrns poJJh. rJJa3ax.
67.B oJJoChCIT aHOBJITCllJIh I-94.B hrpsaT'!bT o-JJnc6 Koo p­
6oM. HeM.
68.B oT me co6aKa3 aphrrn9.5 .B hrcocaT'hI TO-JJHH63o
69.B nHcaTHhO BYICOT paHHuy naJJhua.
BO 'ITO-JJH60. 96.B hITJlrHBaTBh CcJIT pyttKy.
70.B nonMeTKHH e ronHTCll9 7.f anaTHha KOcjleilHOrHy ­
KOMy-.'m6o. me.
71.B pacTaTKho pHllMH. 98.f JJallHKTohr o-JJnHo6 roo ­
72.B cTaBaTch J Jesottilo rn. .10BKe.
10
99.I JJM11TbK oro-m16n0p o-129,[(.o xon11rnbo %11x-JJ1160
Tl1Brn epCTl1. yrnell..
100!.JJ a3ap a36era10rcll. 130,[(.p Oll(llT KaK OCl1H0Bblll
101.!JJ a3ap a3ropeJJl1Cb. Jll1CT.
102.JO BOp11Tnbo np yKy. 13.1.[( yrna HapacnarnKy.
103J.O JJOBa11 ).leKTp yroM. 132.[(.y rna He Ha Mecre.
104.JO JJOnHblKlla KB OJJK. 13.3 .[( yrna yrnJJaB nl!TKH.
105l.o p11Br p yKax. 134,[(.b lpl!Barl!Q JJOBa.
106.JO TOBC KB033be MJJInOp o-135E.c Tb eme nopoxB no-
BaJJl1TbCll. poxOBHl-IUaX.
107.ly cell.n pa3HHTb. 136.Ex arb3 all.ueM.
10.8.[( aearbK 0My-m16c0n a'I1H3.7 )K.n arby MOplln oronb1.
109,[(.a JJbrnee xarbH eKyna. 138)K.11 rb nyrnaB nyrny.
11.0.[( ea canornaa pa. 139)K.1 1rbK aK KOillKac co-
111,[(.e JJaTb11 3M yx1C1JJ OHa. 6aKOll.
112)J..e JJaTbn orony. 140)K.1 1rbK aKH a eyJJKaHe.
113)J..e JJaTb' ITO-JJ1c1 36a0K pbl1-41)K.11 Tb Ha Ill11pOKHYoIrOy .
TbIMlr1n a3aMH. 142.)K1 1rbn p11neea10'111.
114)J..e JJaTb' ITO-JJ1c1n6y0c r1n 433.a 6JJyn11TBb Crllp exc oc-
pyKaBa. Hax.
115)J..e JJ11TrnbK ypyH ey611rn1r4o4 .3a epaH T b Karny.
Meneenll. 145.3a rnl!JlblBBa Tbn yrny.
116)J..e HerK YPbHle K JJIOIOT.1 463.a roeap113ByaT6bb 1.
117)J..e pitcaTbe qepHOMr e"1e1.4 73.a narnbe puy.
118,L{.e plKaTbK aMeHb3 a na-1483.a ner1ba lK HBoe.
3yxoll.. 149.3 an11paHTObC .
119)J..e plKaTbH OCn o eerpy. 1503.a ll.r1B1 r yn11K.
120.[(.e plKaTbc e6l!B pyKax. 1513.a Kl1HYyTnbo 'IKy.
121)J..e pitcaTby xoB OCTpO. 152.3a KOJl).lOBaHKHpbylrll.
122)J..e plKaTbll 3bI3Ka 3y6aM1115.3 3.a KpanbrnaBT bnCyllrn y.
123)J..e plKaTbCBll T eHH. 1543.a Kpb1BaHTab 'ITO-JJH6o
124.)J.Jl l!HHblll3llb lK. rJJa3a.
125)J..o eon11rnbo 6eJJoroK a-155 .3 aMecrr1n1e nb1.
,1eHHll. 156.3a MKHYTbBC llc e6e.
126)J..o JJralln ecHll. I5 7.3 aMopHTqbe pBll'IKa.
127)J..o crnr11b3 -no3ne MJJl1.1 583.a py611HTab H oey.
128)J..o ynany. 1593.a TKHYT3ba n oSIC.
11
1603.B e3.!le He6a He xsarneT. 1901.1 Y XOMH e Be.!leT.
1613.e neHagy m1ua. 1911.1 ruHB eTpa B none.
1623.H aTb 'ITO-m16B0.!l OJlb H 192K.a K apUIHH rrpornoTHJI.
rrorrepeK. 193K.a K 6e3 pyK.
1633.H aTbB eeX O.!lblH BbIXO.!lbI. 194K.a K B ameKe.
1643.H aTbK aKe BOHIl j!Tbrr aJib- 195.Ka KB BO.!IYr ng.!leJI.
ueB. 196K.a K B BO.!IYo rryrueHHblH.
1653.H aThM epy. 197K.a K BeTpoM C.!lyno.
1663.o norng eepe.!IHHa. 198K.a Kr opac n ne1e1sa JI,1Hacb.
1673.o noroe.!I HO. 199K.a K rpoM cpem1ll CHoro
1683.o noThrpe yKH. He6a.
1693.0 H.!IHpOBaTbIl O'IBy. 200K.a K .!lBalK.!lb.!lIB a 11eTb1pe.
17011.r paTh rrepBy10e KpHrrKy. 20I .K aK .!lBe Kanm1B O.!lbI.
1711.1 rpaTbe OrHeM. 202K.a K 3a KaMeHHOcHT ettoii.
172Yl..!I TH B ropy. 203K.a K rn-noJ.ue Mm1B b1poc.
1731.1 .!ITHB rooHbH B BO.!ly. 204.Ka K 113p oraH 306HJIHll.
1741.1 .!ITHKy .!la rna3ar ng.!lgT, 205K.a K Koposall 3bIKOcM, 111-
17511..!I Tll Ha IlOBO.!lY· JaJia.
1761.1 .!ITHn o 'lbHM-JIH6o e2T0O6-K.a K Ha 1r1onKax.
naM. 207K.a K He6o OT 3CMo1H.
17711..!l nl npOTHBT e'leHHji, 208K.a K 06 cTeHKrYo pox.
1781.1 3JIHT.!IbY IIIY. 209K.a K no Macny.
1791.1 3MepHTb KOfO-JIH620 10K.a Kn o HOTaM pa3brrpaTh.
B3rJig.!IOM. 211K.a K pyKoiiC HllJIO.
18011.3 O.!IHOroT eCTa. 212.K aK pb16aa so.ue.
18111.3 pll.!laB OH BbIXO.UllIUHH2.1 3.Ka Kc ryclls o.ua.
18211.M eTbB ee. 214.Ka Kc e,1b.uae 6ii0 11Ke.
1831.1 MeTrbo JIOBHaY nne11ax. 215K.a K CKB03b3 CMo1lOn po-
18411.e KaTbB '!epallIHH H.!leHb. BaJIHJICll.
1851.1 eKa/THhe Haiirn .!IHeM 216K.a K cHerH a ro,1osy.
e orneM. 217 .K aK 11epTo T na.uaHa.
1861.1 eKaTHbf OJIKBY eTore 218K.a MeHhH a cep.uue.
eeHa. 219K.a MeHbc .UYIcIsIHaJI 11Jicll.
18711.e KpblH 3 rna3n oebma­ 220.Ka MHllH a KaMHeH e OCTa­
JIHeb. BHTb.
18811.e nHTb 11aI1I.!IyO .!IHa. 221K.a n,1ll BM ope.
1891.1 enopTHBTeb1 0M Y3btKy. 222K.a rnThCKlla KC blap M ac,1e.
12