Some diffiult Russian proverbs

To day we end our little explortation of Russian proverbs, from easy to difficult, collected from the book “Russian context”, Slavica publishers, USA, edited by Eloise M. Boyle and Genevra Gerhart. If you like the proverbs – as I think you should – go on and buy the book! The proverbs are only a small portion of this great collection of Russian language and culture.

Не всякое лыко в строку

Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей

Не плон в колодец: пригодится воды напиться

Чужую беду руками разведу, а к своей ума не приложу. Чужой хлеб мёд горек

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Some Russian proverbs of medium difficulty

I continue to day my serie of Russian proverbs collected from the “Russian context”, edited by Eliose M. Boyle and Genevra Gerhart, and available on www.amazon.com.

Близок локоть, да не укусишь. Close is your elbow, but you can’t bite it

Долг платежом красен. A dept is beautiful because of the repayment. Берёшь чужие, а отдаёшь свой. You take somebody else’s (money), but you return your own (money).

Обещанного три года ждут. They waited thre years for what was promised them.

По одёжке встречают, по уму провожают. On the clothing, they meet you, on your brain, they take farewell.

Что дорого, то мило, что дёвшево, то гнило. What is expensive is good, what is cheap, is bad.

Explanation to follow…

Some easy Russian proverbs

The Fridays ahead I will present for you some Russian proverbs. In my Norwegian blog, I present twelve of them, but there are still to many good ones left out, so I’ll present some of them here in my English version as well. I have to thank the excellent work of editors Eliose M. Boyle and Genevra Gerhart, and their book “Russian Context”. It can be easily bought at www.amazon.com.

Береги платье снову, а честь смолоду. Take care of your clothes, while new, take care of your honor, while young.

Скоро сказка сказивается, да не скоро дело делается. Soon is the tale told, but not soon is the deed done.

Слезами горю не поможешь. Tears can’t cure the misfortune.

У семи нянек дитя без глазу. With seven nannies, the child is without watch.

 

Что написано пером, того не вырубишь топором. Бумага всё терпит.