Proverbs

Question 1

Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей

Answer 1

Don’t have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.

Money come and goes, but friends stay and will always make your like more complete regardless of whether you have money or not.

Question 2

Дорогу осилит идущий

Answer 2

The one who walks will go through.

This proverb means: the one who acts will overcome all obstacles.

This is an old expression that is also quoted in Latin: viam supervadet vadens.

Question 3

Не плюй в колодец – пригодится водицы напиться

Answer 3

Do not spit in the well - you will need it when thirsty

This proverb is used as a warning against a rash and short-sighted action when someone is about to ruin his relationship with someone else over something insignificant. You never know, but the same person might help you later or even save your life.

Question 4

Волков бояться – в лес не ходить

Answer 4

Don’t go to the woods if afraid of wolves.

If you are afraid of some difficulties that inevitably accompany any venture, you will never achieve anything, this Russian proverb says.

And in fact, if you are afraid of wolves, which may not be found in the nearby forest, you will never pick up berries or mushrooms.

And if you take the risk and start a seemingly difficult venture, it may not be so scary and you can do it.

The closest English equivalent of this proverb is “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

Question 5

Не место красит человека, а человек место

Answer 5

It is not a place that makes a person look good, but a person that makes a place look good.

An opinion about a person is formed by his real actions and spiritual qualities, and not by where and how he lives, what position he occupies.

One can be a mean and evil person in a leading position of a large company, or a poor working guy but always very good to everyone around him. People will always like more the one that makes them feel better, even if that person sweeps streets for living.

Question 6

На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай

Answer 6

Put your trust in God, but don’t make mistakes yourself

This Russian proverb is a close equivalent of the English expression “God help those who help themselves”.

“Не плошай” means “do not make mistakes”, it is an obsolete word and can only be seen in proverbs or books.

Question 7

Голь на выдумки хитра

Answer 7

Poor people are inventive.

This Russian proverb notices the fact that poverty and need make a person to look for non-standard, cheap and low-tech ways to achieve the goals that people with money achieve by buying something or hiring someone. The word “голь” comes from “голый” (naked) and here symbolizes the poor.

Question 8

За двумя зайцами погонишься – ни одного не поймаешь

Answer 8

If you are chasing two hares at once, you won’t catch a single one.

This Russian proverb addresses the problems of multitasking: doing several things at the same time will not give you good results.

The expression dates back to primitive times when hunters were stubbornly chasing just one hare until he was completely exhausted. If you chase two hares at once, giving a respite to one or the other, then soon you will be exhausted yourself and the hares will safely flee.

A close English equivalent of this proverb, although with an opposite meaning, is “to kill two birds with one stone”.

Question 9

Кто о чём, а вшивый о бане

Answer 9

Who is talking about what, and a lousy one about the bath.

This saying describes a situation when in a conversation of several people, one of them always talks only about what worries him. Even if the discussion is about a completely different thing. In the saying, such a person is compared to a “lousy one talking about the bath”. Because until he bathes, and until this does not ease his suffering from the lice biting him, he will not care about anything else.

You can use this saying when someone always falls back on talking about the same thing.

Question 10

Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить

Answer 10

If you like sledding, you should like to carry the sled.

No doubt, sliding down the slope on a sled is very nice. But then you have to climb the hill again, and even drag the sled.

In anything you do, there are both pleasant and unpleasant moments. You should enjoy doing both.

The closest English equivalent: There is no such thing as a free lunch!

Question 11

После драки кулаками не машут

Answer 11

Don’t wave your fists after the fight.

This Russian proverb reminds us after an argument is over or a job is done, it is too late and useless to try to prove your point or to change something.

The English equivalents of this proverb are:
- Don’t fight when the fight is done!
- It is too late to lock the stable door when the horse is stolen.
- You came the day after the fair.

Question 12

На ловца и зверь бежит

Answer 12

Beast runs towards the hunter.

This Russian proverb comes from the life of hunters. It was believed that a patient hunter does not return home without prey.

The proverb should be understood as follows: brave, persistent, stubborn people are helped by the Universe. If you really want something and are ready to do what it requires, everything can be achieved.

The closest English equivalents of this proverb are:

• The ball comes to the player
• Skill and luck go together

This proverb can be also said when you unexpectedly comes across a person you’ve been looking for or need to talk to.

Question 13

Утро вечера мудренее

Answer 13

The morning is wiser than the evening.

This proverb reminds us that it is better to postpone making difficult decisions from evening to morning, when we can think about them with a fresh mind.

Another popular phrase with the same meaning: с этим надо переспать (one needs to sleep other that).

Question 14

Яйца курицу не учат

Answer 14

Eggs don’t teach the chicken.

The meaning of this proverb is simple: an inexperienced person can not teach anything the experienced one. You can often hear that from parents talking to their children.

Question 15

Заставь дурака богу молиться – он и лоб расшибёт

Answer 15

Make a fool pray to God - he will break his forehead.

This proverb is about a stupid person who, being too zealous, only harms the cause.

The proverb originates from the customs of the Orthodox Church. During prayer, believers give obeisances to the earth, trying to touch the floor in the temple by the forehead.

A fool, from excessive diligence, can bow so hard that his forehead will also be smashed against a stone floor.

Question 16

У семи нянек дитя без глазу

Answer 16

Seven babysitters make the kid to lose an eye.

The more people take on one task, the less attention is paid to the task.

The closest English equivalent: too many cooks spoil the broth.

Question 17

На вкус и цвет товарищей нет

Answer 17

There are no friends for taste and color.

This proveb is used to say that tastes and preferences of people can be very different from each other.

The English equivalent of this proverb is “Every man to his taste”.

Question 18

Жизнь прожить – не поле перейти

Answer 18

To live a life is not the same (not as easy) as to go through a field.

Life is complicated, and living it is not easy. It is a matter of a variety of events and difficulties that a person encounters throughout his or her life.

The closest English equivalent would be “Life is not a bed of roses”.

Question 19

Чужая душа – потёмки

Answer 19

Another’s soul is darkness.

No matter how well we know a person, his thoughts will always be a mystery to you. And a person’s appearance is not always (rather rarely) a reflection of his soul.

Question 20

Тише едешь – дальше будешь

Answer 20

The quieter you go, the further you’ll get.

This proverb reminds us to take things easy and think before doing them. It’s an equivalent of English sayings “slow and steady wins the race”, “longest way round is the shortest way home” and so on.

Question 21

Слезами горю не поможешь

Answer 21

You can’t help grief with tears.

This Russian proverb reminds us that belated lamentation and tears often can not change anything in the situation. Better to wipe away your tears and move on, trying not to repeat past mistakes and make the best of what’s given to us.

Similar proverbs are found in many other languages.

Question 22

Кабы знал, где упасть, так соломки бы подстелил

Answer 22

If I knew where I would fall, I would lay some straw there.

You should not reproach yourself and others for the mistakes, erroneous actions, illogical decisions. People often have no idea what could happen to them in the next moment. If they knew, then he would have acted differently, “prepared some straw” so it is not so painful to fall.

Question 23

Чем дальше в лес, тем больше дров

Answer 23

The further into the forest, the more firewood is there.

The deeper you delve into anything, the more difficulties, surprises, complications previously hidden are revealed.

Question 24

Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе

Answer 24

A titmouse in hands is better than a crane in the sky.

It is better to have at least something but today, than to rely on vague promises but for tomorrow - this is the meaning of this proverb.

It has many variations in different languages. Even the ancient Romans used an expression that can be translated as follows:
- Better a sparrow in hands than a goose in the sky.

The English equivalent of this proverb is “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”.

Question 25

С волками жить – по-волчьи выть

Answer 25

Living with wolves means to howl like a wolf. This proverb is about the fact that people often have to adjust to the lifestyle and customs of those with whom they live or often communicate. There are other proverbs with the similar meaning in Russian. This particular one is used with a negative connotation, when the fact of adjusting is unpleasant to the speaker.

Question 26

Своя рубашка ближе к телу

Answer 26

Your own shirt is closer to your body. One's own well-being is more valuable than the interests of other people - this is the meaning of this proverb. Often, this proverb has a disapproving connotation or an accusation of selfishness.

Question 27

По одёжке встречают, по уму провожают

Answer 27

You are greeted by your clothes but bid farewell by your mind. We all tend to judge others and the first judgement comes from how people look (their clothes, manners). Moreover, we often automatically ascribe qualities to attractive people that they may not have: we consider them smarter, more intelligent, more interesting than someone else whose appearance is not so expressive. But behind a beautiful picture you can not hide emptiness, narrow-mindedness and quarrelsome character. So you are greeted by your clothes, but it's your mind and intelligence define how people will say goodbye to you.

Question 28

Шила в мешке не утаишь

Answer 28

You can't hide an awl in a bag. This Russian proverb is used to say that secrets always become known and all the lies eventually come out.

Question 29

Дурной пример заразителен

Answer 29

A bad example is contagious. Bad habits and wrong views of one person very often “stick” to other people. The proverb is used to talk about a person who, without any thinking and hesitation, adopts bad habits of others.

Question 30

Глаза боятся, а руки делают

Answer 30

The eyes are scared, but the hands are doing. The task can be daunting in the beginning, but as soon as you start doing it, everything becomes clearer and easier.