Russian Proverbs & Sayings

Question 1

Кто не рискует, тот не пьет шампанского

Answer 1

Translation: He who doesn’t take risks doesn’t drink champagne
Meaning: Fortune favors the brave

Question 2

Дву́м смертя́м не быва́ть, одно́й не минова́ть

Answer 2

Translation: One can’t have two deaths, but you can’t avoid one
Meaning: A man can die but once; fortune favors the bold

Question 3

Живы бу́дем — не помрём

Answer 3

Translation: We will be alive, we won’t die
Meaning: Everything will be alright; let’s hope for the best

Question 4

Будь что будет

Answer 4

Translation: Let it be
Meaning: Whatever shall be, will be

Question 5

Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть

Answer 5

Translation: You can’t avoid that which is meant to happen
Meaning: Whatever shall be, will be.

Question 6

Глаза боятся, а руки делают (sometimes shortened to Глаза боятся)

Answer 6

Translation: The eyes are afraid but the hands are still doing it
Meaning: Feel the fear and do it anyway

Question 7

Голь на вы́думку хитра́

Answer 7

Translation: Poverty inspires invention
Meaning: Necessity is the mother of invention

Question 8

Волко́в боя́ться — в лес не ходи́ть (often shortened to Волко́в боя́ться)

Answer 8

Translation: If you’re scared of wolves, don’t go in the woods
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Question 9

Даю́т — бери́, а бьют – беги́

Answer 9

Translation: If you’re given something, take it, but if you’re being beaten – run.
Meaning: This is a humorous way of telling someone to grab an opportunity unless it is particularly dangerous.

Question 10

Дарёному коню́ в зу́бы не смо́трят

Answer 10

Translation: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Meaning: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

Question 11

В чужо́й монасты́рь со свои́м уста́вом не хо́дят

Answer 11

Translation: Don’t go to someone else’s monastery with your own rulebook
Meaning: When in Rome, do as Romans do

Question 12

Мно́го бу́дешь знать, ско́ро соста́ришься

Answer 12

Translation: If you know too much, you will get old very quickly
Meaning: Curiosity killed the cat

Question 13

Любопы́тной Варва́ре на база́ре нос оторва́ли (sometimes shortened to Любопы́тной Варва́ре)

Answer 13

Literally: Curious Varvara had her nose snatched at the market
Meaning: Curiosity killed the cat

Question 14

Поспеши́шь — люде́й насмеши́шь

Answer 14

Literally: If you do something in a hurry, you will make people laugh at you
Meaning: Haste makes waste

Question 15

По́сле дра́ки кулака́ми не ма́шут

Answer 15

Translation: No point throwing punches after a fight
Meaning: After death, the doctor; don’t shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

Question 16

Не учи́ учёного

Answer 16

Translation: Don’t teach a learned one
Meaning: Don’t teach your grandmother how to suck eggs (don’t offer advice to someone who has more experience)

Question 17

Аппети́т прихо́дит во вре́мя еды́

Answer 17

Translation: Appetite comes with eating
Meaning: Appetite comes with eating

Question 18

Без труда́ не вы́тащишь и ры́бку из пруда́

Answer 18

Translation: Without hard work, one wouldn’t even get a fish out of a pond
Meaning: No pain, no gain

Question 19

В гостя́х хорошо́, а до́ма лу́чше

Answer 19

Translation: It’s nice to visit, but it’s better to be home
Meaning: There’s no place like home

Question 20

В каждой шутке есть доля правды

Answer 20

Translation: Every joke has an element of truth
Meaning: Many a truth is spoken in jest

Question 21

В тесноте́, да не в оби́де

Answer 21

Translation: It may be crowded but everyone is happy
Meaning: The more, the merrier

Question 22

В ти́хом о́муте че́рти во́дятся

Answer 22

Translation: The devil lives in the still waters
Meaning: Still waters run deep; beware of a silent dog and still water

Question 23

Всё гениальное просто

Answer 23

Translation: Everything that is genius is simple
Meaning: True genius lies in simplicity

Question 24

И на стару́ху бывает прору́ха

Answer 24

Translation: Even a grandma can make mistakes
Meaning: To err is human

Question 25

Не́ было бы сча́стья, да несча́стье помогло́

Answer 25

Translation: Luck would not have happened without misfortune’s help Meaning: A blessing in disguise; every cloud has a silver lining

Question 26

Нет ху́да без добра́

Answer 26

Translation: No misfortune without a blessing in it Meaning: Every cloud has a silver lining

Question 27

Пе́рвый блин (всегда) ко́мом

Answer 27

Translation: The first pancake is (always) lumpy Meaning: Teething problems; you must spoil before you spin

Question 28

С милым рай и в шалаше

Answer 28

Translation: Even a hut feels like paradise when you’re with your loved one Meaning: Love in a cottage

Question 29

С парши́вой овцы́ — хоть ше́рсти клок

Answer 29

Translation: A tuft of hair from a mangy sheep Meaning: Everything is good for something

Question 30

Не име́й сто рубле́й, а име́й сто друзе́й

Answer 30

Translation: It is better to have a hundred friends than a hundred rubles Meaning: A friend in the court is better than money in the purse

Question 31

Друг познаётся в беде́

Answer 31

Translation: You find out who your real friends are when you are in need Meaning: A friend in need is a friend indeed

Question 32

Дру́жба дру́жбой, а табачо́к врозь (or sometimes Дру́жба дру́жбой, а денежки врозь)

Answer 32

Translation: Friends and tobacco are separate things, or friends and money are separate things Meaning: It’s not personal, it’s business

Question 33

Доверя́й, но проверя́й

Answer 33

Translation: Trust, but verify Meaning: Trust, but verify

Question 34

Ста́рый друг — лу́чше но́вых двух

Answer 34

Translation: An old friend is better than two new ones Meaning: Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver, the other is gold; old friends and old wine are best

Question 35

Ни бэ, ни мэ, ни кукаре́ку (or ни бум бум, shortened to Ни бэ, ни мэ

Answer 35

Translation: Not even a cock-a-doodle-doo Meaning: As thick as two short planks; doesn’t know which end is up

Question 36

Плохо́му танцо́ру я́йца меша́ют (shortened to Плохо́му танцо́ру)

Answer 36

Translation: A bad dancer blames his testicles Meaning: A bad workman blames his tools

Question 37

Седина́ в бо́роду, бес в ребро́ (shortened to Седина́ в бо́роду)

Answer 37

Translation: Silver in the beard, the devil in the ribs Meaning: No fool like an old fool

Question 38

Сила есть, ума не надо (shortened to Сила есть)

Answer 38

Translation: When one has power, they don’t have a need for intelligence Meaning: Might makes right

Question 39

Собака на сене лежит, сама не ест и другим не дает (often shortened to Как собака на сене or just Собака на сене)

Answer 39

Translation: A dog on the hay will not eat it and won’t let others eat it Meaning: Dog in the manger

Question 40

Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться — он лоб расшибёт (often shortened to Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться or even just to Заста́вь дурака́)

Answer 40

Translation: Make a fool pray to god and they will smash their own forehead Meaning: Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse