Idiomatic Expressions in Ukraine or Russia?

[TW1970]

A comment by Catzenmouse made me think about this and I was hoping for some insight. I know in the USA folks say, "lights on but nobody's home, operating with 1 oar in the water, a day late and a dollar short, a penny for your thoughts, etc".

My questions are: Do folks in Russia or Ukraine have similar expressions? I am afraid I might say something and it might be interpreted the wrong way. Also, does anyone use sarcasm? In generally, I'll try to stay away from using idiomatic expressions when I am over there because they can be hard to translate and culture specific but just curious..

[alantodd]

I talk with a lot of slang and make jokes which do not get translated well by my fiance or her friends at times. 

My advice is to be your self and if you see weird face expressions explain what you mean.  Your going to say something that will offend if your in Russia / Ukraine long enough. 

I have said some normal things but how my fiance took them got her pissed.  Russian women do have tempers so you will know if she said something she does not like.  Main reason I like russian women as there easy to figure out what there thinking and doing.  They will just tell you - no games. 

[SANDRO43]

I'll try to stay away from using idiomatic expressions when I am over there because they can be hard to translate and culture specific

Good idea, idiomatic expressions are present in ANY language but, as you correctly surmised, they are culture-specific and can only be translated using equivalent foreign expressions, if any are available (a few are almost universal).

An involved word-by-word explanation might make your listeners wonder if you're nutty .

[Gator]

Sarcasm?!  Did you say sarcasm?! 

It is their nature, born from years of dealing with a difficult life.

Russian sarcasm is more clever than American, and I relish it.  First, their sarcasm is not insulting of you or friends.  It is not offensive.  Americans, particularly men, tend to make offensive sarcastic remarks, out of fear of intimacy (think about it).  Russian sarcasm is more situation oriented rather than personal, unless it is about politicians.  To hear it reminds you of how intelligent these people are.(where's Serebro when i give a compliment).

Idioms.  They have many.  Here's one example - hanging noddles from my ears.  In other words, don't bother to try to understand.

[2tallbill]

Sarcasm?!  Did you say sarcasm?! 

It is their nature, born from years of dealing with a difficult life.

Russian sarcasm is more clever than American, and I relish it.  First, their sarcasm is not insulting of you or friends.  It is not offensive.  Americans, particularly men, tend to make offensive sarcastic remarks, out of fear of intimacy (think about it).  Russian sarcasm is more situation oriented rather than personal, unless it is about politicians.  To hear it reminds you of how intelligent these people are.(where's Serebro when i give a compliment).

Idioms.  They have many.  Here's one example - hanging noddles from my ears.  In other words, don't bother to try to understand.

***Warning I think I just far exceeded my real knowledge on the subject.***
***Warning I think I just far exceeded my real knowledge on the subject.***


Another example of Russian idiom, vahgnaht' v krahskoo (To put to the blush)
My friend looks like shy at the first glance. However, it is really not so easy to put him to the blush by talking
about delicate topics.

I think it's like some of my corny jokes when I have to explain them, then they aren't funny. I think it's the same with idioms.

There are a very few that are the same. Russians have something like "seventh heaven" & "on top of the world".   

***Warning I think I just far exceeded my real knowledge on the subject.***

This one isn't an idiom, and I don't understand it, but a loser / screw up is often called a pancake.
Maybe one of the "real Russian speakers" can answer the pancake,

Bill

[mendeleyev]

To add to the collection:

- Льёт как из ведра (It's raining pitchforks)--things couldn't get worse, etc.

- Лучше поздно чем никогда (better late than never).

- Ломать голову (to break a head)--as in 'rack my brain.'


My favourite isn't an expression or idiom, its a word, but one little word says to much!  My MIL uses it a lot.  Sometimes my wife also.  It's one word that essentially means the same in Russian and Ukrianian:  "Tak..."

Tak = 'so' and sometimes can also be understood as 'well...'

Often when busy and trying to multi-task my MIL will move from room to room muttering 'Tak' (so) which means she is in deep thought about what to do next.  Not so long ago we missed a train heading back to Moscow and the next one wasn't scheduled for another 12 hours.  Unsuccessful in reaching MIL via a station payphone and not knowing what to do next, she just sighed and said 'Tak...'  We both burst out laughing at that point because it's become sort of a family signature thing.

[Caperone]

Hehe! Somehow, 90-95% of the russian idiom/expression that I see on the board are a direct translation (word for word) of the same expression that the french people use (with the same meaning). Didn't think that my knowledge of French would be handy in this process! 

However, I don't understand how it is possible...  ???

[Phil dAmore]

Always remember that idioms -in any language- have to be understood as a group of words.  Do not attempt a word by word translation of an idiom as that is a one way ticket to Frustration City.

[Gator]

Hehe! Somehow, 90-95% of the russian idiom/expression that I see on the board are a direct translation (word for word) of the same expression that the french people use (with the same meaning). Didn't think that my knowledge of French would be handy in this process! 

However, I don't understand how it is possible...  ???

How widespread is this?  Were not the long line of Romanov czars influenced by French culture, philosophy, architecture and language?  French was the second language among the nobility and gentry.  So, perhaps the Russians picked up on French idioms, or the other way around.  Don't ask me for a specific analysis - I speak only enough of either language to order food in a restaurant.

[I/O]

To add to the collection:

- Льёт как из ведра (It's raining pitchforks)--things couldn't get worse, etc.

- Лучше поздно чем никогда (better late than never).

- Ломать голову (to break a head)--as in 'rack my brain.'


My favourite isn't an expression or idiom, its a word, but one little word says to much!  My MIL uses it a lot.  Sometimes my wife also.  It's one word that essentially means the same in Russian and Ukrianian:  "Tak..."

Tak = 'so' and sometimes can also be understood as 'well...'

Often when busy and trying to multi-task my MIL will move from room to room muttering 'Tak' (so) which means she is in deep thought about what to do next.  Not so long ago we missed a train heading back to Moscow and the next one wasn't scheduled for another 12 hours.  Unsuccessful in reaching MIL via a station payphone and not knowing what to do next, she just sighed and said 'Tak...'  We both burst out laughing at that point because it's become sort of a family signature thing.

It is not hard (In this circumstance) to develop a respect for someone who knows Russians at a grass roots level. This guy has 'em pegged.

"Taaaaaaaaaaaak"........."Tuk"............."Tak"........roughly (In my family) = so what now or what next. The most amusing thing I've noticed is my 4 y/o step son start it recently. That furrowed brow and .................tak when trying to decide which piece of the jigsaw fits where.

To the thread authors question. Small advice. Let the Russians crack the jokes and stay with straight talk yourself. You will pick up on the local humour after time, but don't try to be the clown or you will end up being exactly that and not in the form you intended.

Say what you mean, mean what you say, keep your sentences and phasing short, direct and to the point. One liners and throw aways ...................... well there is plenty of time for that later.

I/O 

[jen]

There are some that are very close to ours in concept and so are easy to grasp, but with some details changed. For example, instead of "you've missed the boat," a Russian speaker might say, "the train has departed."

[lindochka]

"Tak?" Did you say "tak?" I love "tak!" It's so versatile, much like another of my favorites, "nu." We must use "tak" and "nu" a hundred times a day around here. Why are there no such words in English? They're so useful!

Caperone, I haven't noticed that much correlation between French idioms and those in Russian -- vocabulary yes, but not idiomatic expressions. The only one I can think of offhand is "but let's return to our sheep." Can you share any others?

[TW1970]

My favourite isn't an expression or idiom, its a word, but one little word says to much!  My MIL uses it a lot.  Sometimes my wife also.  It's one word that essentially means the same in Russian and Ukrianian:  "Tak..."

Tak = 'so' and sometimes can also be understood as 'well...'

Now that's interesting because when I am in Sweden, I say "tack" for thank you which sounds like "tak". So if this can happen there, I am sure in Ukraine/Russia there are some words spoken that can easily be taken for a different meaning too...

[I/O]

TW: "Tak" as you will most often hear it from a Russian/Ukrainian sounds more like "Tark" or "Tuck". It is mostly pronounced with the long "A" rather than a short "A".

I/O