5 Russian Idioms that Every Learner Should Know

[@heylookitsummer]

I'm just happy that 2 of 5 involve bears. Feels right. Спасибо

[@wecandoit740]

I didnt notice that until i saw your comment. That's funny

[@andreybofus1817]

We've got at least one more with a bear. Медведь на ухо наступил (A bear stepped on one's ear). This means - to have no ear for music - when ohes can't hold a note, can't carry a tune. E. g. Этой певице медведь на ухо наступил. A bear stepped on this singer's ear.

[@Dany_the_splendid]

Lmao

[@tomasznasiowski5075]

Funny, because in Polish we have exactly the same idioms except one - with these locks. I guess they're pretty old - they had arisen before the Slavic tribes split apart.

[@DominiqueVocat]

Um, it might be from a german idiom "mit sieben Sigeln" - many russian germans and lots of german words in russian nowadays.

[@linusnemo7270]

A mnie się to skojarzyło z zamykaniem czegoś na siedem spustów :)

[@enzopaulesini]

We have that one in Portuguese, no idea from where it comes from, but it was a surprise

[@ingrideliasson9157]

We also say "a bears favour" in Swedish! And we have a lot of idioms too. I find many similarities between Swedish and Russian :)

[@Sekisova_Tatiana]

Really :)) it's very interesting

[@racheleraanan5133]

Ingrid Eliasson - The Russian-Swedish similarities are not surprising. One need only look back to the common history.

[@malte5140]

Also in german - Einen Bärendienst

[@UMMONARQUISTA]

I can say the same to Portuguese.

[@pedepede]

It is also the same in Finnish 😁

[@alexkozliayev9902]

Печать в данном случае правельнее перевести как seal, потому что тут имеется ввиду восковая печать на письме, или та которой опечатывают двери.

[@onlyvlad4293]

4:05 in portuguese we have somethings similar "fechado a sete chaves" means kinda "looked with seven keys" means the exact same as this in russian

[@pushdword]

4:00 we, in Portuguese, also say "fechado a sete chaves - closed by seven keys". This does not mean it really is closed by seven keys, but means something is kept very secure. It's funny how different languages are but in the end, we have very similar idioms :)

[@danarzechula3769]

It's biblical

[@marcopohl4875]

german has that with 7 seals

[@clintonjarboe6328]

I love your channel. It has really helped my Russian learning journey. Also wanted to say that it made my day that you included показать где раки зимуют, thats always been my favourite Russian idiom. But the way we do eat crawfish in some parts of America, generally in areas along the Mississippi River and especially in Lousiana, and by extension in Cajun-style restaurants across the country, as well as shellfish restaurants in general. In fact my 4th or 5th grade class had a year-long project where we raised crawfish to help repopulate a local river. Keep up the good work!

[@militarychicmilano1342]

the 5th is similar in italy where we say “non vendere la pelle dell’orso prima di averlo ucciso” (Don't sell bear skin before you kill it)

[@morgankitchen4444]

"To split the skin of an unskin bear" I think is not unlike the English idiom "don't count your chickens before they're hatched". Is that accurate?

[@wecandoit740]

They are pretty the same

[@andreybofus1817]

don't share a bear's skin before it's killed

[@davidchristian8473]

~here, we have these equivalent~ 1 - helps a lot who does not disturb (muito ajuda quem não atrapalha) 2 - the animal gonna catch (o bicho vai pegar) 3 - scratching balls (coçando saco) obs; women use this too 4 - it is locked with seven keys (trancado com sete chaves) 5 -count the egg inside the chicken (contar com o ovo dentro da galinha) ~generally they are used figuratively, even making more sense on literally meaning~

[@dudumou5411]

Muito obrigado✌✌✌ tenho acompanhado em inglês, mas a tradução em português me ajudou muito agora!!!

[@danarzechula3769]

See a lot of people referencing the seven seals without realizing its biblical origin in Revelation

[@SightFilms]

in my native language, brazilian portuguese, we have a very similar expression to за семью печатями. We say "a sete chaves", and the only difference is that we use "chaves" (keys) instead of locks. Pretty interesting! Nice video, Fedor.

[@DM-wv6to]

Do crayfish Winter? 🤣 Learning something new every day (ahh different languages have some funny and wild expressions).

[@mainlawcafewv7681]

Good stuff from a great teacher. Last one in English is “Counting your chickens before they hatch”.

[@AlexFG24]

Heh... In russian "цыплят по осени считают" - "count your chickens in autumn"

[@mEDIUMGap]

@@AlexFG24 it is a little bit different

[@christ2381]

In German "sich über ungelegte Eier Gedanken machen" (think about eggs that are Not layed yet) is similar, but not only used when talking about money.

[@julierowe1732]

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[@Saturos02]

The two involving bears are also common in norwegian: медвежья услуга - en bjørnetjeneste делить шкуру неубитого медведя - å selge skinnet før bjørnen er skutt

[@gunnara.7860]

They exist in Swedish as well. En björntjänst. (Inte) sälja skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten.

[@irenebjrnlund9485]

Funny, we have pretty much the same ones in Danish and they are pretty commonly used. Except the crayfish one, I think we have something like "sleeping with the fish" which is more like a murder threat. And we say something like "my mouth is sealed with seven seals" - so it is used for keeping secrets more than physical objects. Thank you for making this video :D - these are the kind of things you don't learn from other online courses or just when you look stuff up.

[@RapidCycling07]

Awesome video bro! Thank you!

[@Katya_Lastochka]

When we were little, we came up with our own idioms and phrases. I made up "100 tanks, 500 helicopters," when coming to the States. It means "an overreaction" and comes from the many ambulances, cruisers, and firetrucks that arrive at your door just for accidentally calling 9-11, and it had many uses since. Another one is ".(C)disc(C)". This one is mostly spoken. It means any kind of programming or long technical explanation, or anything that's unnecessarily complicated.

[@danarzechula3769]

You are not only observant but one great idiom maker

[@patrickchadd]

English used to have a lot of idioms in common usage but as the population has become more diverse, common idioms that I grew up with are no longer used since many have no knowledge of them...

[@danarzechula3769]

True. I had to explain to a younger American born coworker what "The proof is in the pudding"

[@paulasanderson9897]

In the UK we have many but they are mostly local or regional one's. Go sproaching means to have a good look. It is from the North East around Newcastle. A phrase from Northern England is "Put wood in'th ( in the) hole" lock the door or gate. I love them! Thanks for sharing!!!😁

[@user-iz7wt1sq2q]

I love how he does that awsome hand thing, its legit cool

[@vaguelyvagrant9694]

"Рак" in English is usually crayfish/crawfish/crawdads (all depending on the region you're from). But the same word in Russian is also an ocean/beach crab as well. But what's even more interesting is that is also the word for the disease, cancer. Sounds a bit strange but actually makes sense if you think of the zodiac sign, Cancer, which is represented by the crab.

[@Nura4N]

Cansers live in river, crabs live in sea. Cansers look like mini lobster. Crabs have a different shape of body. They’re not the same.

[@armandoantonio2131]

I'm Armindo, from Angola i liked so much this video

[@Jill1228]

Crayfish aka crawfish is popular in Louisiana. Good eating

[@MortyJoe44]

I might be wrong but "behind seven locks/stamps" might have originated back in the feudal days when lords and ladies used stamped wax seals sending letters and important documents.

[@danarzechula3769]

It's from the Bible in revelation chapter 8

[@peaceandlove544]

Famous Russian sayings: 1) Bear's favor... In Mexico.. No me ayudes compadre (Don't help me, close friend -father of my godson -you are causing more harm than helping) 2) Show where the crayfish winters In Mexico...Va a ver lo que le espera (He or she is going to see what's coming ) 3) Be elated In Mexico...Ocupate (Occupy yourself in helping or in something useful, because you are not doing anything while everyone else is) 4) Behind 7 locks In Mexico...Es un secreto de estado (it's a state secret) 5) To spleat the skin of unskinned animal In Mexico...No hagas panda la Vaca (Don't work on the cow yet -you do not even have) or No te adelantes (Don't skip ahead -in events that are only a possibility in the future)

[@hederoth7883]

The bear favour idiom exists in the Swedish language as well. ”Björntjänst” (björn=bear, tjänst=service or favour) with exactly the same meaning. Same with ”splitting the skin...”. In Swedish, the idiom is ”you shall not sell the skin before the bear has been shot” (man ska inte sälja skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten).

[@DidrickNamtvedt]

Both of these exist in Norwegian as well. "bjørnetjeneste" (bear favor) and "man må ikke selge skinnet før bjørnen er skutt" (one must not sell the fur before the bear has been shot)

[@tahtohabeautychanneltt5810]

We have that idiom " медвежья услуга " in Arabic we say ja ikahelha imaha

[@brianchernecki4844]

Thanks, that was great....so interesting and useful.

[@rubenskiii]

In Dutch we say "Het vel verkopen voor de beer geschoten is."(To sell the hide before you shot the bear.)

[@CHEMICmusic]

We have crayfish in America, more often they are called crawfish. Common in Texas and Louisiana.

[@maryzenkungfu]

👍🏻❤️ Can you repeat phrases more than once and maybe do one pronunciation slower? I am getting better at pronunciations but it is THE HARDEST part of the language for me! Пожалуйста! Спасибо!

[@danarzechula3769]

Ditto

[@rikvlasblom4272]

#4 (За семью печатями.) Might this idiom be related to inheritance? Saving/hiding something for the family?

[@Максим-р7ы3в]

Нет. За семью(7) печатями

[@iaaronsharif]

Dude you're the best

[@roywilson9580]

Thanks, some intersting idioms :)

[@wecandoit740]

За семью...? For the family? ...печатями. Oh

[@sadwhale4217]

Нет. He means a figure of seven. За 7-ю печатями.

[@nellacoste7653]

English idioms are use alot in the Caribbean.

[@000Mazno000]

The last one is a lot like "don't count your chickens before they hatch" and "putting the cart before the horse" in english

[@olegpetrov2617]

The most cool phrases possible to hear during military service.. for example -I'll send you to remove snow(ice, garbage and so on) from the entrance until sunset !!

[@ana-ld8yr]

Во Франции мы говорим "vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué" , мы продаём шкуру

[@glaciergirlv2265]

That last one has an english equivalent. Money burning a hole in your pocket or counting your chickens before they hatch.

[@irenemcnamara9699]

I like Russian idioms. They are down-to-earth and get right to the point!

[@autumnkruse310]

English has quite a few but these days they sound very grandma-y. "She told him how the cow ate the cabbage!" (Very similar to "she gave him what-for.") "You look like the cat that got the cream." "He's in a pickle." "Let sleeping dogs lie." "Don't let the tail wag the dog." (I hear this one all the time, actually.) I'm having trouble thinking of more off the top of my head. There's probably a website for them haha.

[@toad4u]

I'm country as hell so this is some of the weird shit we say in the south," it's raining cats and dogs, hotter than a stick in Mississippi mud, He doesn't know whether to check his ass or scratch his watch, She's lost as last year's Easter egg, that just dills my pickle."

[@julierowe1732]

"Madder than a wet hen."

[@druesey]

В двух из пяти есть слово "медведь")

[@sistematic88]

Спасибо за помощь. Очень интересное и полезное видео!

[@johanneskrusemark5163]

The idiom of the seven locks is similar to a german idiom!! In german : hinter sieben Türen, and it translates to: behind seven doors, which fits the same meaning actually :)

[@danarzechula3769]

Revelation 8:1-6

[@jhroenigk]

As noted below in the S. USA at least crayfish or the more common of the two, crawfish. Go to NOLA and indulge, dude! Thx for these nuggets of knowledge.

[@lemonwedge-brawlstars5196]

The bear story in the first one is so cute lol

[@alexeytsybyshev9459]

"За семью печатями" actually comes from Revelations in the Bible, where a scroll is secured with seven seals, the breaking of which which starts the Apocalypse. And баклуши, I believe, are wooden spoon blanks.

[@andreybofus1817]

So, all in all these sayings are pretty common in russian language BUT you can meet them in books or maybe newspapers or TV news. You see they are slightly literature.

[@mohamedfaresbenayed4819]

we have a similar idiom in Tunisia, "don't put the carpet in the ground before building the mosque"

[@christinefischer2137]

i love idioms, so thanx for the video. just a little thing: spelling mistake with the unkilled bear ("neuibtova")

[@TrashRat45]

Im sure im not the first to say this, but "бить баклуши" kinda reminds me of "beat around the bush". Though the English one if more so "To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally" Kinda similar?

[@annacoelho6300]

1:18

[@petermars10]

crayfish are all over US, Louisiana large crayfish boils in spicy seasoning a traditional dish

[@kirbyhill3411]

Peter Marshall cest bon!!

[@MrMaxGiz]

In Russia too, especially in Krasnodar region and Rostov-on-Don.

[@airsoftghost]

спасибо

[@NZC_Meow]

A bear's favour - a kind of help which does more damage than favour (A bear wanted to help a plant by killing a fly. So he slapped on the whole plant and killed the plant) To show where the crayfish winters - to let someone have it, to piss them up, to show them what's what to put them in their place (Back in the day when nobody knew where crayfish winters, it's like a secret place, where it was, and thus it was kind of a scary place. I'm gonna show you where they winter, means I'm gonna show you something scary. I'm gonna do something you're gonna fear from now on, like a threat to somebody, you're gonna punch them, etc) To be elated to be lazy to none to anything Is this your father, grandfather, 14 ancestors kingdom? - when someone's ruling over land which doesn't belong to them, e.g, telling you to get out Behind seven stamps - behind 7 locks, when something is such a secret, it's in 7 locks, used as a private thing, you can't show anyone To split the skin of an uncle's bear - to kind of plan to spend whatever you going to make without even making it first. So you're like in 5 years I'm going to a million dollars and I'm going to spin it on the yawn, I'm gonna buy this car, I'm gonna do this, I promise you I'm gonna pay for your car, I'm gonna buy this apartment, blah blah blah why? You're not even there, you didn't even give the million dollars, you didn't get it but still you're here promising, why are you trying to flash it, to look cool with it when you don't even have it. (Back in the day what people were go go to hunt and you know uncle bear hunting right and they would split kind of decided who gets which portion of the bear before you've been killing it. Who told you you're even gonna catch one. It's pretty hard to catch one)

[@Nick_O_Las]

This has likely already been pointed out... but as an English equivalent could likely be "Deadbeat" or someone who doesn't do anything.

[@nickdesaint4601]

Confirm the terms are somewhat generational? It would seem to me that in English, some older people are intrigued and laugh and or smile with the familiarity of the olden but not forgotten terms/ clichés addages etc. Thank you Сбасибо

[@didierlason6453]

Hi there! We have expressions like this in English. A lot of young people don't use them. My family uses a lot of expressions like this. One example: "I'm going to tell you where the bear stands in the buckwheat" (meaning: I'm going to tell you like it is). We have a lot of these - nothing unique to Russian. Take care, everyone! Peace.

[@andyblack5687]

"Behind seven seals"

[@yourbae7598]

Ачё не beyond

[@andyblack5687]

@@yourbae7598 Я не понимаю почему?

[@a.miegow]

За семью печатями is exactly the same in German. A topic you cannot understand is a "book with 7 seals". It's inaccessible.

[@MOPCLinguistica]

"делить шкуку неубитого медведя" здесь в Бразилии говорим "считать яйцом в засранце курицы"

[@zheltikov_3357]

Maybe make a video about how to get citizenship in Russia) all the qualifications

[@cerberaodollam]

Under 7 locks and the unkilled bear is a thing in Hungarian too. :)

[@ronancosta4592]

very good 👏👏👏

[@ofigennoofigennyy]

На самом деле, выражение "показать, где раки зимуют" пошло оттого что раки зимуют в реках. А если барину зимой захотелось раков поесть, то крестьянину было необходимо лезть в ледяную воду и отыскивать там раков. В прорубь. Под лед. В -70 градусов.

[@mikaelfarro]

Link in the desc takes us to a product doesn’t exist page

[@estuarlozanotovar4252]

maybe you could write down the phrase below in english because im not so skilled at hearing it

[@heinrich.hitzinger]

The phrases have been written in Russian in the video.

[@dprevish100]

Спасибо, мене очень нравится!

[@tropicocean3623]

МНЕ очень нравится ;)

[@FlatStasha223]

We always say will show you where the bear shit in the buckwheat. LOL that was kind of the same as putting someone in their place

[@kmonty6188]

we do say crayfish or crawdad

[@christ2381]

The first one is equal in German: jemandem einen Bärendienst erweisen.

[@Suthuner]

Awesome! ) There's more than one way to skin a cat.:)

[@galinaioffe2250]

Ex: kak sobake piataya noga Means you dont need something

[@a.i5233]

don't know if this counts but my father taught me "ока за ока" which isn't an idiom, but sounds pretty badass

[@danarzechula3769]

Do I want to know what that means?

[@CrèmeTropBrûlée]

It's funny we have exactly the same in french for the last one : "vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué", with the exact same meaning and it's also very common

[@heinrich.hitzinger]

@Luke Perret It had influenced Russian before the Soviets came to power.

[@CrèmeTropBrûlée]

​@@heinrich.hitzinger Yea I think it cames either when french napoleonic Empire tried to invade Russia or when russians were in Paris after Napoleon's abdications

[@andyblack5687]

That's a fascinating story. The only army to (somewhat) successfully invade Russia from outside its borders during the past 300 years got their capital occupied by the Russian tsar and his forces at the same time.

[@galinaioffe2250]

Ex: kak sobake piataya noga- like a fifth leg to a dog Means you dont need something

[@dimitriymirovsky]

The last one relatable to all politician. Empty promises

[@ЁниЁнсон]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@rabindrapalai9672]

They asking to Alliens Dear Allien please say his or her future by pics.

[@sassafrasofficial3695]

Делить шкуру неуибтого медведя is just a cooler version of counting your chickens before they hatch

[@LouisHansell]

It is universal: Don't sell the skin before the bear is shot.

[@mila760]

Thank you. You are a beautiful young men.

[@amebawu]

Why is there so many bears😂

[@rabindrapalai9672]

New unknown face will be decision maker.

[@unnamedchannel2202]

Translate the bear-sayings literally into German. There you are, a native speaker, well done.

[@UMMONARQUISTA]

If I translate "Показать, где раки зимуют" to my language (Portuguese), it sounds very funny.

[@johnjames4681]

5) Do not count your chickens. (not even eggs yet)

[@ОлегПрикол-ю9э]

Кто вообще говорит "хватит бить баклуши"? Если я такое услышу, то буду знать, что человек учил русский по этим видео.

[@ПруфыдлясофковПДС]

Ещё есть - когда рак на горе свистнет

[@KhangarooCourt]

how do you say, wtf are you looking at? and mind your business, and lets fight, and get him, and run away, and i will let you live this time, do not stab me in the back, we are brothers, thanks.

[@jolevangelista]

Какого черта (хрена) ты смотришь? Занимайся своим делом! Следуюшую не очень поняла - возможно, аналога нет. Нож в спину (конкретную длинную фразу, которую вы написали, не смогла понять тоже).

[@1zcott]

Be fluent by speaking English

[@pestilence6444]

За 7 печатями вообще никогда не слышал)

[@jolevangelista]

А я слышала и не раз.

[@pestilence6444]

@@jolevangelista а вы откуда, если не секрет?)

[@jolevangelista]

@@pestilence6444 из Центральной России. :)

[@jolevangelista]

@@pestilence6444 чаще такое идиоматическое выражения встречается - это тайна за семью печатями

[@pestilence6444]

@@jolevangelista хмм, интересно

[@debpartin8737]

Count your chickens before they hatch Got rocks

[@rabindrapalai9672]

Des 1st it.

[@debpartin8737]

2nd Scare the pants off

[@debpartin8737]

Or slap you into tomorrow Slap the crap out of you Are similar

[@nithinsuresh3371]

First comment

[@stephenskinner3851]

I like the term 'a Bear's favour'. It sounds just like the re-action to the Wuhan Flu?

[@jasmin-mae506]

I mean in australian english we use them all the time 😂 you must know silly american english then :p