Translation: It is easier for the mare when a woman gets off the cart.
Moral: If you want to sneak away from doing this hard part of the job, go ahead, you will only make it simpler for me. — Also: Good riddance! — Also: Don't let a woman do a man's job.
Modern mockery: Ба́ба с во́зу — кобы́ла в ку́рсе.(When a woman gets off the cart, the horse will notice.)
Ба́бушка (гада́ла, да) на́двое сказа́ла ( — то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет).[1]
Transliteraion: Babushka (gadala, da) nadvoye skazala ( — to li dozhdik, to li sneg, to li budet, to li net).
Translation: Granny (told fortunes and) said two things (— it will either rain or snow; it either will or will not).
Moral: The outcome is still unknown (despite all that's been said.) — Also: You seem uncertain.
Translation: God keeps those safe who keep themselves safe.
English version: The Lord helps those who help themselves.
Modern mockery: Бережёного Бог бережёт, а небережёного конвой стережёт.(God watches over those who are careful, and the jail wardens watch over those who were not.)
Transliteration: Vot tebe, babushka i yur'yev den'.
Translation: That's, Grandma, the Yuri's Day.
Cultural Background: On St. Yuri's Day (St. George's Day - November 26th), peasants were allowed to move from one owner to another at their own will. In 1590s, this right was put on hold, and completely cancelled in 1649. Obviously, the peasants waiting for their freedom day, weren't quite happy when that was announced.
Translation: [It's the] still waters [that] are inhabited by devils.
Moral: Evil things tends to look most innocent.
English version: The devil lurks behind the cross; Always the one you least expect; It's the quiet ones you've got to watch.; "Idle hands are the devil's work"
Translation: Eyes are(might be) afraid, but hands are doing [the job]].
Moral: If you're afraid of doing something, relax and and let your reflexes do the job; — Also: Don't be afraid if the amount of work seems large; it can be handled step-by-step.
Transliteration: Golod ne tyotka(, pirozhka nye podnesyot).
Translation: Hunger is not [your] aunt(, [it] will not bring you a pie).
Moral: If you are in need, help yourself and don't count on situation improving by itself. — Also: If you're in need, take what they give you, it's not time to decline offers.
Transliteration: Grom ne gryanet, muzhik ne perekrestitsya
Translation: Unless the thunder strikes, a man won't cross himself.
Cultural background: Since lightning strikes were considered acts of punishment by God, it was believed that crossing oneself would prevent one from being hit by a lightning.
Moral: People tend to not take precautionary measures until the trouble actually happens.
Transliteration: Daryonomu konyu v zuby ne smotryat.
Translation: Don't look at the teeth of a horse you've been given.
English version: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Moral: Don’t question a gift's value; be thankful, rather than judging something you received as a gift.
Background: Looking at a horse's teeth is a way to determine its age, and thus its value (a practice that also gives us the English expression “long in the tooth,” meaning old.)
Compare: Го́лод не тётка(, пирожка́ не поднесёт).
Modern mockery: Дарёному коню́ под хвост не смо́трят. (Don't check a gift horse under the tail)
Да́льше с глаз - бли́же к се́рдцу.
Transliteration: Dal'she s glaz - blizhe k serdtsu.
Translation: Away from the eye - closer to the heart.
English version: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Translation: To divide a pelt of a bear that has not been killed yet.
English version: To cook a hare before catching him; Don't count your chickens before they hatch; Don't run before your horse to market; Don't put the cart before the horse.
Translation: [You get to really] know [your] friend when trouble [comes].
Moral: A friend in need's a friend indeed.
Дурака́м зако́н не пи́сан (, е́сли пи́сан, то не чи́тан, е́сли чи́тан, то не по́нят, е́сли по́нят, то не так).[1]
Transliteration: Durakam zakon ne pisan (, yesli pisan, to ne chitan, yesli chitan, to ne ponyat, yesly ponyat, to ne tak).
Translation: There is no law written for fools ( if it is written, it is not read, if it is read, it is not understood, if it is understood, then in wrong way).
English version: There is no law for fools.
Дурака́ учи́ть — то́лько по́ртить.
Transliteration: Duraka uchit' — tol'ko portit'.
Translation: Teaching the fool [means] just spoiling him.
Moral: Educated fool is more dangerous because he's likely to apply the newfound knowledge in wrong ways. — Also: Don't give him any ideas
Variant: Дурака́ учи́ть — что мёртвого лечи́ть (Teaching the fool is like healing the dead).
Compare: Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так.
See also: Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).
Ерёма, Ерёма, сиде́л бы ты до́ма, точи́л бы свои́ веретёна.
Transliteraton: Yeryoma, Yeryoma, sidel by ty doma, tochil svoi veretyona.
Translation: Yeryoma(Jeremy), Yeryoma, you [would better] sit at home and cut your spindles.
Moral: Wish I stayed out of this trouble.
Е́сли бы да кабы́ да во рту росли́ грибы́(бобы́)(, это был бы не рот, а огоро́д). [1]
Transliteration: Yesli by da kaby da vo rtu rosli griby(boby) (, eto byl by nye rot a ogorod)
Translation: If and when mushrooms(beans) grew in the mouth(, that would have been not mouth but kitchen garden).
English version: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts; If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.; If ifs and ands were pots and pans, then we would need no tinkers.; If wishes were fishes, there'd be no room in the river for water.
Modern mockery: Если бы у бабушки были яйца, то она была бы дедушкой (If only Grandma had balls, she would have been Grandpa)
Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла. [1]
Transliteration: Yesli by molodost' znala, yesli by starost' mogla.
Translation: If only the youth would know, if the old age would be able to.
Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).[1]
Transliteration: Zastav' duraka Bogu molitsya - on (sebe) lob rasshibyot (i drugim nogi pootshibayet).
Translation: [If you] make a fool to pray to God, he will hurt (both his) forehead (and other people's toes).
Moral: When eagerness is coupled with lack of understanding of the task, one's efforts will be more of a hindrance than a help; Better not to follow instructions literally but understand their purpose.
English version: Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.
Compare: Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так; Медве́жья услу́га.
Translation: [You] cannot throw a word out of a song.
Moral: You cannot alter the information that many people know by heart. — Also: The following may contain obscene, rude or otherwise questionable content, yet it content cannot be omitted as it's an integral part of the story.
Compare: Сло́во – не воробе́й: вы́летит – не пойма́ешь.; Что напи́сано перо́м – не вы́рубить топоро́м.
И́ли грудь в креста́х, и́ли голова́ в куста́х.
Transliteration: Ili grud' v krestakh, ili golova v kustakh.
Translation: Either chest with crosses (orders), or a head in bushes.
Козла́ бо́йся спе́реди, коня́ — сза́ди, а лихо́го челове́ка — со всех сторо́н.
Transliteration: Kozla boysya speredi, konya — szadi, a likhogo cheloveka — so vsekh storon.
Translation: Beware of the goat from its front side, of the horse - from its back side, and the evil man - from any side.
Кому́ война́, а кому́ мать родна́.
Transliteration: Komu voyna, a komu mat' rodna.
Translation: For some people war is war, for others - dear mother.
Moral: Some people suffer of war; some people make a fortune off it.
Кому́ на ме́сте не сиди́тся, тот добра́ не наживёт.
Transliteration: Komu na meste ne siditsya, tot dobra ne nazhivyot.
Translation: Those who are discontent to remain in one place will not earn much.
English version: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Коне́й на перепра́ве не меня́ют.
Transliteration: Koney na pereprave ne menyaut.
Translation: One doesn't change horses at [river] crossing.
English version: Don't change horses in midstream.
Конь о четырёх нога́х, да и тот спотыка́ется.
Transliteration: Kon' o chetyryokh nogakh, da i tot spotykaetsya
Translation: A horse has four legs, but still stumbles.
Moral: Even most experienced (or most capable) people make mistakes sometimes.
Копе́йка рубль бережёт(, а рубль го́лову стережёт).
Transliteration: Kopeyka rubl' berezhot(, a rubl' golovu sterezhot).
Translation: A kopeck saves the rouble(, and the rouble guards your head).
English version: Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Краси́во жить не запрети́шь.
Transliteration: Krasivo zhit' ne zapretish.
Translation: You can't forbid living beautifully.
Кто в мо́ре не быва́л, тот Бо́гу не ма́ливался.
Transliteration: Kto v more ne byval, tot Bogu ne malivalsya.
Translation: Who wasn't [out] in the sea, didn't pray to God.
Кто в чин вошёл лисо́й, тот в чи́не бу́дет во́лком.
Transliteration: Kto v chin voshol lisoy, tot v chine budet volkom.
Translation: He who gains the rank like a fox, will be a wolf in the rank.
Кто пьёт до дна, тот живёт без ума́.
Transliteration: Kto p'yot do dna, tot zhivyot bez uma.
Translation: Who drinks till bottom, lives without mind.
Moral: Drinking harms people.
Кто ра́но встаёт, тому́ Бог подаёт.
Transliteration: Kto rano vstayot, tomu bog podayot.
Translation: God gives to those who wake up early.
Modern mockery: Кто ра́но встаёт, тому́ весь день спать хо́чется (The one who wakes up early is sleepy the whole day)
English version: Early bird catches the worm.
Кто смел, тот два съeл.
Transliteration: Kto smel, tot dva s'yel.
Translation: Who is brave eats two.
English version: He who is tricky will get double the prize.
Кто ста́рое помя́нет, тому́ глаз вон(, а кто забу́дет - тому́ о́ба).
Transliteration: Kto staroye pomyanet, tomu glaz von (, a kto zabudyet - tomu oba).
Translation: Who reminds old [events,insults], will be deprived of his eye,(and who forgets it - of both).
English version: Let sleeping dogs lie.
Куда́ конь с копы́том, туда и рак с клешнёй.
Transliteration: Kuda kon' s kopytom, tuda i rak c kleshnyoy.
Translation: Where [goes] a horse with [its] hoof, there [goes] a crayfish with [its] pincer.
Куда́ ни кинь, везде́(всё, всю́ду) клин.
Transliteration: Kuda ni kin', vezde(vsyo,vsyudu) klin.
English Version: Damned if you do, damned if you don't
Compare: Что в лоб, что по́ лбу; Что пнём об сову, что сово́й об пень.
Куй желе́зо, пока горячо́.
Transliteration: Kuy zhelezo, poka goryacho.
Translation: Strike while the iron is hot.
Moral: Do things while it's the best time to to them.
English version: Strike while the iron is hot; Make hay while the sun shines.
Modern mockery: Куй желе́зо, пока Горбачёв (Strike iron while
Gorbachyov [is at power] — encouraging people to use the opportunities opened by
Perestroika, as it wasn't believed at the time that they will last)
Ку́рам на́ смех.
Transliteration: Kuram na smekh.
Translation: It makes chicken laugh.
English version: It is enough to make a cat laugh.
Ку́рица не пти́ца, ба́ба не челове́к.
Transliteration: Kuritsa ne ptitsa, baba ne chelovek.
Translation: As chicken is not a bird, woman is not a human being.
Купола в Росси́и кроют чи́стым золотом, чтобы ча́ще Госпо́дь замеча́л.
Transliteration: Na vsyakogo mudretsa dovol'no prostoty.
Translation: For each wise man there are plenty of fools.
English version: Homer sometimes nods.
Назва́лся гру́здем — полеза́й в ку́зов.
Transliteration: Nazvalsya gruzdem — polezay v kuzov.
Translation: If you called yourself a milk-mushroom — get into the basket!
Moral: If you make a claim, be ready to prove it; If you made a promise, do not take it back
English version: In for a penny, in for a pound [?], If you undertook some thing, do it (see it through); If the shoe fits, ...; If you pledge, don't hedge.
Modern mockery: Не имей сто рублей, а имей двести (Don't have a hundred roubles, but have two hundred roubles.)
Не клади́ все я́йца в одну́ корзи́ну.
Transliteration: Ne kladi vse yaytsa v odnu korzinu.
Translation: Don't put all [your] eggs in one basket.
English version: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Не ме́сто кра́сит челове́ка, а челове́к — ме́сто.
Transliteration: Ne mesto krasit cheloveka, a chelovek — mesto.
Translations: Not the place adorns the man, but a man adorns the place.
Не мечи́те би́сер пе́ред сви́ньями.
Transliteration: Ne mechite biser pered svin'yami
Translation: Don't cast beads before(in front of) pigs.
English version: Cast not your pearls before swine.
Не мытьём, так ка́таньем.
Transliteration: Ne mytyom, tak katan'yem.
Translation: If not by washing, then by rolling.
Cultural background: ка́танье ("rolling") was a special method of cloth cleaning with use of a primitive wooden hand-held "washing machine" forcefully rolled on the cloth surface -- note there were no soap; surface-active agent was prepared from ashes.
English version: By hook or by crook.
Не ошиба́ется тот, кто ничего́ не де́лает.
Transliteration: Ne oshibayetsa tot, kto nichego ne delayet.
Translation: Only he who does nothing makes no mistakes.
English version: He that never climbed, never fell.
Не плюй в коло́дец — пригоди́тся [воды] напи́ться.
Transliteration: Ne plyuy v kolodets — prigoditsya [vody] napit'sya.
Translation: Do not spit into a well—it may be useful to drink water.
English version: Actions can boomerang; Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk; Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Vulgar: Don't sh*t where you eat.
Modern mockery: Не плюй в коло́дец: вы́летит — не пойма́ешь.
Не по́йман — не во́р.
Transliteration: Ne poyman — ne vor.
Translation: Unless caught [stealing], [one is] not a thief.
English version: Innocent till proven guilty.
Не рой друго́му я́му, сам в неё попадёшь.
Transliteration: Ne roy drugomu yamu, sam v neyo popadyosh.
Translation: Don't dig a pit for somebody [to fall into], [or] you will end up in it yourself.
English version: Curses like chickens come home to roost.
Modern mockery: Не рой друго́му я́му, пусть сам ро́ет (Don't dig a pit for somebody, let he digs [it] himself)
Не руби́ сук, на кото́ром сиди́шь.
Transliteration: Ne rubi suk, na kotorom sidish.
Translation: Don't hack the branch you are sitting on.
English version: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Не сиди́ сложа́ ру́ки, так и не бу́дет ску́ки.
Transliteration: Ne sidi slozha ruki, tak i ne budet skuki.
Translation: Don't sit idly, then there will be no boredom.
Не спра́шивай ста́рого, спра́шивай быва́лого.
Transliteration: Ne sprashivay starovo, sprashivy byvalogo.
Translation: Don't ask the old one, ask the experienced one.
Не суди́те и да не суди́мы бу́дете.
Transliteration: Ne sudite i da ne sudimy budete.
Translation: Don't judge and you won't be judged.
English version: Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его́ малю́ют.
Transliteration: Ne tak strashen chort, kak ego malyuyut.
Translation: The devil is not as scary as they paint(draw) him.
Note: "Малюют" is a Ukrainian word. The Russian equivalent is "рисуют". Still, it is also used in Russian in different meanings (like "paint carelessly, with poor quality, unskillfully").
English version: The devil is not so black as he is painted.
Modern mockery: Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его малю́тки. (The devil is not as scary as his little offsprings.)
Не учи́ учёного.
Transliteration: Ne uchi uchonogo.
Translation: Do not teach a learned person.
Note: The word "учёный" literally means a "learned person", however the everyday meaning is "scientist". This "proverb" is more of a wordplay, and relies on that semantic connection for its profound effect. A more true-to-intended-effect translation would be: "Don't teach the teacher."
Translation: Neither down (from a duck), nor feather.
Meaning: Good Luck (more directly May nothing stand in your way.)
English version: Break a leg!
Ни ры́ба, ни мя́со.
Transliteration: Ni ryba, ni myaso.
Translation: Neither fish nor meat.
Usage: A person without a strong character.
English version: Neither fish nor flesh.
Ни складу ни ладу(, поцелу́й кобы́лу с за́ду).
Transliteration: Ni skladu ni ladu(, potseluy kobylu s zadu).
Translation: Neither rhyme nor harmony(, [go] kiss horse's ass).
Moral: You're a poor poet; — Also: Your story doesn't hold water; You're bullshitting me.
English version: Neither rhyme nor reason; You told it through your hat; You lied through your teeth
Но́вая метла по-но́вому метёт.
Transliteration: Novaya metla po-novomu metyot.
Translation: A new broom sweeps in a new way.
Moral: New manager brings new requirements.
English version: A new broom sweeps clean.; In with the new and out with the old.
Нынче полковник, а завтра покойник.
Transliteration: Nynche polkovnik, a zavtra pokoynik.
Translation: Today [you are] a colonel, but tomorrow [you are] dead.
Moral: Life is short, fortune is fickle.
О
Обе́щанного три го́да ждут.
Transliteration: Obeschannovo tri goda zhdut.
Translation: [They] wait three years for [what was] promised.
Moral: Promises aren't usually carried out immediately.
Обже́гшись на молоке́, ду́ют на́ воду.
Transliteration: Obzhegshis' na moloke, duyut i na vodu.
Translation: [The one who got] burned by [hot] milk, blows on water.
English version: Once bitten, twice shy.
О вку́сах не спо́рят.
Transliteration: O vkusakh ne sporyat.
Translation: Tastes are not argued. (from Latin "De gustibus non est disputandum")
English version: To each his own.
Овчи́нка вы́делки не сто́ит.
Transliteration: Ovchinka vydelki ne stoit.
Translation: The lambskin is not worth the currying.
English version: The game isn’t worth the candle.
Оди́н в по́ле [—] не во́ин.
Transliteration: Odin v pole ne voin.
Translation: Single [man] in a field is not a warrior.
English version: One man, no man
Оди́н с со́шкой — се́меро с ло́жкой.
Transliteration: Odin s soshkoy — semero s lozhkoy.
Translation: [For every] one with a plow — [there're] seven with a spoon.
Moral: There's a lot of slackers for each productive worker.
Оди́н сын – не сын, два сы́на – по́лсына, три сы́на – сын.
Transliteration: Odin syn - ne syn, dva syna - polsyna, tri syna - syn.
Translation: One son is not a son, two sons are half a son, three sons are a son.
Одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, а две — луч́ше.
Transliteration: Odna golova — khorosho, a dve — luchshe.
Translation: One head is good; two heads are better.
Moral: Problem is more likely to be solved by a group discussion. — Also: I'll gladly lend you my experience.
English version: Two heads are better than one.
Mockery: Одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, а две — мута́ция (One head is good; two heads make a mutant.); Одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, две — лу́чше, а три - Змей Горы́ныч (One head is good, two are better, and three make a
dragon).
Оре́шек не по зуба́м.
Transliteration: Oreshek ne po zubam.
Translation: The teeth are not match for the nut.
English version: A hard nut to crack
От во́лка бежа́л, да на медве́дя попа́л.
Transliteration: Ot volka bezhal, da na medvedya popal.
Translation: I ran from the wolf but ran into a bear.
English version: Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'
See also: Из огня́ да в полымя́.
От добра́ добра́ не и́щут.
Transliteration: Ot dobra dobra ne ishchut.
Translation: Do not look for [further] good from good.
English version: Leave well enough alone; Enough is as good as a feast.
От ма́ленькой и́скры большо́й пожа́р быва́ет.
Transliteration: Ot malen'koy iskry bol'shoy pozhar byvayet.
Translation: A little spark may cause a big fire.
От любопы́тства ко́шка сдо́хла.
Transliteration: Ot lyubopytstva koshka sdokhla.
Translation: Cat died of curiosity.
English version: Curiosity killed the cat.
От ску́ки бери́ де́ло в ру́ки.
Transliteration: Ot skuki beri delo v ruki.
Translation: To get rid of boredom, do some work.
От сумы́ и от тюрьмы́ не зарека́йся.
Transliteration: Ot sumy i ot tyur'my ne zarekaysa.
Translation: Don't swear off of beggary and jail.
Background: No one can be sure in his everlasting prosperity and freedom.
Translation: Fix [your] cart in winter, and sled in summer.
Moral: Make sure your assets are ready for use well before they're needed. — Also: Do not take things down for maintenance during the peak usage periods.
Привы́чка — втора́я нату́ра.
Transliteration: Privychka — vtoraya natura.
Translation: Habit is a second nature.
English version: Custom is a second nature.
При царе́ Горо́хе (or: Когда царь Горох с грибами воевал)
Transliteration: Pri tsare Gorokhe (Kogda tsar Gorokh s gribami voyeval)
Translation: In the times of czar Gorokh (Pisum), When czar Gorokh fought against mushrooms (czar from fairy tales)
English version: Since Adam was a boy; Since time immemorial
Пришла́ беда́, отворя́й ворота́.
Transliteration: Prishla beda, otvoryay vorota.
Translation: Trouble is here, so open the gates.
English version: Misfortunes never come alone.; Troubles come not in singles but in whole battalions (Shakespeare); When it rains it pours
Про се́рого речь, а се́рый — навстре́чь.
Transliteration: Pro serovo rech, a seryy — navstrech.
Translation: Speak of the gray one (i.e. wolf), the gray one [heads] your way.
English version: Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Transliteration: Umnaya golova, da duraku dostalas'.
Translation: A clever head but given to a fool.
У́мные ре́чи прия́тно и слу́шать.
Transliteration: Umnyye rechi priyatno i slushat'.
Translation: A clever speech (speaker) is pleasant to listen to.
У́мный в го́ру не пойдёт, у́мный го́ру обойдёт.
Transliteration: Umnyy v goru ne poydyot, umnyy goru oboydyot.
Translation: A smart person will not climb a mountain; A smart person will go around it.
Compare: Зако́н что ды́шло, куда́ повернёшь - туда́ и вы́шло.
Contrast: Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).
У́мный лю́бит учи́ться, а дура́к учи́ть.
Transliteration: Umnyy lyubit uchit'sya, a durak uchit.
Translation: Clever person likes to learn, and the fool - to teach.
У семи́ ня́нек дитя́ без гла́зу.
Transliteration: U semi nyanek ditya bez glazu.
Translation: Seven nannies make a kid not looked after.
Moral: If too many people are working on the same project, everybody will expect that another one will do the actuall job.
English version: Many cooks spoil the broth.
Ус в честь, а борода́ и у козла́ есть.
Transliteration: Us v chest' a boroda i u kozla yest'
Translation: Moustache is respected and beard is worn even by goats.
Услу́жливый дура́к опа́снее врага́.
Transliteration: Usluzhlivyy durak opasnee vraga'
Translation: Complaisant fool harms worse than enemy.
Уста́ми младе́нца глаго́лет и́стина.
Transliteration: Ustami mladentsa glagolet istina
Translation: Truth speaks by the toddler's mouth; From the mouth of babes
English version: Children and fools tell the truth.
У стра́ха глаза́ велики́.
Transliteration: U strakha glaza veliki.
Translation: Fear has large eyes.
Moral: People tend to overestimate the danger when scared.
Compare: Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его́ малю́ют; Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают
Утопа́ющий за соло́минку хвата́ется.
Transliteration: Utopayuschiy i za solominku khvatayetsya.
Translation: The one who sinks grips even a straw.
У́тро ве́чера мудрене́е.
Transliteration: Utro vechera mudreneye.
Translation: Morning is wiser than the evening.
Moral: One should rather make important decisions in the morning (i.e. after getting some sleep/rest) than in the evening.
English version: I need to sleep on it.
Уче́нье свет, а неуче́нье тьма.
Transliteration: Uchen'ye cvet, a neuchen'ye t'ma.
Translation: Studying is light; not studying is darkness.
English version: Knowledge is power.
Variations: "Ученье свет, а неученых тьма." (Studying is light; there are many people who don't study. It's a play on the word тьма which can mean "many" or "darkness.")
Учи́, пока́ поперёк ла́вки укла́дывается, а во всю вы́тянется – не нау́чишь.
Transliteration: Uchi, poka poperyok lavki ukladyvayetsya, a vo vsyu vytuanetsya - ne nauchish.
Translation: Teach[ a child], until [it can] lay across a bench, when [it] will stretch it's whole length, you'll be unable to teach[it].
Ф
Федо́т, да не тот.
Transliteration: Fedot, da ne tot.
Translation: Fedot, yet not the [right] one.
Moral: You've mistaken him for somebody else. — Also: This is not genuine.
Compare: Хороша́ Ма́ша, да не на́ша.
Фарао́н горди́лся, да в мо́ре утопи́лся.
Transliteration: Faraon gordilsya, da v more utopilsya.
Translation: The faraoh was proud, but drowned in the sea.
Х
Хвали́лась сини́ца мо́ре заже́чь.
Transliteration: Khvalilas' sinitsa more zazhech.
Translation: Titmouse boasted to put sea on fire..
Transliteration: Khuzhe net — zhdat' da dogonyat'.
Translation: Nothing is worse than waiting or chasing.
Ц
Це́рковь бли́зко, да идти́ скли́зко, каба́к далеко́, да идти́ легко́.
Transliteration: Tserkov' blizko, da idti sklizko, kabak daleko, la idti legko.
Translation: Church is close, but the road is slippery, pub is far, but the road is easy.
Цыпля́т по о́сени счита́ют.
Transliteration: Tsiplyat po oseni schitayut.
Translation: One [should] count chicks in autumn.
English version: Don't count your chicken before they hatched.
Ч
Чай пить – не дрова́ руби́ть.
Transliteration: Chay pit' - ne drova rubit'.
Translation: Drinking tea is unlike chopping firewood.
Moral: Don't compare apples to oranges.
Час о́т часу не ле́гче.
Transliteration: Chas ot chasu ne legche.
Translation: [It is] not [getting] easier by an hour.
Moral: Things are changing from bad to worse.
Челове́к предполага́ет, а Бог располага́ет.
Transliteration: Chelovek predpolagayet, a Bog raspolagayet.
English version: Man proposes, but God disposes.
Чем бога́ты, тем и ра́ды.
Transliteration: Chem bogaty, tem i rady.
Translation: We are glad to have what we have.
English version: Half a loaf is better then none
Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, ли́шь бы не пла́кало.
Transliteration: Chem by ditya ni teshilos', lish by ne plakalo.
Translation: It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as [he] doesn't cry.
Modern mockery: Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы не вешалось (It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as [he] doesn't hang himself.); Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы в рот не брало; Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы по обоюдному согласию (It doesn't matter what(whom) the kid plays with as long as it's upon mutual agreement.); Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы не руками. (It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as it's not with [his] hand.).
Чем да́льше в лес, тем бо́льше дров.
Transliteration: Chem dal'she v les, tem bol'she drov.
Translation: The further into the woods, the more firewood [you'll encounter].
Moral: The further you get into something, the greater gain you might expect (or the more obstacles you will encounter).
Modern mockery: Чем да́льше в лес, тем толще партизаны; Чем да́льше в лес, тем бли́же вы́лез (wordplay on similarly sounding "в лес"/"влез").
Че́м чёрт не шу́тит (, пока́ Бог спит).
Transliteration: Chem chort ne shutit(, poka Bog spit).
Moral: Unexpected or unlikely things may happen sometimes; — Also: I'm willing to take this risk, as I believe (hope) the outcome will be positive.
See also: Была́ не была́.
Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть.
Transliteration: Chemu byt', tomu ne minovat'.
Translation: What is to be, can't be avoided.
Moral: Things that were meant to be, will happen no matter what.
Чёрного ко́беля не отмо́ешь до́бела.
Transliteration: Chornovo kobelya ne otmoyesh dobela.
Translation: [One] can't wash the black dog all the way to whiteness.
English version: The leopard cannot change his spots; You cannot wash charcoal white.
Compare: Горба́того моги́ла испра́вит; Зарека́лася лиса́ кур не ворова́ть.
Чесно́к и лук — от семи неду́г.
Transliteration: Chesnok i luk — ot semi nedug.
Translation: Garlic and onions [cure] seven(many) diseases.
Что бы́ло, то прошло́ (и быльём поросло́).
Transliteration: Chto bylo, to proshlo (i byl'yom poroslo).
Translation: What used to be - is [now] gone (and overgrown with grass).
Modern mockery: Что написано топором - не вырубить пером. (Written by axe cannot be taken out with pen) — said by editors about poorly written articles.
Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так.
Translation: Whatever a fool does, he does it wrong.
Translation: It is easier for the mare when a woman gets off the cart.
Moral: If you want to sneak away from doing this hard part of the job, go ahead, you will only make it simpler for me. — Also: Good riddance! — Also: Don't let a woman do a man's job.
Modern mockery: Ба́ба с во́зу — кобы́ла в ку́рсе.(When a woman gets off the cart, the horse will notice.)
Ба́бушка (гада́ла, да) на́двое сказа́ла ( — то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет).[1]
Transliteraion: Babushka (gadala, da) nadvoye skazala ( — to li dozhdik, to li sneg, to li budet, to li net).
Translation: Granny (told fortunes and) said two things (— it will either rain or snow; it either will or will not).
Moral: The outcome is still unknown (despite all that's been said.) — Also: You seem uncertain.
Translation: God keeps those safe who keep themselves safe.
English version: The Lord helps those who help themselves.
Modern mockery: Бережёного Бог бережёт, а небережёного конвой стережёт.(God watches over those who are careful, and the jail wardens watch over those who were not.)
Transliteration: Vot tebe, babushka i yur'yev den'.
Translation: That's, Grandma, the Yuri's Day.
Cultural Background: On St. Yuri's Day (St. George's Day - November 26th), peasants were allowed to move from one owner to another at their own will. In 1590s, this right was put on hold, and completely cancelled in 1649. Obviously, the peasants waiting for their freedom day, weren't quite happy when that was announced.
Translation: [It's the] still waters [that] are inhabited by devils.
Moral: Evil things tends to look most innocent.
English version: The devil lurks behind the cross; Always the one you least expect; It's the quiet ones you've got to watch.; "Idle hands are the devil's work"
Translation: Eyes are(might be) afraid, but hands are doing [the job]].
Moral: If you're afraid of doing something, relax and and let your reflexes do the job; — Also: Don't be afraid if the amount of work seems large; it can be handled step-by-step.
Transliteration: Golod ne tyotka(, pirozhka nye podnesyot).
Translation: Hunger is not [your] aunt(, [it] will not bring you a pie).
Moral: If you are in need, help yourself and don't count on situation improving by itself. — Also: If you're in need, take what they give you, it's not time to decline offers.
Transliteration: Grom ne gryanet, muzhik ne perekrestitsya
Translation: Unless the thunder strikes, a man won't cross himself.
Cultural background: Since lightning strikes were considered acts of punishment by God, it was believed that crossing oneself would prevent one from being hit by a lightning.
Moral: People tend to not take precautionary measures until the trouble actually happens.
Transliteration: Daryonomu konyu v zuby ne smotryat.
Translation: Don't look at the teeth of a horse you've been given.
English version: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Moral: Don’t question a gift's value; be thankful, rather than judging something you received as a gift.
Background: Looking at a horse's teeth is a way to determine its age, and thus its value (a practice that also gives us the English expression “long in the tooth,” meaning old.)
Compare: Го́лод не тётка(, пирожка́ не поднесёт).
Modern mockery: Дарёному коню́ под хвост не смо́трят. (Don't check a gift horse under the tail)
Да́льше с глаз - бли́же к се́рдцу.
Transliteration: Dal'she s glaz - blizhe k serdtsu.
Translation: Away from the eye - closer to the heart.
English version: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Translation: To divide a pelt of a bear that has not been killed yet.
English version: To cook a hare before catching him; Don't count your chickens before they hatch; Don't run before your horse to market; Don't put the cart before the horse.
Translation: [You get to really] know [your] friend when trouble [comes].
Moral: A friend in need's a friend indeed.
Дурака́м зако́н не пи́сан (, е́сли пи́сан, то не чи́тан, е́сли чи́тан, то не по́нят, е́сли по́нят, то не так).[1]
Transliteration: Durakam zakon ne pisan (, yesli pisan, to ne chitan, yesli chitan, to ne ponyat, yesly ponyat, to ne tak).
Translation: There is no law written for fools ( if it is written, it is not read, if it is read, it is not understood, if it is understood, then in wrong way).
English version: There is no law for fools.
Дурака́ учи́ть — то́лько по́ртить.
Transliteration: Duraka uchit' — tol'ko portit'.
Translation: Teaching the fool [means] just spoiling him.
Moral: Educated fool is more dangerous because he's likely to apply the newfound knowledge in wrong ways. — Also: Don't give him any ideas
Variant: Дурака́ учи́ть — что мёртвого лечи́ть (Teaching the fool is like healing the dead).
Compare: Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так.
See also: Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).
Ерёма, Ерёма, сиде́л бы ты до́ма, точи́л бы свои́ веретёна.
Transliteraton: Yeryoma, Yeryoma, sidel by ty doma, tochil svoi veretyona.
Translation: Yeryoma(Jeremy), Yeryoma, you [would better] sit at home and cut your spindles.
Moral: Wish I stayed out of this trouble.
Е́сли бы да кабы́ да во рту росли́ грибы́(бобы́)(, это был бы не рот, а огоро́д). [1]
Transliteration: Yesli by da kaby da vo rtu rosli griby(boby) (, eto byl by nye rot a ogorod)
Translation: If and when mushrooms(beans) grew in the mouth(, that would have been not mouth but kitchen garden).
English version: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts; If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.; If ifs and ands were pots and pans, then we would need no tinkers.; If wishes were fishes, there'd be no room in the river for water.
Modern mockery: Если бы у бабушки были яйца, то она была бы дедушкой (If only Grandma had balls, she would have been Grandpa)
Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла. [1]
Transliteration: Yesli by molodost' znala, yesli by starost' mogla.
Translation: If only the youth would know, if the old age would be able to.
Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).[1]
Transliteration: Zastav' duraka Bogu molitsya - on (sebe) lob rasshibyot (i drugim nogi pootshibayet).
Translation: [If you] make a fool to pray to God, he will hurt (both his) forehead (and other people's toes).
Moral: When eagerness is coupled with lack of understanding of the task, one's efforts will be more of a hindrance than a help; Better not to follow instructions literally but understand their purpose.
English version: Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.
Compare: Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так; Медве́жья услу́га.
Translation: [You] cannot throw a word out of a song.
Moral: You cannot alter the information that many people know by heart. — Also: The following may contain obscene, rude or otherwise questionable content, yet it content cannot be omitted as it's an integral part of the story.
Compare: Сло́во – не воробе́й: вы́летит – не пойма́ешь.; Что напи́сано перо́м – не вы́рубить топоро́м.
И́ли грудь в креста́х, и́ли голова́ в куста́х.
Transliteration: Ili grud' v krestakh, ili golova v kustakh.
Translation: Either chest with crosses (orders), or a head in bushes.
Козла́ бо́йся спе́реди, коня́ — сза́ди, а лихо́го челове́ка — со всех сторо́н.
Transliteration: Kozla boysya speredi, konya — szadi, a likhogo cheloveka — so vsekh storon.
Translation: Beware of the goat from its front side, of the horse - from its back side, and the evil man - from any side.
Кому́ война́, а кому́ мать родна́.
Transliteration: Komu voyna, a komu mat' rodna.
Translation: For some people war is war, for others - dear mother.
Moral: Some people suffer of war; some people make a fortune off it.
Кому́ на ме́сте не сиди́тся, тот добра́ не наживёт.
Transliteration: Komu na meste ne siditsya, tot dobra ne nazhivyot.
Translation: Those who are discontent to remain in one place will not earn much.
English version: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Коне́й на перепра́ве не меня́ют.
Transliteration: Koney na pereprave ne menyaut.
Translation: One doesn't change horses at [river] crossing.
English version: Don't change horses in midstream.
Конь о четырёх нога́х, да и тот спотыка́ется.
Transliteration: Kon' o chetyryokh nogakh, da i tot spotykaetsya
Translation: A horse has four legs, but still stumbles.
Moral: Even most experienced (or most capable) people make mistakes sometimes.
Копе́йка рубль бережёт(, а рубль го́лову стережёт).
Transliteration: Kopeyka rubl' berezhot(, a rubl' golovu sterezhot).
Translation: A kopeck saves the rouble(, and the rouble guards your head).
English version: Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Краси́во жить не запрети́шь.
Transliteration: Krasivo zhit' ne zapretish.
Translation: You can't forbid living beautifully.
Кто в мо́ре не быва́л, тот Бо́гу не ма́ливался.
Transliteration: Kto v more ne byval, tot Bogu ne malivalsya.
Translation: Who wasn't [out] in the sea, didn't pray to God.
Кто в чин вошёл лисо́й, тот в чи́не бу́дет во́лком.
Transliteration: Kto v chin voshol lisoy, tot v chine budet volkom.
Translation: He who gains the rank like a fox, will be a wolf in the rank.
Кто пьёт до дна, тот живёт без ума́.
Transliteration: Kto p'yot do dna, tot zhivyot bez uma.
Translation: Who drinks till bottom, lives without mind.
Moral: Drinking harms people.
Кто ра́но встаёт, тому́ Бог подаёт.
Transliteration: Kto rano vstayot, tomu bog podayot.
Translation: God gives to those who wake up early.
Modern mockery: Кто ра́но встаёт, тому́ весь день спать хо́чется (The one who wakes up early is sleepy the whole day)
English version: Early bird catches the worm.
Кто смел, тот два съeл.
Transliteration: Kto smel, tot dva s'yel.
Translation: Who is brave eats two.
English version: He who is tricky will get double the prize.
Кто ста́рое помя́нет, тому́ глаз вон(, а кто забу́дет - тому́ о́ба).
Transliteration: Kto staroye pomyanet, tomu glaz von (, a kto zabudyet - tomu oba).
Translation: Who reminds old [events,insults], will be deprived of his eye,(and who forgets it - of both).
English version: Let sleeping dogs lie.
Куда́ конь с копы́том, туда и рак с клешнёй.
Transliteration: Kuda kon' s kopytom, tuda i rak c kleshnyoy.
Translation: Where [goes] a horse with [its] hoof, there [goes] a crayfish with [its] pincer.
Куда́ ни кинь, везде́(всё, всю́ду) клин.
Transliteration: Kuda ni kin', vezde(vsyo,vsyudu) klin.
English Version: Damned if you do, damned if you don't
Compare: Что в лоб, что по́ лбу; Что пнём об сову, что сово́й об пень.
Куй желе́зо, пока горячо́.
Transliteration: Kuy zhelezo, poka goryacho.
Translation: Strike while the iron is hot.
Moral: Do things while it's the best time to to them.
English version: Strike while the iron is hot; Make hay while the sun shines.
Modern mockery: Куй желе́зо, пока Горбачёв (Strike iron while
Gorbachyov [is at power] — encouraging people to use the opportunities opened by
Perestroika, as it wasn't believed at the time that they will last)
Ку́рам на́ смех.
Transliteration: Kuram na smekh.
Translation: It makes chicken laugh.
English version: It is enough to make a cat laugh.
Ку́рица не пти́ца, ба́ба не челове́к.
Transliteration: Kuritsa ne ptitsa, baba ne chelovek.
Translation: As chicken is not a bird, woman is not a human being.
Купола в Росси́и кроют чи́стым золотом, чтобы ча́ще Госпо́дь замеча́л.
Transliteration: Na vsyakogo mudretsa dovol'no prostoty.
Translation: For each wise man there are plenty of fools.
English version: Homer sometimes nods.
Назва́лся гру́здем — полеза́й в ку́зов.
Transliteration: Nazvalsya gruzdem — polezay v kuzov.
Translation: If you called yourself a milk-mushroom — get into the basket!
Moral: If you make a claim, be ready to prove it; If you made a promise, do not take it back
English version: In for a penny, in for a pound [?], If you undertook some thing, do it (see it through); If the shoe fits, ...; If you pledge, don't hedge.
Modern mockery: Не имей сто рублей, а имей двести (Don't have a hundred roubles, but have two hundred roubles.)
Не клади́ все я́йца в одну́ корзи́ну.
Transliteration: Ne kladi vse yaytsa v odnu korzinu.
Translation: Don't put all [your] eggs in one basket.
English version: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Не ме́сто кра́сит челове́ка, а челове́к — ме́сто.
Transliteration: Ne mesto krasit cheloveka, a chelovek — mesto.
Translations: Not the place adorns the man, but a man adorns the place.
Не мечи́те би́сер пе́ред сви́ньями.
Transliteration: Ne mechite biser pered svin'yami
Translation: Don't cast beads before(in front of) pigs.
English version: Cast not your pearls before swine.
Не мытьём, так ка́таньем.
Transliteration: Ne mytyom, tak katan'yem.
Translation: If not by washing, then by rolling.
Cultural background: ка́танье ("rolling") was a special method of cloth cleaning with use of a primitive wooden hand-held "washing machine" forcefully rolled on the cloth surface -- note there were no soap; surface-active agent was prepared from ashes.
English version: By hook or by crook.
Не ошиба́ется тот, кто ничего́ не де́лает.
Transliteration: Ne oshibayetsa tot, kto nichego ne delayet.
Translation: Only he who does nothing makes no mistakes.
English version: He that never climbed, never fell.
Не плюй в коло́дец — пригоди́тся [воды] напи́ться.
Transliteration: Ne plyuy v kolodets — prigoditsya [vody] napit'sya.
Translation: Do not spit into a well—it may be useful to drink water.
English version: Actions can boomerang; Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk; Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Vulgar: Don't sh*t where you eat.
Modern mockery: Не плюй в коло́дец: вы́летит — не пойма́ешь.
Не по́йман — не во́р.
Transliteration: Ne poyman — ne vor.
Translation: Unless caught [stealing], [one is] not a thief.
English version: Innocent till proven guilty.
Не рой друго́му я́му, сам в неё попадёшь.
Transliteration: Ne roy drugomu yamu, sam v neyo popadyosh.
Translation: Don't dig a pit for somebody [to fall into], [or] you will end up in it yourself.
English version: Curses like chickens come home to roost.
Modern mockery: Не рой друго́му я́му, пусть сам ро́ет (Don't dig a pit for somebody, let he digs [it] himself)
Не руби́ сук, на кото́ром сиди́шь.
Transliteration: Ne rubi suk, na kotorom sidish.
Translation: Don't hack the branch you are sitting on.
English version: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Не сиди́ сложа́ ру́ки, так и не бу́дет ску́ки.
Transliteration: Ne sidi slozha ruki, tak i ne budet skuki.
Translation: Don't sit idly, then there will be no boredom.
Не спра́шивай ста́рого, спра́шивай быва́лого.
Transliteration: Ne sprashivay starovo, sprashivy byvalogo.
Translation: Don't ask the old one, ask the experienced one.
Не суди́те и да не суди́мы бу́дете.
Transliteration: Ne sudite i da ne sudimy budete.
Translation: Don't judge and you won't be judged.
English version: Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его́ малю́ют.
Transliteration: Ne tak strashen chort, kak ego malyuyut.
Translation: The devil is not as scary as they paint(draw) him.
Note: "Малюют" is a Ukrainian word. The Russian equivalent is "рисуют". Still, it is also used in Russian in different meanings (like "paint carelessly, with poor quality, unskillfully").
English version: The devil is not so black as he is painted.
Modern mockery: Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его малю́тки. (The devil is not as scary as his little offsprings.)
Не учи́ учёного.
Transliteration: Ne uchi uchonogo.
Translation: Do not teach a learned person.
Note: The word "учёный" literally means a "learned person", however the everyday meaning is "scientist". This "proverb" is more of a wordplay, and relies on that semantic connection for its profound effect. A more true-to-intended-effect translation would be: "Don't teach the teacher."
Translation: Neither down (from a duck), nor feather.
Meaning: Good Luck (more directly May nothing stand in your way.)
English version: Break a leg!
Ни ры́ба, ни мя́со.
Transliteration: Ni ryba, ni myaso.
Translation: Neither fish nor meat.
Usage: A person without a strong character.
English version: Neither fish nor flesh.
Ни складу ни ладу(, поцелу́й кобы́лу с за́ду).
Transliteration: Ni skladu ni ladu(, potseluy kobylu s zadu).
Translation: Neither rhyme nor harmony(, [go] kiss horse's ass).
Moral: You're a poor poet; — Also: Your story doesn't hold water; You're bullshitting me.
English version: Neither rhyme nor reason; You told it through your hat; You lied through your teeth
Но́вая метла по-но́вому метёт.
Transliteration: Novaya metla po-novomu metyot.
Translation: A new broom sweeps in a new way.
Moral: New manager brings new requirements.
English version: A new broom sweeps clean.; In with the new and out with the old.
Нынче полковник, а завтра покойник.
Transliteration: Nynche polkovnik, a zavtra pokoynik.
Translation: Today [you are] a colonel, but tomorrow [you are] dead.
Moral: Life is short, fortune is fickle.
О
Обе́щанного три го́да ждут.
Transliteration: Obeschannovo tri goda zhdut.
Translation: [They] wait three years for [what was] promised.
Moral: Promises aren't usually carried out immediately.
Обже́гшись на молоке́, ду́ют на́ воду.
Transliteration: Obzhegshis' na moloke, duyut i na vodu.
Translation: [The one who got] burned by [hot] milk, blows on water.
English version: Once bitten, twice shy.
О вку́сах не спо́рят.
Transliteration: O vkusakh ne sporyat.
Translation: Tastes are not argued. (from Latin "De gustibus non est disputandum")
English version: To each his own.
Овчи́нка вы́делки не сто́ит.
Transliteration: Ovchinka vydelki ne stoit.
Translation: The lambskin is not worth the currying.
English version: The game isn’t worth the candle.
Оди́н в по́ле [—] не во́ин.
Transliteration: Odin v pole ne voin.
Translation: Single [man] in a field is not a warrior.
English version: One man, no man
Оди́н с со́шкой — се́меро с ло́жкой.
Transliteration: Odin s soshkoy — semero s lozhkoy.
Translation: [For every] one with a plow — [there're] seven with a spoon.
Moral: There's a lot of slackers for each productive worker.
Оди́н сын – не сын, два сы́на – по́лсына, три сы́на – сын.
Transliteration: Odin syn - ne syn, dva syna - polsyna, tri syna - syn.
Translation: One son is not a son, two sons are half a son, three sons are a son.
Одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, а две — луч́ше.
Transliteration: Odna golova — khorosho, a dve — luchshe.
Translation: One head is good; two heads are better.
Moral: Problem is more likely to be solved by a group discussion. — Also: I'll gladly lend you my experience.
English version: Two heads are better than one.
Mockery: Одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, а две — мута́ция (One head is good; two heads make a mutant.); Одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, две — лу́чше, а три - Змей Горы́ныч (One head is good, two are better, and three make a
dragon).
Оре́шек не по зуба́м.
Transliteration: Oreshek ne po zubam.
Translation: The teeth are not match for the nut.
English version: A hard nut to crack
От во́лка бежа́л, да на медве́дя попа́л.
Transliteration: Ot volka bezhal, da na medvedya popal.
Translation: I ran from the wolf but ran into a bear.
English version: Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'
See also: Из огня́ да в полымя́.
От добра́ добра́ не и́щут.
Transliteration: Ot dobra dobra ne ishchut.
Translation: Do not look for [further] good from good.
English version: Leave well enough alone; Enough is as good as a feast.
От ма́ленькой и́скры большо́й пожа́р быва́ет.
Transliteration: Ot malen'koy iskry bol'shoy pozhar byvayet.
Translation: A little spark may cause a big fire.
От любопы́тства ко́шка сдо́хла.
Transliteration: Ot lyubopytstva koshka sdokhla.
Translation: Cat died of curiosity.
English version: Curiosity killed the cat.
От ску́ки бери́ де́ло в ру́ки.
Transliteration: Ot skuki beri delo v ruki.
Translation: To get rid of boredom, do some work.
От сумы́ и от тюрьмы́ не зарека́йся.
Transliteration: Ot sumy i ot tyur'my ne zarekaysa.
Translation: Don't swear off of beggary and jail.
Background: No one can be sure in his everlasting prosperity and freedom.
Translation: Fix [your] cart in winter, and sled in summer.
Moral: Make sure your assets are ready for use well before they're needed. — Also: Do not take things down for maintenance during the peak usage periods.
Привы́чка — втора́я нату́ра.
Transliteration: Privychka — vtoraya natura.
Translation: Habit is a second nature.
English version: Custom is a second nature.
При царе́ Горо́хе (or: Когда царь Горох с грибами воевал)
Transliteration: Pri tsare Gorokhe (Kogda tsar Gorokh s gribami voyeval)
Translation: In the times of czar Gorokh (Pisum), When czar Gorokh fought against mushrooms (czar from fairy tales)
English version: Since Adam was a boy; Since time immemorial
Пришла́ беда́, отворя́й ворота́.
Transliteration: Prishla beda, otvoryay vorota.
Translation: Trouble is here, so open the gates.
English version: Misfortunes never come alone.; Troubles come not in singles but in whole battalions (Shakespeare); When it rains it pours
Про се́рого речь, а се́рый — навстре́чь.
Transliteration: Pro serovo rech, a seryy — navstrech.
Translation: Speak of the gray one (i.e. wolf), the gray one [heads] your way.
English version: Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Transliteration: Umnaya golova, da duraku dostalas'.
Translation: A clever head but given to a fool.
У́мные ре́чи прия́тно и слу́шать.
Transliteration: Umnyye rechi priyatno i slushat'.
Translation: A clever speech (speaker) is pleasant to listen to.
У́мный в го́ру не пойдёт, у́мный го́ру обойдёт.
Transliteration: Umnyy v goru ne poydyot, umnyy goru oboydyot.
Translation: A smart person will not climb a mountain; A smart person will go around it.
Compare: Зако́н что ды́шло, куда́ повернёшь - туда́ и вы́шло.
Contrast: Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).
У́мный лю́бит учи́ться, а дура́к учи́ть.
Transliteration: Umnyy lyubit uchit'sya, a durak uchit.
Translation: Clever person likes to learn, and the fool - to teach.
У семи́ ня́нек дитя́ без гла́зу.
Transliteration: U semi nyanek ditya bez glazu.
Translation: Seven nannies make a kid not looked after.
Moral: If too many people are working on the same project, everybody will expect that another one will do the actuall job.
English version: Many cooks spoil the broth.
Ус в честь, а борода́ и у козла́ есть.
Transliteration: Us v chest' a boroda i u kozla yest'
Translation: Moustache is respected and beard is worn even by goats.
Услу́жливый дура́к опа́снее врага́.
Transliteration: Usluzhlivyy durak opasnee vraga'
Translation: Complaisant fool harms worse than enemy.
Уста́ми младе́нца глаго́лет и́стина.
Transliteration: Ustami mladentsa glagolet istina
Translation: Truth speaks by the toddler's mouth; From the mouth of babes
English version: Children and fools tell the truth.
У стра́ха глаза́ велики́.
Transliteration: U strakha glaza veliki.
Translation: Fear has large eyes.
Moral: People tend to overestimate the danger when scared.
Compare: Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его́ малю́ют; Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают
Утопа́ющий за соло́минку хвата́ется.
Transliteration: Utopayuschiy i za solominku khvatayetsya.
Translation: The one who sinks grips even a straw.
У́тро ве́чера мудрене́е.
Transliteration: Utro vechera mudreneye.
Translation: Morning is wiser than the evening.
Moral: One should rather make important decisions in the morning (i.e. after getting some sleep/rest) than in the evening.
English version: I need to sleep on it.
Уче́нье свет, а неуче́нье тьма.
Transliteration: Uchen'ye cvet, a neuchen'ye t'ma.
Translation: Studying is light; not studying is darkness.
English version: Knowledge is power.
Variations: "Ученье свет, а неученых тьма." (Studying is light; there are many people who don't study. It's a play on the word тьма which can mean "many" or "darkness.")
Учи́, пока́ поперёк ла́вки укла́дывается, а во всю вы́тянется – не нау́чишь.
Transliteration: Uchi, poka poperyok lavki ukladyvayetsya, a vo vsyu vytuanetsya - ne nauchish.
Translation: Teach[ a child], until [it can] lay across a bench, when [it] will stretch it's whole length, you'll be unable to teach[it].
Ф
Федо́т, да не тот.
Transliteration: Fedot, da ne tot.
Translation: Fedot, yet not the [right] one.
Moral: You've mistaken him for somebody else. — Also: This is not genuine.
Compare: Хороша́ Ма́ша, да не на́ша.
Фарао́н горди́лся, да в мо́ре утопи́лся.
Transliteration: Faraon gordilsya, da v more utopilsya.
Translation: The faraoh was proud, but drowned in the sea.
Х
Хвали́лась сини́ца мо́ре заже́чь.
Transliteration: Khvalilas' sinitsa more zazhech.
Translation: Titmouse boasted to put sea on fire..
Transliteration: Khuzhe net — zhdat' da dogonyat'.
Translation: Nothing is worse than waiting or chasing.
Ц
Це́рковь бли́зко, да идти́ скли́зко, каба́к далеко́, да идти́ легко́.
Transliteration: Tserkov' blizko, da idti sklizko, kabak daleko, la idti legko.
Translation: Church is close, but the road is slippery, pub is far, but the road is easy.
Цыпля́т по о́сени счита́ют.
Transliteration: Tsiplyat po oseni schitayut.
Translation: One [should] count chicks in autumn.
English version: Don't count your chicken before they hatched.
Ч
Чай пить – не дрова́ руби́ть.
Transliteration: Chay pit' - ne drova rubit'.
Translation: Drinking tea is unlike chopping firewood.
Moral: Don't compare apples to oranges.
Час о́т часу не ле́гче.
Transliteration: Chas ot chasu ne legche.
Translation: [It is] not [getting] easier by an hour.
Moral: Things are changing from bad to worse.
Челове́к предполага́ет, а Бог располага́ет.
Transliteration: Chelovek predpolagayet, a Bog raspolagayet.
English version: Man proposes, but God disposes.
Чем бога́ты, тем и ра́ды.
Transliteration: Chem bogaty, tem i rady.
Translation: We are glad to have what we have.
English version: Half a loaf is better then none
Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, ли́шь бы не пла́кало.
Transliteration: Chem by ditya ni teshilos', lish by ne plakalo.
Translation: It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as [he] doesn't cry.
Modern mockery: Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы не вешалось (It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as [he] doesn't hang himself.); Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы в рот не брало; Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы по обоюдному согласию (It doesn't matter what(whom) the kid plays with as long as it's upon mutual agreement.); Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы не руками. (It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as it's not with [his] hand.).
Чем да́льше в лес, тем бо́льше дров.
Transliteration: Chem dal'she v les, tem bol'she drov.
Translation: The further into the woods, the more firewood [you'll encounter].
Moral: The further you get into something, the greater gain you might expect (or the more obstacles you will encounter).
Modern mockery: Чем да́льше в лес, тем толще партизаны; Чем да́льше в лес, тем бли́же вы́лез (wordplay on similarly sounding "в лес"/"влез").
Че́м чёрт не шу́тит (, пока́ Бог спит).
Transliteration: Chem chort ne shutit(, poka Bog spit).
Moral: Unexpected or unlikely things may happen sometimes; — Also: I'm willing to take this risk, as I believe (hope) the outcome will be positive.
See also: Была́ не была́.
Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть.
Transliteration: Chemu byt', tomu ne minovat'.
Translation: What is to be, can't be avoided.
Moral: Things that were meant to be, will happen no matter what.
Чёрного ко́беля не отмо́ешь до́бела.
Transliteration: Chornovo kobelya ne otmoyesh dobela.
Translation: [One] can't wash the black dog all the way to whiteness.
English version: The leopard cannot change his spots; You cannot wash charcoal white.
Compare: Горба́того моги́ла испра́вит; Зарека́лася лиса́ кур не ворова́ть.
Чесно́к и лук — от семи неду́г.
Transliteration: Chesnok i luk — ot semi nedug.
Translation: Garlic and onions [cure] seven(many) diseases.
Что бы́ло, то прошло́ (и быльём поросло́).
Transliteration: Chto bylo, to proshlo (i byl'yom poroslo).
Translation: What used to be - is [now] gone (and overgrown with grass).
Modern mockery: Что написано топором - не вырубить пером. (Written by axe cannot be taken out with pen) — said by editors about poorly written articles.
Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так.
Translation: Whatever a fool does, he does it wrong.