Russian Proverbs and Sayings

This page continues the alphabetical list of Russian proverbs and sayings along with their English versions and literal translations.

А Б В Г Д Е Ё Ж З И Й К Л M Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ь Ы Ъ Э Ю Я

Russian proverbs: п 10 of 15 | < Prev Next >

- П -
Пан или пропа́л.	It's win all, or lose all. Literal: To become a master or a deadman.
Парши́вая овца́ всё ста́до по́ртит.	The rotten apple spoils the barrel. Literal: The scabby sheep spoils the whole flock.
Пе́рвая ла́сточка весны́ не де́лает.	One swallow does not make a summer. Literal: The first swallow doesn't make the spring to come.
Пе́рвый блин всегда́ ко́мом.	Things don't work the first time Literal: The first pancake is always a blob.
Переходи речку в самом мелком месте.	Cross the stream where it is shallowest.
Перо́ соко́лье, а нутро́ воро́нье.	Literal: The feather of falcon and the inside of a crow.
Пе́сня та же, поёт она́ же.	He/she is like a broken record Literal: The song is the same, and she again is the one who sings.
Пле́тью о́буха не перешибёшь.	It is impossible to break the butt end with a lash. Literal: One can't break an axe with a whip.
Пло́х тот солда́т, кото́рый не мечта́ет стать генера́лом.	Literal: A soldier who doesn't want to become a general is a bad one.
Плоха́я молва́ на кры́льях лети́т.	Bad news has wings. Literal: A bad rumour flies on wings.
Плохо́му нача́лу -- плохо́й коне́ц.	A bad beginning makes a bad ending. Literal: A bad ending for a bad beginning.
Плохо́му танцо́ру я́йца меша́ют.	A poor workman blames his tools. Literal: Poor dancer is impeded by his own balls.
По одёжке встреча́ют, а провожа́ют по уму́.	Beauty may open the door, but only virtue enters. Literal: One meets people by their clothes, and says farewell by their mind.
По секрету всему свету.	Every barber knows that. (badly-kept secret)
По Се́ньке и ша́пка.	Literal: By Sen'ka (Russian name, short of Vsevolod) also the hat.
Пова́дился кувши́н по́ воду ходи́ть, тут ему́ и го́лову сломи́ть.	The pitcher goes often to the well but is broken at last.
Пови́нную го́лову и меч не сечёт.	A fault confessed is half redressed. Literal: Even the sword doesn't cut the head of the one who confesses.
Повторе́ние -- мать уче́нья.	Repeating is the mother of learning. Literal: Repetition is a mother of learning.
Пого́нишься за двумя́ за́йцами, ни одного́ не пойма́ешь.	If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.; Grasp all, lose all. Literal: If you start chasing two hares, you will catch none.
Под лежачий камень вода не течёт.	Help yourself and others will help you.
Пожале́л волк кобы́лу, оста́вил хвост да гри́ву.	Literal: The wolf spared the mare, left a tail and mane.
Поживём -- увидим.	Time will show. (We shall see what we shall see.)
Попа́л, как кур в о́щип.	Caught red-handed. Literal: Caught like a rooster for pluming.
Поперёд ба́тьки в пе́кло не лезь.	Don't try to jump the gun. Literal: Don't try to get into hell ahead of your father.
Посади́ свинью́ за стол -- она́ и но́ги на сто́л	Give one an inch, and he will take a mile. Literal: Seat the pig at the table -- she'll put her legs on the table.
По́сле дра́ки кулака́ми не ма́шут.	What's done is done; Don't lock the stable door after the horse has bolted. Literal: They don't swing fists when the fight is over.
Поспеши́шь -- люде́й насмеши́шь.	Hasty climbers have sudden falls; The more haste, the less speed.; Haste makes waste Literal: If you rush things, you'll just make others laugh.
Пошёл за ше́рстью, а верну́лся стри́женым.	If planning revenge, dig two graves Literal: Went to get wool, but returned sheared.
Правда в огне не горит и в воде не тонет.	Truth never perishes.
Правда глаза колет.	Home truths are hard to swallow.; Truth hurts.
Правда своё возьмет.	Truth will prevail.
Правду говорить -- друга не нажить.	Flattery makes friends and truth makes enemies.
При царе́ Горо́хе.	Since Adam was a boy. Literal: In the times of czar Gorokh (czar from fairy tales).
Привы́чка -- втора́я нату́ра.	Custom is a second nature. Literal: Habit is a second nature.
Пришла́ беда́, отворя́й ворота́.	Misfortunes never come alone.; When it rains it pours. Literal: Trouble is here, so open the gates.
Про се́рого речь, а се́рый -- навстре́чь.	Speak of the devil, and he appears. Literal: Speak of the gray one (i.e. wolf), the gray one heads your way.
Простота́ ху́же воровства́.	Literal: Simplicity is worse than thievery.
Пу́ганая воро́на куста́ бои́тся.	Once bitten, twice shy Literal: A spooked crow is afraid of a bush.
Пу́ганая воро́на со́бственной те́ни бои́тся.	Once bitten, twice shy Literal: A spooked crow is afraid of it's own shadow.
Пуста́я бо́чка пуще гремит.	An empty can make the most noise. Literal: An empty barrel rattles louder.
Пусть каждый делает то, что умеет.	Let everybody do what they do best.
Пья́ному мо́ре по коле́но.	A sea level can reach only the knee of a drunken man. Literal: For a drunken one, a sea is knee-deep.
Пья́ный проспи́тся, дура́к -- никогда́.	Literal: The drunken will sleep it over, the fool -- never.

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Index of Russian proverbs and sayings

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