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: д 4 of 15 | < Prev Next >

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Дай с ногото́к -- попро́сит с локото́к.	Give him an inch and he'll take a yard. Literal: Give him a fingernail worth, he will ask an elbow worth.
Да́льше с глаз -- бли́же к се́рдцу.	Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Literal: Further from the eye -- closer to the heart.
Дарёному коню́ в зу́бы не смо́трят.	Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Literal: Don't look at the teeth of a horse you've been given.
Даю́т -- бери́, а бьют -- беги́.	Get anything given -- run being beaten.
Два медве́дя в одно́й берло́ге не живу́т.	This house is too small for two of us. Literal: Two bears don't live in one lair.
Дво́е дер́утся -- тре́тий не меша́й.	Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose. Literal: Where two are fighting, a third should not interfere.
Дву́м смертя́м не быва́ть, одно́й не минова́ть.	There is no way for two deaths to come to you, but from one you will never run away.
Дела говорят громче слов.	Actions speak louder than words.
Делать из мухи слона.	To make a mountain out of a molehill.
Делать хорошую мину при плохой игре.	To put a brave face on a sorry business.
Дели́ть шку́ру неуби́того медве́дя.	Don't count your chickens before they hatch.; Don't put the cart before the horse. Literal: Dividing the pelt of a bear not yet killed.
Де́ло ма́стера бои́тся.	The craft fears the craftsman.
Делу время, потехе час.	There's a time for work and a time for play. Literal: Time for business, an hour for fun.
Денежки в кармане -- все друзья с нами.	He that has a full purse never wanted a friend.
Деньги глаза слепят.	Money is the root of all evil.
Деньги жгут карман.	To throw one's money about.
Деревья скоро садят, да не скоро с них плоды едят.	One generation plants the trees, another gets the shade.
Держи карман шире!	Don't try to bite off more than you can chew! Literal: Hold your pocket open wider!
Дёшево досталось -- легко потерялось.	Easy come, easy go. Literal: When something is obtained cheap, it is easily lost.
Для ми́лого дружка́ и серёжка из ушка́.	I will give you the shirt off my back. Literal: For dear friend, I'm willing to take an earring out of my own ear.
До Бо́га высоко́, до Царя́ далеко́.	Literal: God is far up high, the Tsar is far away.
До сва́дьбы заживёт.	You'll live. Literal: It will heal before your wedding.
До́брое бра́тство -- лу́чшее бога́тство.	Literal: Good brotherhood is the best wealth.
Доброе сердце -- что золото.	A good heart's worth gold.
До́брое сло́во и ко́шке прия́тно.	Soft fire makes sweet malt. Literal: Even a cat appreciates kind words.
Доверя́й, но проверя́й.	Words are the wise man's counters and the fool's money. Literal: Trust, but verify.
Долг платежо́м кра́сен.	One good turn deserves another. Literal: Debt is beautiful only after it is repaid.
До́лгие про́воды -- ли́шние слёзы.	Farewell -- wasted sadness. One should leave quietly. Literal: Long parting ceremonies mean unnecessary tears.
До́ма и сте́ны помога́ют.	My house is my castle. Literal: When you are at home, even the walls help you.
Домашняя копейка лучше заезжего рубля.	One's own simple bread is much better than someone else's pilaf.
Доно́счику -- пе́рвый кнут.	Literal: The informer gets whipped first.
Дорога́ ло́жка к обе́ду.	A stitch in time saves nine. Literal: Spoon is valuable by the dinner time.
До́рого яи́чко ко христо́ву дню.	A little too late is much too late. Literal: An egg is valuable to the Christ day (i.e. Easter)
Друг познаётся в беде́.	A friend in need is a friend indeed. Literal: You get to really know your friend when trouble comes.
Дру́жба дру́жбой, а де́нежкам счёт.	A hedge between friends keeps friendship green. Literal: Friendship is friendship, but count money.
Дру́жба дру́жбой, а слу́жба слу́жбой.	A hedge between friends keeps friendship green. Literal: Friendship is friendship and service is service.
Дру́жба дру́жбой, а табачо́к врозь.	A hedge between friends keeps friendship green. Literal: Friendship is friendship, but tobacco apart.
Дружба что стекло: сломаешь -- не починишь.	Friendship is like glass - once broken, it is never mended.
Друзья познаются в беде́.	A friend in need is a friend indeed. Literal: You get to really know your friends when trouble comes.
Дурака́ учи́ть -- что горбатого лечить.	To teach a fool is the same as treating a dead men.
Дурака́м зако́н не пи́сан.	There is no law for fools. Literal: There is no law written for fools.
Дурако́в не се́ют, не жнут, са́ми родя́тся.	There's a sucker born every minute. Literal: Fools are not sown or reaped, they appear by themselves.
Дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не даёт.	The Devil finds work for idle hands to do. Literal: The stupid head doesn't leave feet in rest.

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Index of Russian proverbs and sayings

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