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: л-м 7 of 15 | < Prev Next >

- Л -
Ла́сковый телёнок двух ма́ток сосёт.	An affectionate calf sucks two mothers.
Лбом сте́нку не расшибёшь.	Literal: You cannot break a wall with your forehead.
Лежа́чего не бьют.	Don't strike a man when he is down. Literal: One shouldn't beat the one who fell.
Лес ру́бят -- ще́пки летя́т.	You can't make an omelette without breaking an egg. Literal: When wood is chopped, woodchips will fly.
Лиха́ беда́ нача́ло.	The first step is the hardest. Literal: The most difficult - to begin, then it will be easy.
Лицом красавица, а нравом только чёрту нравится.	A woman has the form of an angel, the heart of a serpent, and the mind of an ass. Literal: She has a face of a beauty, but only hell likes her temper.
Ло́жка дёгтя по́ртит бо́чку мёда.	A fly in the ointment; The rotten apple spoils the barrel. Literal: A spoonful of tar spoils a barrel of honey.
Лучше добрые соседи, чем далёкая родня.	Better a good neighbor than a bad relative.
Лу́чше ме́ньше, да лу́чше.	Too much of the thing is good for nothing. Literal: It's better less but better.
Лу́чше оди́н раз уви́деть, чем сто раз услы́шать.	A picture is worth a thousand words. Literal: It's better to see once than to hear hundred times.
Лу́чше по́здно, чем никогда́.	Better late than never. Literal: Better late than never.
Лу́чше сини́ца в рука́х, чем жура́вль в не́бе.	A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. Literal: A tomtit in your hand is better than a crane in the sky.
Лучше споткнуться, чем упасть.	A stumble may prevent a fall. Literal: It's better to stumble than to fall.
Лу́чшее -- враг хоро́шего.	The best is often times the enemy of the good. Literal: Best is the enemy of good.
Лю́бишь ката́ться, люби́ и са́ночки вози́ть.	He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.; No pain, no gain. Literal: If you enjoy riding, you better enjoy pulling the sleigh.
Любо́вь зла́, полю́бишь и козла́.	Love is blind. Literal: Love's evil, you'll love even a goat.
Любопы́тной Варва́ре на база́ре нос оторва́ли.	Curiosity killed the cat. Literal: Nosy Barbara's nose was torn off at the market.

Literal: Bedbug might be small, but definitely is stinky.

- М -
Мал клоп, да воню́ч.
Мастер на все руки.	Jack of all trades.
Ме́жду двух огне́й.	Between a rock and a hard place; Between the devil and the deep blue sea (two places). Literal: Between two fires.
Ме́жду мо́лотом и накова́льней.	Between rock and hard place; Between devil and deep blue sea. Literal: Between hammer and anvil.
Мели́, Еме́ля -- твоя́ неде́ля.	To talk a blue streak. Literal: Feel free to jabber, Emelya -- it's your week.
Ме́ньше зна́ешь -- кре́пче спишь.	Ignorance is bliss; What you don't know, cannot hurt you. Literal: The less you know, the more soundly you sleep.
Мир да лад -- большой клад.	Literal: Peace and harmony is great treasure
Мно́го бу́дешь знать, ско́ро соста́ришься.	Too much knowledge makes the head bald.; Curiosity killed the cat. Literal: If you learn a lot, you'll age soon.
Мно́го шу́ма из ничего́.	Much ado about nothing. Literal: Much noise from nothing.
Моё де́ло -- прокукаре́кать, а да́льше -- хоть не рассвета́й.	Literal: My job is to scream, 'cock-a-doodle-doo'; from then on, it may not dawn.
Молоде́ц про́тив ове́ц, а про́тив молодца́ -- и сам овца́.	Brave before a lamb, but a lamb before the brave. Literal: He is brave when fighting against sheep, and when fighting against a brave man he's a sheep himself.
Москва́ не сра́зу стро́илась.	Rome wasn't built in a day. Literal: Moscow wasn't built at once.
Моя́ ха́та с кра́ю -- ничего́ не зна́ю.	That is nothing to do with me. Literal: My house is at the end of the street; so I have no idea what's going on.
Муж да жена́ -- одна́ сатана́.	Devil's wife is also a witch. Literal: Husband and wife are the same satan.
Мя́гко сте́лет, да жёстко спать.	Iron fist in a velvet glove; Velvet paws hide sharp claws. Literal: He makes the bed soft, yet it's hard to sleep on.

7 of 15 | < Prev Next >

Index of Russian proverbs and sayings

Got questions?

Ask them in the Russian Questions and Answers — a place for students, teachers and native Russian speakers to discuss Russian grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the Russian language.