Slang and Idioms

27 января 2016

Russian for foreigners We examine two elements of Russian that are absolutely indispensable if you want to speak like a native: slang and idioms.

These are colorful words and expressions that cannot be translated literally (Imagine a Russian speaker trying to make sense of English idioms like "he has a screw loose" or "it's a piece of cake"!).

Yet, learning these is the secret to achieving true fluency; it's the difference between "textbook" and "real-world" language.

If you're not yet familiar with any Russian slang words or idiomatic expressions, prepare yourself.

You may be surprised at how fascinating and fun they can be to learn and to use.

Best of all, learning about slang and idioms will add a new dimension to your language skills! Our selection this month is an excerpt from two of our most popular titles: "Kaif! Fun Russian Slang," and "Pines-Sticks and Other Russian Idioms."

What would you do if in the midst of a conversation with your new Russian friends, one of them exclaims: "Kaif?" Your usual dictionary will not help you understand this. Slang, the meaning of which is completely different from the literal translation of the words comprising it, is an expressive and ever present part of any language. If you don't know it, you may get the impression that you are losing the thread of the conversation.

Each word is illustrated by a sentence. After each five idioms there follows a simple dialog, which demonstrates their use in context.

To begin to shake (to annoy, to torment)

My boss completely torments me. He demands an account for each minute of tardiness.

To serrate (to cram, to learn by heart)

I memorized the textbook from cover to cover.

To loaf (to waste work time)

That's enough loafing. It's time to get to work.

Shpargalka (cheat sheet)

In our institute they strictly see to it that students do not use cheat sheets on exams.

Vtiuritsya (to fall in love)

In my opinion, you have fallen in love with that girl. Somehow you can't take your eyes off of her.

Dialog

Masha: Where have you gotten ready to go?

Lena: Vitya and I are going to the beach.

Masha: And may I go with you?

Lena: Have you lost your mind? You totally flunked Biology.

You have to study seriously in order to make up the exam.

Masha: You are bugging me with your advice. As it is, I crammed for three days before the exam.

This teacher simply doesn't like me and he gave me the trickiest questions.

Lena: And I understand him. You skipped almost all the lectures and lab studies.

Masha: On the other hand, I had cheat sheets with almost all the questions.

Lena: What's the sense of your cheat sheets if you still got an F on the exam?

Masha: I know why you won't take me to the beach. Quite simply you have fallen in love with this

Victor and want to be with him as a twosome. Can you say it's not so?

Lena: Well, let's admit it's so. So what?

What would you do, if in the middle of a conversation with your new Russian friends, one of them suddenly exclaimed "Pine trees-sticks!" with great emotion? Your trusty dictionary will not help you understand! Idiomatic expressions, phrases that mean something entirely different than the literal translation of the words that comprise them, are a colorful and ever-present aspect of every language. If you don't know them, you may find yourself feeling left out of a conversation.

Idioms

good riddance

You are leaving? Good riddance!

To grin from ear to ear

He walked around all day, grinning from ear to ear.

when hell freezes over

They will pay us when hell freezes over.

That beats all; isn't that great!

This is your new car? That beats all!

Love makes a cottage a castle

We only had a one-room apartment when we got married, but we were happy. Love makes a cottage a castle.

Dialog