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We know every country has their own idioms, which often make no sense to anyone other than those who have grown up with them, but for those in the know, they make perfect sense!

We are bringing you Russia’s TOP TEN idioms, with a helping hand from renowned artist Nathan James. By the time you’ve familiarised yourself with these, we’re hoping you won’t get overexcited… but you’ll jump out of your pants!

#1

Russians Don’t Exaggerate, They 'Make An Elephant Out Of A Fly'

Russians Don’t Exaggerate, They 'Make An Elephant Out Of A Fly'

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#2

A Russian Won’t Lie To You, He’ll 'Hang Noodles On Your Ears'

A Russian Won’t Lie To You, He’ll 'Hang Noodles On Your Ears'

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ritashmelkova avatar
Rita
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's correct, but in Russia we don't eat noodle from Chinese small box :)

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#3

You Are Not Just Talented Or Skilled, You Can 'Shoe A Flea'

You Are Not Just Talented Or Skilled, You Can 'Shoe A Flea'

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#4

It’ll Never Happen – ‘A Lobster Whistles On Top Of A Mountain’

It’ll Never Happen – ‘A Lobster Whistles On Top Of A Mountain’

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Echo
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the comments go down hill. lol arguing over a shrimp. I mean crawdad, crab, I mean lobster, I mean crayfish, I mean prawn.... we get it

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Eugene Kartoyev
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I heard someone say - " When a dead fish farts in a puddle" (Когда дохлая рыба в луже пёрнет)

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Nino Sukh
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Republic of Georgia we say: "When a donkey climbs a tree" 😂

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Kalin Petrov
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Bulgaria we say : "When the wooden shoes bloom" (когато цъфнат налъмите")

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Arthur Litovko
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heh. I have a friend with the last name Рак (Crayfish). So he specially recorded a video, where he whistles on the mountain.

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Demavive la Lune
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Croatia it's "When grapes grow on a willow" :D ("Kad na vrbi rodi grožđe").

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Артур Задурян
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

to be precise, 1) crayfish, not lobster, and 2) you say something like " meh, only gonna happen when crayfish whistles on a mountain"

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Alper
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Turkish it is: When the anchovy goes up the poplar tree

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Elena Yakina
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No panic , it's just a common saying, nothing to do with dentists, just like you say 'bet my hat', we say 'bet my tooth'

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Илья Бахтин
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A crayfish (not lobster of course :) ) whistles quicker than what You tell....

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Inés Escobar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Spain it's "when frogs grow hair" and also "when pigs fly"!

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Lana Soboleva
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Complete idiom is: "when a crayfish whistles on a mountain, and a fish sings". Definitely similar to "when pigs fly", as in "never" :)

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Katya Nikitina
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Когда лобстер на горе свистнет? Лол это уже для гурманов 🤣

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Elena Nochkina
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One an also say 'After Thursday's rain' which is perfectly well completed by the 'when a crayfish whistles on top of a mountain'. These two can be used both separately or together.

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Rita
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For example, the Russian national football team will win the olympiad when the crayfish on the mountain is hanging. (Hence never)

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Николай Викторов
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds kinda stupid since that has happened twice already.. world cup would be a whole lot better of an example)

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#5

A Russian Person Doesn’t Swear Something Is True… He Will ‘Give You His Tooth For It’

A Russian Person Doesn’t Swear Something Is True… He Will ‘Give You His Tooth For It’

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Igor Nikeshin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This ia just awful jail slang! ) This slang usually use bad educated and dumb people only ! Sometimes use as a joke about dumb people )

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#6

Russians Don’t Show Off… They ‘Throw Dust In Your Eyes’

Russians Don’t Show Off… They ‘Throw Dust In Your Eyes’

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Ana Vrbanov
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of these sayings are used in other countries of Europe too, here in Croatia as well, so it's not just the "Russian" thing. :)

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#7

A Russian Doesn’t Say He’s In A Crowded Place, He Says He’s 'Like Herring In The Barrel'

A Russian Doesn’t Say He’s In A Crowded Place, He Says He’s 'Like Herring In The Barrel'

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#8

A Russian Doesn’t Get Overexcited, He 'Jumps Out Of His Pants'

A Russian Doesn’t Get Overexcited, He 'Jumps Out Of His Pants'

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#9

Russians Don’t Have A Snack, They 'Kill The Worm'

Russians Don’t Have A Snack, They 'Kill The Worm'

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Igor Nikeshin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Slang too. More exactly that sounds something like this ."To excruciate a little worm to death"

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#10

Russians Don’t Say You Have An Interesting Aspect To Your Character, They Say You Have A 'Raisin'

Russians Don’t Say You Have An Interesting Aspect To Your Character, They Say You Have A 'Raisin'

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Arina I
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The word used for raisin in this idiom is actually in the diminutive somewhat cutesy form. So if you have something interesting about you, that interesting thing about you is referred to as a baby raisin by this idiom. It is an odd expression, sure, but it is somewhat akin to "the cherry on top" expression in English, which to non-English speakers might seem like a similarly random food item metaphorically used to signify something extraordinary.

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