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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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Sergei
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"To make an elephant out of a fly" does not mean exactly to exaggerate, but rather to overreact to something not really important. Russian is my mother tonque.

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Sylvia Matusikova
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Slovakia, we make a donkey from a mosquito...:/ (z komára somára)

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Sergei
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"To make an elephant out of a fly" does not mean exactly to exaggerate, but rather to overreact to something not really that important. Russian is my mother tonque.

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Cerys Dunbar
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

where im from your called queen...well a drama queen but just a queen sounds cooler

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

In Spain we make a mountain out of a grain of sand, although we say it when someone is overreacting about something, it's not exactly the same as exaggerating :)

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porcupine
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In America we turn tiny baby hands into regular sized hands

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

This great stuff. Loving the comments. Great info on how the world changes/interprets a common phrases.

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The Cappy
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's misleading. It sounds like they don't have that word, and they do. Russian for "I exaggerated" is "Я преувеличен." In English we make a mountain out of a molehill. Every language probably has a similar idiom.

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

"make an elephant out of a fly" = "make a mountain out of a molehill" (exaggerate a problem, make a big deal out of something minor)

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João Verleun
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Brazil we make a storm inside a glass of water. (with a dramatic connotation)

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VISHWANATH MUCKERJI
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indians make mountain out of mustard seed. राई का पहाड़ बनाना।

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VISHWANATH MUCKERJI
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In India, we make mountain out of mustard seed. राई का पहाड़ बनाना।

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Husam Hasan
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Syria and other Arab countries - He made a dome of a grain. Usually refers to overreacting.

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Emiwolfplayz
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm not only in Russia... It means if somebody makes of a small s**t to a big a*s problem

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

it is the same in all countries of former Yugoslavia too

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Emilia Kłos
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Polish we make a rake out of a needle "robić z igły widły"

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Iulia Mihet
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Romania, we make a horse from a mosquito. Because it rhymes :)

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peter palludan
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha ha ha. Leave it to Australia to just completely baffle. Any I dead why a pork chop?

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

In our native tongue, we say "you're unleashing a missile to hit a wee sparrow"

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

Американцы,хватит выставлять себя дебилами! Куда не плюнь,везде вы мажете Россию говном.Хватит завидовать,надоело.Переведэте это правильно!

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Alexy Rezvyi
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Хуета какая... кто вас там этому учит?

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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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Rita
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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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#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
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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
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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
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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
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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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