Russian Language Grammar
Idiomatic Usage
There is a large group of set expressions or idioms, many of which cannot be conveniently classified into any type discussed above. Moreover, many among them are characterized by a limitation in then-usage. Thus "на чёрный день" (for a rainy day) has no parallel expression. "Изо дня в день" (day after day) has the parallel form "из года в год", but no similar construction exists with the nouns ночь, неделя, месяц. Expressions such as "за сорок" (over forty), "под шестьдесят" (in the late fifties) are used only with a mature age.
Current Expressions and Idioms
(In alphabetical order, according to the prepositions.)
|
без ума (от неё) |
madly in love (with her) |
|
любить без памяти |
to love madly |
|
без зазрения совести |
without any compunctions |
|
без сомнения |
without doubt |
|
без году неделя |
a very short time (lit.: a week minus a year) |
|
слово в слово |
word for word |
|
во что бы то ни стало |
at any cost |
|
(знать) в лицо |
(to know) to face |
|
(сказать) в глаза |
(to say) to someone's face |
|
(ехать) в отпуск |
(to go) on leave |
|
взять в долг |
to borrow (money) |
|
в конце концов |
finally |
|
в надежде |
in the hope of |
|
в том числе |
including |
|
Они в ссоре. |
They have quarrelled |
|
кричать во всё горло |
to yell at the top of one's lungs (lit., throat) |
|
В чём дело? |
What is the matter? |
|
дело в том |
the point (matter) is |
|
вдоль и поперёк |
criss-cross |
|
вокруг да около |
to beat around the bush |
|
для виду |
for appearance sake |
|
до сих пор |
up to now, so far |
|
до тех пор |
up to then, until |
|
До чего она мила! |
How nice she is! |
|
до свидания |
good-bye |
|
Что до меня, то я готов. |
As far as I am concerned, I am ready. |
|
до поры до времени |
for a while, for some time |
|
за и против |
pro and con |
|
за пятьдесят |
over fifty (years of age) |
|
Что за история! |
What kind of a story is this! |
|
она замужем за |
she is married to |
|
она вышла замуж за |
she married (someone) |
|
слово за вами |
your turn to speak |
|
за тридевять земель |
very far (lit., beyond 39 lands) |
|
за глаза |
behind someone's back |
|
за ваше здоровье |
your health |
|
за исключением |
excepting |
|
изо дня в день |
day after day |
|
из года в год |
year after year |
|
Из этого ничего не вышло. |
Nothing came of it. |
|
к сожалению |
unfortunately |
|
к счастью |
fortunately |
|
к тому времени |
by this time |
|
к тому же |
besides, in addition |
|
У меня к вам просьба. |
I have a favor to ask you. |
|
к чему |
what for |
|
к вашим услугам |
at your service |
|
принять к сведению |
to note, to keep in mind |
|
лицом к лицу |
face to face |
|
между прочим |
by the way, among other things |
|
между тем |
in the meantime, meanwhile |
|
между нами |
between us |
|
На ней красивое платье. |
She is wearing a pretty dress. |
|
взять на себя |
to take upon oneself |
|
он женат на |
he is married to |
|
он женился на |
he married |
|
хромать на одну ногу |
to limp on one foot |
|
на чёрный день |
for a rainy (black) day |
|
на моих глазах |
in my presence |
|
сидеть (остаться) на бобах |
to be frustrated, to end up with nothing |
|
На здоровье. |
You are welcome. (in answer to "Спасибо" – Thank you) |
|
на зло |
for spite |
|
все на лицо |
''all present'' |
|
тяжело на душе |
feeling gloomy, depressed |
|
на его совести |
on his conscience |
|
на беду |
unfortunately |
|
на свободе |
free, liberated |
|
на моё счастье |
fortunately for me |
|
на этот раз |
(for) this time |
|
на своём веку |
in his lifetime |
|
на всякий случай |
just in case, in case something is needed |
|
подарить на память |
to give as a remembrance |
|
сесть на поезд |
to board a train |
|
ехать на запад |
to go west |
|
Она на всё способна. |
You can expect anything from her. |
|
чек на моё имя |
check written out to me |
|
от всей души |
with all my heart (soul) |
|
от всего сердца |
with all my heart |
|
письмо от десятого марта |
a letter of March tenth |
|
Мне стыдно перед ним. |
I feel ashamed (to face him). |
|
Мне неприятно перед вами. |
I feel badly (on account of what I did to you). |
|
извиниться перед кем-нибудь |
to beg somebody's pardon |
|
по-моему |
in my opinion, I think, I believe |
|
под Москвой |
near Moscow |
|
под командой |
under the command |
|
под предлогом |
under the pretext |
|
под вопросом |
uncertain, questionable |
|
под вечер |
towards the evening |
|
под утро |
towards the morning |
|
под Новый Год |
on New Year's Eve |
|
Всё под рукой. |
Everything is handy (within reach). |
|
взять под руку |
to take by the arm |
|
под наблюдением врача |
under the doctor's care (supervision) |
|
под арестом |
under arrest |
|
отдать под суд |
to take (somebody) to court |
|
под надзором |
under surveillance |
|
под пятьдесят |
close to fifty (years of age) |
|
ни под каким видом |
by no means |
|
У меня нет при себе денег. |
I have no money with me. |
|
при случае |
whenever possible, when the occasion arises |
|
при условии |
under the condition, stipulation |
|
при желании |
if one wishes |
|
при всём желании |
no matter how much one would like to |
|
при первой возможности |
at the first opportunity |
|
при смерти |
near death |
|
думать про себя |
to think to oneself |
|
с одной стороны |
on one hand, from one angle |
|
с этой точки зрения |
from this point of view |
|
Что с вами? |
What is the matter with you? |
|
брать пример с кого-нибудь |
to emulate someone's example |
|
с вашего разрешения |
with your permission |
|
Сколько с меня? |
How much do I owe? |
|
С меня хватит |
That will do for me, that's enough. |
|
плохо с деньгами |
money troubles, lack of money |
|
мы с женой |
my wife and I |
|
со временем |
eventually |
|
со дня на день |
any day now |
|
с каких пор |
since when |
|
с тех пор |
since then |
|
с праздником |
(best wishes) for the holiday |
|
с Новым Годом |
Happy New Year |
|
с Рождеством Христовым |
Merry Christmas |
|
у себя |
at home |
|
Как хорошо у вас. |
What a nice place you have, how nice to be here. |
|
Он живёт у нас. |
Не is staying with us. |
|
У меня пропал аппетит. |
I have lost my appetite. |
|
У него болит голова. |
Не has a headache. |
|
У неё болят зубы. |
She has a toothache. |
Remark: It is not unusual for the stress to shift from the noun to the preposition : на берег, на гору, на зиму, на лето, на ночь, на пол, за ноги, из лесу. (Side by side with на берег, на лето, из леса, etc.).
Frequently, the stress will vary depending on the type of relation, i.e., purpose vs. motion, place vs. manner, etc.
|
Мы дрались за город. |
We fought for the town. |
|
Мы поехали за город. |
We drove out of town (to the country). |
|
Дерево упало на дом. |
The tree fell on the house. |
|
брать работу на дом. |
to take work home. |
|
не обращать внимания на смех. |
to ignore the laughter |
|
поднимать на смех |
to ridicule, to make fun of |
|
смотреть на море |
to look at the sea |
|
поехать на море |
to leave for the seashore |
In some expressions the stress always remains on the preposition.
|
при смерти |
near death |
|
Час от часу не легче. |
It's getting harder all the time (lit. with every hour). |
