Ну ты даёшь!
- Word for word
Well, you give!- What it really means
- Wow, you're something else!
- In a sentence
- “Ну ты даёшь! Сам всё починил?”
- Natural English
- “Wow, look at you! Did you fix it all yourself?” Meaning Match 91
Russian slang translators get wrong
Russian idioms (noodles on your ears, a whistling crayfish) are famously untranslatable word for word. Here is what they really mean.
Не вешай нос
- Word for word
Don't hang your nose- What it really means
- Chin up, don't lose heart
- In a sentence
- “Не вешай нос, всё наладится.”
- Natural English
- “Don't get down, everything will work out.” Meaning Match 92
Всё будет пучком
- Word for word
Everything will be in a bunch- What it really means
- Everything will be fine
- In a sentence
- “Не переживай, всё будет пучком.”
- Natural English
- “Don't worry, everything will be just fine.” Meaning Match 92
Вешать лапшу на уши
- Word for word
Don't hang noodles on my ears- What it really means
- Don't feed me nonsense
- In a sentence
- “Не вешай мне лапшу на уши.”
- Natural English
- “Don't lie to me.” Meaning Match 92
Когда рак на горе свистнет
- Word for word
When the crayfish whistles on the mountain- What it really means
- When pigs fly (never)
- In a sentence
- “Он вернёт долг, когда рак на горе свистнет.”
- Natural English
- “He'll pay back the debt when pigs fly.” Meaning Match 92
Бить баклуши
- Word for word
Stop beating wooden blocks- What it really means
- Stop slacking off
- In a sentence
- “Хватит бить баклуши, пора за работу!”
- Natural English
- “Enough loafing around, time to get to work!” Meaning Match 92
Медвежья услуга
- Word for word
A bear's favor- What it really means
- A well-meant favor that backfires
- In a sentence
- “Ты хотел помочь, но оказал мне медвежью услугу.”
- Natural English
- “You wanted to help, but you did me a disservice.” Meaning Match 92
Кот наплакал
- Word for word
The cat cried (them)- What it really means
- Hardly any, next to nothing
- In a sentence
- “Денег у меня — кот наплакал.”
- Natural English
- “I have next to no money.” Meaning Match 92
Руки не доходят
- Word for word
My hands don't reach- What it really means
- I never get around to it
- In a sentence
- “До уборки всё руки не доходят.”
- Natural English
- “I still haven't gotten around to cleaning up.” Meaning Match 87
Why word-for-word translation fails here
Slang and idioms mean something different from their words. Rebotar translates the meaning, catches slang and idioms, and shows a Meaning Match score so you know it's right before you hit send.
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