Russian idioms

A collection of idiomatic expressions in Russian with English equivalents.

Idioms English versions
Кто рано встает, тому Бог подает The early bird catches the worm
В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше East or West - home is best
Цель оправдывает средства The end justifies the means
На вкус и цвет товарищей нет Every man to his taste
Все хорошо в свое время Everything is good in its season
Исключение подтверждает правило The exception proves the rule
Противоположности сходятся Extremes meet
Запретный плод сладок Forbidden fruit is sweetest
Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает The apple doesn't fall far from the tree = like father, like son
Нет дыма без огня There is no smoke without fire
Клин клином вышибается One fire drives out another
От судьбы не уйти No flying from fate
Расставить точки над і Dot your i's and cross your t's
Не все то золото, что блестит All that glitters is not gold
Внешность обманчива Appearances are deceitful
Как посеешь, так и пожнешь As you sow, so shall you reap
Каждый сам строитель своего счастья Every man is the architect of his own fortune
Лучшая защита - нападение Best defence is offence
Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Дареному коню в зубы не смотрят Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Работать как лошадь To work like a horse = to work hard

Russian idioms compiled by Yevgeny Simzikov, with recordings by Alexandr Rakitin

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More idioms

It's all Greek to me | It's raining cats and dogs | As easy as falling off a log | A sandwich short of a picnic | It's small world | When pigs fly | Out of sight, out of mind | Crystal-clear | Penny Pinching | Practice makes perfect | The grass is always greener | As Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Idioms in individual languages

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