Comments on: Examples of Strange Russian Expressions

By: Joan

Joan — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:58:15 +0000

In this case, да doesn’t mean yes. It is a conjunction with contrast meaning.

By: Nelson Rivas

Nelson Rivas — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:00:40 +0000

Such a strange language… but I like it.
In my little country “лапшу на уши вешать кому-нибудь” means something like “darle paja a alguien”.

Greetings from El Salvador!

By: Wodan's Man

Wodan's Man — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:00:20 +0000

I never heard of anyone saying “No, yes!” like that. 14/88.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:37:25 +0000

I forgot to mention that “da, nyet” means “of-course not” or “no way!” If you hear the intonation, you immediately understand what is meant.

Da not only means yes, but is also a conjunction.

There’s an interesting comparison to English. People say “No, yes.” Very colloquial. Hard to replicate, but means “I agree with the negative statement you just made. Example:
“I would never go through a red light.” “No! Yes.” Meaning: “of course you wouldn’t. I would never accuse you of such a thing. You’re a great driver.”

Imagine what foreigners think of that!!
Peggy

By: Peggy

Peggy — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:28:24 +0000

JoseFina (ref May 31)
The phrase “something that … even though you know the meaning of all the words in the sentence – for the life of you, you cannot understand what they mean” is a good definition of what is known as an “idiom.” All languages have them, obviously. Russian isn’t unusual. Think of the puzzlement of a foreigner to English who hears someone say after a meeting, “we hit the ball out of the park,” when there was no ball and no park.

My “counter idiom” for the noodle on the ear is “pulled the wool over their eyes,” equally puzzling to a foreigner to English (what wool?)

Peggy