Posted on December 28th, 2010
Welcome to our Russian Slang and Idioms Lesson 25!
Брать за душу [BRAT’ ZA doo-shoo]
Брать за душу means to touch someone’s soul. You can touch someone’s soul with your words, music, poems, a smile….
For example:
Его пение берёт меня за душу.
[yi-VO PYE-ni-ye bi-RYOT mi-NYA ZA doo-shoo]
His singing touches my soul.
Отложить в долгий ящик [at-la-ZHEET’ v DOL-giy YA-shik]
Literally отложить в долгий ящик means to put something in a box for a long time. This is why when we want to say in Russian that we postponed doing something, we say я отложил это в долгий ящик.
For example:
Я отложил подготовку к экзаменам в долгий ящик.
[YA at-la-ZHIL pad-ga-TOV-koo k ek-ZA-mi-nam v DOL-giy YA-shik]
I put off revision for as long as possible.
Краем уха слышать [KRA-yem OO-ha SLEE-shat’]
Край means edge, ухo means ear, and слышать means hear. When you say that you слышал краем уха слышал что-то it means that you heard something without actively listening.
For example:
Я слышал краем уха, что новый начальник придёт в понедельник.
[YA SLEE-shal KRA-yem OO-ha SHTO NO-veey na-CHAL’-nik pri-DYOT f pa-ni-DYEL’-nik]
I heard that the new boss will start on Monday.
Great job! Here comes the test!
Test:
1. Which idiom mentions a box?
2. Which idiom means to hear something without actively listening?
3. Please translate word «душа» into English?
I’ll see you soon!
Viktoria
Related Posts:
- 20 Words & Expressions from the Conversational Russian Video Course
- The Story behind the Conversational Russian Video Course
- Days of the Week in Russian Video Lesson
- Learn Romantic Phrases in Russian
- How Valentine’s Day is Celebrated in Russia
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