{"id":1673,"date":"2010-12-14T10:00:55","date_gmt":"2010-12-14T10:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1673"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:17:10","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:17:10","slug":"cows-pigs-wolves-dogs-russian-sayings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/cows-pigs-wolves-dogs-russian-sayings\/","title":{"rendered":"Cows, Pigs, Wolves and Dogs – More Russian Sayings"},"content":{"rendered":"

So in the last few days the news seems to be all about WikiLeaks and about the arrest of its founder Julian Assange.<\/p>\n

While Russian Internet gets flooded with Wikileaks-related \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [news] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u044b\u0441\u043b\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [speculations], including far-out \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u0438 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [conspiracy theories], Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is back in the news cycle as well (like he ever leaves it).<\/p>\n

First there were Wikileaks-spurred \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0445\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [rumors] about Putin\u2019s secret \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0441\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u043e\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [incalculable riches]. His press secretary strenuously denied these rumors as \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [unverified]. To which many people commented on the blogs that whether Putin has billions or not, one thing for sure is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> <\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0433 – <\/strong>\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u044b <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043a\u043b\u044e\u044e<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [he has money to burn; lit. he\u2019s got so much money that even chickens can\u2019t peck them all].<\/p>\n

Fueled by further Wikileaks developments, the barnyard theme continued a few days later by Putin himself<\/a> when he used an old Russian saying \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u044c\u044f <\/strong>\u0431\u044b <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430 <\/strong>\u043c\u044b\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430, <\/strong>\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0430 <\/strong>\u0431\u044b <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u043b\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [some people\u2019s cows can moo, but yours should keep quiet]. This is the same as saying \u201cthe pot is calling the kettle black\u201d in English.<\/p>\n

We can dig a bit deeper into the linguistics of this \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443\u043f\u0440\u0451<\/span>\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [reproach] to the US using cow reference as a starting point. Much like here, in the US, in Russia cows are associated with such human qualities as \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [dullness, simplicity], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u0434\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [sloth], and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [patience].<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0414\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> has the same meaning in Russian as \u201ccash cow\u201d in English – something or someone that is a source of steady income or other \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [material wealth]. However, in Russian it also means a resource \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437\u0437\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0447\u0438\u0432\u043e <\/strong>\u0438\u0441\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0437\u0443\u0435\u043c\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [shamelessly used] by others. That\u2019s why when the subject is government initiatives, reforms and financially-intensive projects (like, say, Olympic Games in Sochi), comments on blogs and forums frequently mention that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u044f\u0442 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> [bureaucrats are milking the people].<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another awesome saying that\u2019s related to both cows and money:<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0430\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span> – <\/strong>\u0431\u0440\u043e\u0434\u044f<\/span>\u0447\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430; <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u0442 <\/strong>\u0435\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439\u00bb <\/strong>[government treasury is like a wandering cow; only the lazy ones don’t milk it].<\/p>\n

And speaking of shamelessness – someone who lies shamelessly is said to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [be a barefaced liar; lit: lie like a grey gelding]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [gelding] is known for its \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [meekness] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043d\u0440\u0430\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [quiet demeanor] unlike \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043d\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [stallion] that can \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0437\u0434\u044b<\/span>\u0431\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong>\u00bb [rear up]. Someone who shows temper is said to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0434\u044b\u0431\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [rear up].<\/p>\n

But in general, a horse for Russians is a symbol of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043e\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0431\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [hard work] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044b\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb <\/strong>[endurance]. \u00ab<\/strong>\u042f <\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u0448\u0443<\/span> <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0430\u0434\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [I work like a horse] a Russian might say by way of explaining how hard he or she works. (There are, of course, a ton of pictures online of Putin with horses, just Google \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u043d <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0430\u0434\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Putin and horses].)<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u044b\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [endurance] is an interesting word. It can mean physical endurance or stamina as well as moral and spiritual fortitude. In the latter case \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044b\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> is someone who is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0445\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [strong of spirit] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [steadfast].<\/p>\n

When it comes to selecting the most \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044b\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> (physically) animal, Russians don\u2019t have a clear choice. Some nominate \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [ox] because one has to be \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044b\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [have endurance of an ox] to get by in Russia. Others prefer \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0431\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> [camel] as their symbol of stamina for its ability to go long distances without food and water. Yet others think that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [dog] is an animal that can endure the most. After all, there\u2019s a Russian saying \u00ab<\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u0432\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u0438\u0439, <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [resilient like a dog] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0436\u0438\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [heals like a dog]. Dogs are also \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [loyal].<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b\u043e\u00bb [As a rule], the animals in Russia are given human character traits that are mostly negative – \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [dullness] for \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0430\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [male sheep], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0447\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043f\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [impurity, usually of thought or intention] for \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u0438\u043d\u044c\u044f<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [pig], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0436\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [cruelty] for \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [wolf], etc.<\/p>\n

Putin, by the way, has lots of photographs<\/a> with many of these animals – horses, pigs, cows, dogs (his new puppy\u2019s<\/a> name is, by the way, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0411\u0430<\/span>\u0444\u0444\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Buffy]). And although Putin have not yet had pictures taken with wolves, he did visit Moscow bike-club<\/a> \u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u043e\u0447\u043d\u044b<\/span>\u0435 <\/strong>\u0412\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Night Wolves].<\/p>\n

If you have any other animal husbandry-related sayings that you want to share or guess what animal will VVP be photographed with next, feel free to leave a comment here or on our Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

So in the last few days the news seems to be all about WikiLeaks and about the arrest of its founder Julian Assange. While Russian Internet gets flooded with Wikileaks-related \u00ab\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb [news] and \u00ab\u0434\u043e\u043c\u044b\u0441\u043b\u044b\u00bb [speculations], including far-out \u00ab\u0442\u0435\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u00bb [conspiracy theories], Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is back in the news cycle as well (like…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,179],"tags":[1897,1248,13008,12592],"class_list":["post-1673","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language","category-news","tag-animals","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-sayings","tag-vladimir-putin"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1673"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6246,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673\/revisions\/6246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}