{"id":2080,"date":"2011-05-20T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2011-05-20T08:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2080"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:48:41","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:48:41","slug":"transparent-russian-contest-winner-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/transparent-russian-contest-winner-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"And the Winner Is…"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Warning: <\/strong>This is a very long post and the winner is announced at the very end of it.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u044f <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0438\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0443\u0440\u0441\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [It\u2019s time to wrap up our contest<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Before I announce \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [the winner], I got to say this – Russian blog readers ROCK! The total of 83 comments is a new record for this blog. But as I wrote before<\/a>, this is one of the situations when \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [quality] means more than \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [quantity].<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041e\u0433\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0431\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [Huge thanks] to Rob, Minority, and Delia for fielding the questions and offering help with grammar, translation and additional research. Richard, thank you for your most interesting questions, especially about the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [vulgarity or kitsch].<\/p>\n

Overall, the comments confirm my belief that this is a blog where comments oftentimes provide more valuable information on the topic than the posts themselves.<\/p>\n

One of the contributors, Stephanie, added a wonderful saying \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 – <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0443\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [repetition is the mother of learning]. It is a very popular one, so let\u2019s roll with it. I\u2019d like to quickly review some of the entries and add my own \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [two cents-worth; lit. three kopeks] to them.<\/p>\n

JT\u2019s entry:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u0441\u0451 <\/strong>\u0438\u0434\u0451<\/span>\u0442 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [All is going according to the plan]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u043b\u0430\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> in Russian usually means \u201cplan\u201d, \u201cdraft\u201d, or \u201cplot\u201d. It can also mean a \u201ctopographic map\u201d. Curiously, it also means \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0448\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [hashish].<\/p>\n

Mark\u2019s entry:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab<\/strong>\u0413\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0442, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u0440 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [Don\u2019t believe everything you hear; lit. Some say chickens can be milked]<\/p>\n

One of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [tastiest] of Russian candies are called \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u044c\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [lit. Birds\u2019 Milk]. You can usually find them in the Russian stores in the US, although they lose much of their \u201cmelt-in-your-mouth softness\u201d after the lengthy transport and storage.<\/p>\n

Richard\u2019s entry:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab<\/strong>\u042f <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u044f, <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0430\u0434\u044c <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u044f<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [I didn\u2019t do it! Lit: I\u2019m not myself and the horse isn\u2019t mine]<\/p>\n

This one made me smile as I haven\u2019t heard it much after moving to the US! There\u2019s a particular word that comes to mind when I hear this phrase – \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f\u00bb<\/strong>. Typically translated as \u201cto say no\u201d or \u201cto disavow\u201d it loses some of its linguistic charisma, just like another wonderful word – \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to say yes].<\/p>\n

Alison\u2019s entry:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c – <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0440\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [love is not a potato]<\/p>\n

Ok, this sounds cryptic, but there\u2019s a second part of the saying: \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c – <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0440\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430, <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0448\u044c <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [love is not a potato; it can\u2019t be thrown out of the window]. So true! After all, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c <\/strong>\u0437\u043b\u0430, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0431\u0438\u0448\u044c <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0437\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [love is cruel]. Another weird love and gardening saying is \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043b\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c, <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u043b\u0438 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [love ended, tomatoes wilted].<\/p>\n

Delia\u2019s entry:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u0438\u043d\u044c\u044e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [to play a dirty trick or to cause a major inconvenience; lit. to lay a pig near someone]<\/p>\n

If you are wondering why pigs were singled out for the purpose of lying near someone, it\u2019s because pigs, in Russia, are usually associated with \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0447\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043f\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [impurity, frequently of thoughts or intentions]. Sounds interesting? Then find out more in this post<\/a> about different animals in Russian sayings.<\/p>\n

Simon\u2019s entry:<\/span> \u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0445\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0430 <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u00bb <\/strong>[every cloud has a silver lining]<\/p>\n

The well-known corollary of this is \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u0445\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [good luck brings bad luck]. One of the traits that foreigners notice in Russians is a certain measure of fatalism. Another saying that goes with it is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0451<\/span>\u0434\u0430 <\/strong>\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0434\u0451<\/span>\u0433\u0442\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [every barrel-full of honey has a spoon-full of tar].<\/p>\n

Drew<\/span><\/strong>\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> entry<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab\u041a\u0442\u043e,\u043a\u0442\u043e? \u041a\u043e\u043d\u044c \u0432 \u043f\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [Who? Who? A horse in a coat!]<\/p>\n

Thanks, Drew, for reminding me of this saying! I wish there was something as universal in English to slow the barrage of the \u201cKnock-knock. Who\u2019s there?\u201d jokes. Sometimes the mythical \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u0434 <\/strong>\u041f\u0438\u0445\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [Grandfather Pikhto] is substituted for the proverbial horse. There\u2019s much speculation as to who this Grandfather Pikhto is, but some say that he\u2019s a spirit of the \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u0439\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u00bb <\/strong>[boreal forests] which are abundant with \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0445\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [fir trees]. As to the horse in a coat, it\u2019s popular enough that there\u2019s a statue of it<\/a> in the town of Sochi.<\/p>\n

Olia\u2019s entry:<\/span> \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0438 <\/strong>\u0441\u044b\u0442 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u0448\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [One can\u2019t live on words alone]<\/p>\n

Thank you, Olia, for this entry. It goes particularly well with the giveaway theme. Although matreshkas aren\u2019t particularly nourishing either. Another good phrase along the same lines is \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0449\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [to feed with promises] and a corresponding \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0449\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438 <\/strong>\u0441\u044b\u0442 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043b\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [fed up with promises].<\/p>\n

Rob\u2019s entry:<\/span> \u00ab<\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u044f – <\/strong>\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [Russia – the motherland of the elephants]<\/p>\n

Rob always provides exhaustive comments, so the only thing I can add to his explanation is this link to a page on Lurkmor.ru<\/a><\/p>\n

Kate<\/span><\/strong>\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> entry<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab\u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435\u0445 – \u044d\u0442\u043e \u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Richard asked for the best way to translate it. Let\u2019s see\u2026 \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> has a meaning of \u201cto have time\u201d and \u201cto make it\u201d (as in \u201cto be on time\u201d):<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0432 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u044c <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c, <\/strong>\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043c <\/strong>\u0443\u0434\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u044c <\/strong>\u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [We had to run the last one hundred meters, but we made it to the ferry]<\/p>\n

So I\u2019d translate the phrase as either \u201csuccess means having enough time\u201d or \u201csuccess means making it\u201d. As another Russian saying goes, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043b, <\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u0442 <\/strong>\u043e\u043f\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [you snooze, you lose].<\/p>\n

And finally\u2026 the big announcement of the winner. Cue in \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0431\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [drum roll]\u2026 First, I filtered out the comments of those readers who graciously removed themselves from participation. Then, I the rest of the comments (51) through a random number generator<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Agata<\/strong>, on becoming the official winner of the Transparent Russian blog giveaway. You will be receiving an e-mail from Transparent shortly.<\/p>\n

Once again, my heartfelt thanks<\/strong> to all who participated in the contest and commented on the blog post.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Warning: This is a very long post and the winner is announced at the very end of it.\u00a0 \u00ab\u0412\u0440\u0435\u043c\u044f \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0438\u0442\u043e\u0433\u0438 \u043a\u043e\u043d\u043a\u0443\u0440\u0441\u0430\u00bb [It\u2019s time to wrap up our contest]. Before I announce \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb [the winner], I got to say this – Russian blog readers ROCK! The total of 83 comments is a new record…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,8],"tags":[56889,1248,1268,13008,1321,8105],"class_list":["post-2080","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-language","tag-russian-idioms","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-proverbs","tag-russian-sayings","tag-strange-russian-expressions","tag-strange-russian-words"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t