The Colorful World of Russian Idioms

What does it mean in Russian when “a bear steps on your ear”? Who is “spinning like a squirrel in a wheel”? And why would anyone “make an elephant out of a fly”?

These colorful expressions may sound rather unusual in English, but they are familiar Russian idioms. They mean to have no ear for music, to be constantly busy, and to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Russian idioms and expressions are one of our favorite — and truly endless — topics! No matter how many you learn, there is always something new, surprising, and fun to discover.

A recent open class in Grade 1B, taught by Victoria Grinberg, was dedicated to exploring the colorful world of Russian idioms.

Our students immediately “took the bull by the horns” and impressed everyone with their knowledge! They weren’t “leading anyone by the nose,” “twiddling their thumbs,” or “having their heads in the clouds.” Instead, they worked enthusiastically and showed just how well they understood not only the words themselves, but also the meaning behind these expressions.

And the parents? They were “on cloud nine!”

Learning idioms is especially important for bilingual children. These expressions help students develop figurative thinking and a deeper understanding of Russian language and culture. They also build vocabulary, strengthen an intuitive feel for the language, and help children speak Russian in a more natural, vivid, and expressive way.