IdiomFood & Drink
Russian
Russianчепуха на постном масле (chepukha na postnom masle)
Meaning: Complete and utter nonsense or rubbish.
Literally: Nonsense on lenten oil
Example: “Этот прогноз — чепуха на постном масле.” — That forecast is a load of nonsense.
English equivalent: A load of nonsense
Equivalents in other languages
English: a load of nonsense
Origin: A Russian phrase handbook explains that the dish came first: thin slices of potato or other vegetables fried in постное масло, the vegetable oil allowed during Lent, a cheap and humble food. Чепуха (nonsense) attached to it makes nonsense twice over, and the variant ерунда на постном масле is a later form.
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