ежовые рукавицы (ezhovye rukavitsy)
Meaning: Harsh, strict, or iron-fisted rule or discipline.
Language: Russian
Literally: hedgehog gloves
Category: Animals
Origin: Hedgehog gloves would be brutally uncomfortable and prickly to wear; the image conveys severity and harshness in how one is treated or ruled.
More idioms — Animals
- надуться как мышь на крупу (nadut'sya kak mysh' na krupu) — To become angry or offended; to sulk or huff indignantly.
- метать бисер перед свиньями (metat' biser pered svin'yami) — To offer something precious or refined to someone incapable of appreciating it.
- отбросить копыта (otbrosit' kopyta) — To die, to kick the bucket.
- козёл отпущения (kozjol otpushchenija) — A person blamed or punished for the wrongs of others; a scapegoat.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
More Russian idioms
- козырная карта (kozyrnaya karta) — A decisive advantage or secret resource held in reserve.
- оставаться в дураках (ostavat'sya v durakakh) — To be tricked or made a fool of; to lose or come out the worse in a situation.
- в ус не дуть (v us ne dut') — To show complete indifference or not to care at all.
- под башмаком (pod bashmakóm) — Dominated or controlled by one's wife; henpecked.
- отложить в долгий ящик (otlozhit' v dolgiy yashchik) — To postpone or shelve something indefinitely, leaving it forgotten.
- на все четыре стороны (na vse chetyre storony) — In any direction one wishes; to go wherever one pleases.
Loading the full interactive collection…