на коленке (na kolenke)

Meaning: Done hastily and without proper tools or technique; improvised or makeshift.

Language: Russian

Literally: on the knee

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The image is of something made or repaired quickly and roughly, balanced on one's knee rather than done properly at a workbench.

More idioms — Body & Senses

Tomber dans les pommes — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les…
Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez — To be getting angry.
Couper les cheveux en quatre — To over-analyze or split hairs.
Se regarder le nombril — To be self-centered or narcissistic.
Tomaten auf den Augen haben — To be oblivious to what's right in front of you.
Die Daumen drücken — To wish someone good luck (like crossing fingers).

сарафанное радио (sarafannoe radio) — The informal spread of gossip or news from person to person, especially by word of mouth.
козёл отпущения (kozjol otpushchenija) — A person blamed or punished for the wrongs of others; a scapegoat.
нечего греха таить (nechego grekha tait') — Truth be told; one might as well admit something true and damning rather than conceal it.
хоть убей (khot' ubey) — For the life of me; under no circumstances or condition could one do something.
хоть умри (khot' umri) — No matter what the cost or consequence; absolutely and without exception.
молоко на губах не обсохло (moloko na gubakh ne obsokhlo) — a very young or inexperienced person; someone barely past infancy.

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