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надуться как мышь на крупу (nadut'sya kak mysh' na krupu)

Meaning: To become angry or offended; to sulk or huff indignantly.

Language: Russian

Literally: to puff up like a mouse on groats

Category: Animals

Origin: The phrase draws the absurd image of a tiny mouse swelling up grotesquely after eating groats, picturing wounded pride and petulant anger.

More idioms — Animals

  • 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.
  • Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.

More Russian idioms

  • пудрить мозги (pudrit' mozgi) — To mislead someone with false or nonsensical talk; to deceive or confuse deliberately.
  • один с сошкой, а семеро с ложкой (odin s soshkoy, a semero s lozhkoy) — many people live off the labor of one worker.
  • сила есть — ума не надо (sila yest — uma ne nado) — a person who is physically strong but intellectually weak or stupid.
  • зарывать свой талант в землю (zaryvat' svoy talant v zemlyu) — to waste or hide one's natural gifts instead of using them.
  • своя рубашка ближе к телу (svoya rubashka blizhe k telu) — self-interest comes before charity; one should prioritize one's own welfare and family.
  • в лес дрова возить (v les drova vozit') — to do something pointless or redundant; to offer something to someone who already has ple…

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