отложить в долгий ящик (otlozhit' v dolgiy yashchik)
Meaning: To postpone or shelve something indefinitely, leaving it forgotten.
Language: Russian
Literally: to set aside in a long drawer
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A long drawer is a metaphor for a place where things disappear from view and are left untouched; the image suggests procrastination that amounts to permanent abandonment.
More idioms — Daily Life
- на все четыре стороны (na vse chetyre storony) — In any direction one wishes; to go wherever one pleases.
- лежачий полицейский (lezhachiy politseyskiy) — A speed bump or traffic calming device.
- один с сошкой, а семеро с ложкой (odin s soshkoy, a semero s lozhkoy) — many people live off the labor of one worker.
- 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.
- ходить вокруг да около (khodit' vokrug da okolo) — To avoid speaking plainly; to approach a subject indirectly or evasively.
More Russian idioms
- ездить в Тулу со своим самоваром (ezdit' v Tulu so svoim samovarom) — To do something entirely pointless or unnecessary, bringing what is already abundant in t…
- надуться как мышь на крупу (nadut'sya kak mysh' na krupu) — To become angry or offended; to sulk or huff indignantly.
- пудрить мозги (pudrit' mozgi) — To mislead someone with false or nonsensical talk; to deceive or confuse deliberately.
- сила есть — ума не надо (sila yest — uma ne nado) — a person who is physically strong but intellectually weak or stupid.
- в лес дрова возить (v les drova vozit') — to do something pointless or redundant; to offer something to someone who already has ple…
- сражаться с ветряными мельницами (srazhat'sya s vetryanymi mel'nitsami) — To struggle against imaginary or futile enemies; to waste effort on impossible causes.
Loading the full interactive collection…