IdiomDaily Life
Russian
Russianотложить в долгий ящик (otlozhit' v dolgiy yashchik)
Meaning: To postpone or shelve something indefinitely, leaving it forgotten.
Literally: To set aside in a long drawer
Example: “Ремонт школы отложили в долгий ящик.” — The school repairs were put on the back burner.
English equivalent: To put something on the back burner
Equivalents in other languages
German: etwas auf die lange Bank schieben Literally: To push something onto the long bench
English: put something on the back burner
Origin: Traditionally linked to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great, who is said to have had a long box placed outside his palace for anyone's petitions. The petitions took so long to be dealt with that the long box became the "long-lasting" box. Russian dictionaries present this as the traditional explanation; it is not confirmed by period documents.
More Russian idioms
- 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.
- гнать в три шеи (gnat' v tri shei) To expel or drive someone away forcefully and without ceremony.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Бог правду видит, да не скоро скажет (Bog pravdu vidit, da ne skoro skazhet) The truth comes out and justice is done in the end, though it may take a long time.
- С волками жить — по-волчьи выть (S volkami zhit' — po-volch'i vyt') You have to adapt to the people you live or work among, even against your own inclination.
- Москва не сразу строилась (Moskva ne srazu stroilas') Great things take time.
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