Как сельдь в бочке

Meaning: Packed together very tightly.

Language: Russian

Literally: Like herrings in a barrel

Category: Animals

Origin: Salted herring crammed into wooden barrels pictures a crowd squeezed shoulder to shoulder.

More idioms — Animals

• Вешать всех собак — To blame someone for everything.
• 井底之蛙 — Someone with a narrow, limited worldview.
• 守株待兔 — Vainly hoping a lucky fluke will repeat itself.
• 塞翁失马 — A blessing in disguise; fortune is unpredictable.
• 狐假虎威 — To bully others using borrowed power.
• De kat uit de boom kijken — To wait cautiously before committing.

More Russian idioms

• Делать ноги — To run away quickly.
• Заговаривать зубы — To distract someone with smooth, evasive talk.
• Седьмая вода на киселе — A very distant relative.
• Положить зубы на полку — To go hungry; to tighten your belt.
• Считать ворон — To idle and let chances slip by.
• Гол как сокол — Dirt poor; without a thing to your name.

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