IdiomBody & Senses
Russian
Russianположа руку на сердце (polozhá ruku na sérdtse)
Meaning: Speaking with complete sincerity and honesty.
Literally: Putting a hand on one's heart
Example: “Положа руку на сердце, я о тебе забыл.” — Hand on heart, I forgot about you.
English equivalent: Hand on heart
Equivalents in other languages
English: hand on heart
Origin: From the custom of laying one's hand on one's heart to vouch for the truth of what one says. Положа is an old form of the participle meaning "having placed"; modern Russian would say положив. The gesture is still seen today as a sign that the speaker means every word.
More Russian idioms
- до свадьбы заживёт (do svad'by zazhivyot) A minor injury or problem will resolve itself naturally and quickly.
- давать на чай (davat' na chay) To give a tip or small payment to a service worker.
- наступить дважды на одни и те же грабли (nastupitʹ dvazhdy na odni i te zhe grabli) To repeat the same mistake or fall into the same trap a second time.
- ежовые рукавицы (ezhovye rukavitsy) Harsh, strict, or iron-fisted rule or discipline.
- козырная карта (kozyrnaya karta) A decisive advantage or secret resource held in reserve.
- оставаться в дураках (ostavat'sya v durakakh) To be tricked or made a fool of; to lose or come out the worse in a situation.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Ты умница (ty umnitsa) You're bright, clever, and admirable — said warmly of someone who handles things well.
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
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