IdiomBody & Senses
Russian
Russianпроверять на вшивость (proveryat' na shivost')
Meaning: To scrutinize or investigate someone closely to uncover hidden faults or problems; to vet thoroughly.
Literally: To check for lice
Example: “Новичка месяц проверяли на вшивость.” — They went over the new hire with a fine-tooth comb for a month.
Origin: Вшивость is lousiness, being infested with lice. The phrase is usually linked to the delousing inspections of armies, prisons and camps, where every recruit or inmate was checked, but this connection is not documented. Figuratively it means testing someone to see if they are reliable, or how they react under pressure.
More Russian idioms
- в долгах как в шелках (v dolgakh kak v shelkakh) To be deeply and hopelessly in debt.
- 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.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Корабли лавировали, лавировали, да не вылавировали. (Korabli lavirovali, lavirovali, da ne vylavirovali.) One verb, three inflections, pure 'lav/vir' torture — the word grows with every repetitio…
- Ехал Грека через реку, видит Грека — в реке рак. (Yekhal Greka cherez reku, vidit Greka — v reke rak.) A rolling 'r/k' drill where Greka, reku and rak keep trading the same two consonants.
- От топота копыт пыль по полю летит. (Ot topota kopyt pyl po polyu letit.) A 'p/t' hammering that imitates the hoofbeats it describes.
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