проверять на вшивость (proveryat' na shivost')
Meaning: To scrutinize or investigate someone closely to uncover hidden faults or problems; to vet thoroughly.
Language: Russian
Literally: to check for lice
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The image is of a meticulous, invasive inspection for parasites, extended metaphorically to mean searching for any concealed defect.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- положа руку на сердце (polozhá ruku na sérdtse) — Speaking with complete sincerity and honesty.
- в ус не дуть (v us ne dut') — To show complete indifference or not to care at all.
- 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.
- гнать в три шеи (gnat' v tri shei) — To expel or drive someone away forcefully and without ceremony.
- язык проглотил (yazyk proglotil) — To be unable or unwilling to speak; to remain silent when words are called for.
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.
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