сила есть — ума не надо (sila yest — uma ne nado)
Meaning: a person who is physically strong but intellectually weak or stupid.
Language: Russian
Literally: strength exists — mind is not needed
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Origin uncertain; the phrase presents strength and intelligence as opposing forces, suggesting that brute force can substitute for thinking.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- 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.
- до посинения (do posineniya) — To do something with extreme effort or persistence, usually futilely.
- на коленке (na kolenke) — Done hastily and without proper tools or technique; improvised or makeshift.
- Tomber dans les pommes — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les…
- Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez — To be getting angry.
More Russian idioms
- зарывать свой талант в землю (zaryvat' svoy talant v zemlyu) — to waste or hide one's natural gifts instead of using them.
- своя рубашка ближе к телу (svoya rubashka blizhe k telu) — self-interest comes before charity; one should prioritize one's own welfare and family.
- 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.
- ходить вокруг да около (khodit' vokrug da okolo) — To avoid speaking plainly; to approach a subject indirectly or evasively.
- полтора землекопа (poltora zemlyekopa) — An absurdly small group; a nonsensical quantity that defies rational measure.
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