сражаться с ветряными мельницами (srazhat'sya s vetryanymi mel'nitsami)

Meaning: To struggle against imaginary or futile enemies; to waste effort on impossible causes.

Literally: To fight with windmills

Example: “Он сражается с ветряными мельницами, споря с расписанием автобусов.” — Arguing with the bus timetable, he's tilting at windmills.

English equivalent: To tilt at windmills

Equivalents in other languages

French: Se battre contre des moulins à vent Literally: To fight against windmills
English: tilt at windmills
Swedish: slåss mot väderkvarnar Literally: To fight against windmills

Origin: From Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605), where the deluded protagonist attacks windmills believing them to be giants.

ходить вокруг да около (khodit' vokrug da okolo) To avoid speaking plainly; to approach a subject indirectly or evasively.
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.
метать бисер перед свиньями (metat' biser pered svin'yami) To offer something precious or refined to someone incapable of appreciating it.
сушить сухари (sushit' sukhari) To prepare oneself mentally and materially for imprisonment or arrest.
отбросить копыта (otbrosit' kopyta) To die, to kick the bucket.

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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