сарафанное радио
Meaning: The informal spread of gossip or news from person to person, especially by word of mouth.
Language: Russian
Literally: sarafan radio
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A sarafan is a traditional Russian sleeveless dress; the phrase likely alludes to women gathering and spreading stories while wearing sarafans, or to gossip traveling as readily as clothing passes between people.
More idioms — Daily Life
- нечего греха таить — Truth be told; one might as well admit something true and damning rather than conceal it.
- Pédaler dans la semoule — To be confused and getting nowhere.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Avoir le cul entre deux chaises — To be indecisive, caught between two options.
- Les carottes sont cuites — It's too late, nothing can be done.
- Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof — I don't understand anything at all.
More Russian idioms
- козёл отпущения — A person blamed or punished for the wrongs of others; a scapegoat.
- хоть убей — For the life of me; under no circumstances or condition could one do something.
- хоть умри — No matter what the cost or consequence; absolutely and without exception.
- молоко на губах не обсохло — a very young or inexperienced person; someone barely past infancy.
- Не вешай лапшу на уши — Don't lie to me; stop trying to deceive me.
- Когда рак на горе свистнет — When pigs fly; never.
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