IdiomBody & Senses
Russian
Russianв ус не дуть (v us ne dut')
Meaning: To show complete indifference or not to care at all.
Literally: Not to blow into the mustache
Example: “Сроки горят, а он в ус не дует.” — The deadlines are burning and he doesn't turn a hair.
English equivalent: Not to turn a hair
Equivalents in other languages
English: not turn a hair
Origin: Literally "not to blow into one's mustache," said of someone who does not care at all and carries on unbothered. The image is usually explained as the opposite of puffing out one's whiskers in indignation, but no source documents an origin or a first use.
More Russian idioms
- под башмаком (pod bashmakóm) Dominated or controlled by one's wife; henpecked.
- отложить в долгий ящик (otlozhit' v dolgiy yashchik) To postpone or shelve something indefinitely, leaving it forgotten.
- на все четыре стороны (na vse chetyre storony) In any direction one wishes; to go wherever one pleases.
- лежачий полицейский (lezhachiy politseyskiy) A speed bump or traffic calming device.
- надуться как мышь на крупу (nadut'sya kak mysh' na krupu) To become angry or offended; to sulk or huff indignantly.
- один с сошкой, а семеро с ложкой (odin s soshkoy, a semero s lozhkoy) many people live off the labor of one worker.
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