Untranslatable wordEveryday
Russian
RussianKhalyava
Meaning: Something good got for free and without effort — and, strictly, something you were never entitled to in the first place.
Literally: A free ride
Origin: Russian халява; freebie and luck fused into a single word.
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Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Голь на выдумки хитра (Gol' na vydumki khitra) The poor are inventive because they have to be.
- Поспешишь — людей насмешишь (Pospeshish' — lyudey nasmeshish') Doing things in a hurry makes you look foolish.
- Взялся за гуж, не говори, что не дюж (Vzyalsya za guzh, ne govori, chto ne dyuzh) Once you've taken something on, don't complain that it's too hard.
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