Ukrainian is full of colourful idioms that sound absurd when translated literally. Here are 12 of the funniest.
1. "Ти в мене в долонях" (Ty v mene v dolonyakh)
Ти в мене в долонях
/tɪ v ˈmɛnɛ v dɔˈlɔnʲɑx/“You're in the palm of my hand”
Means you have complete control over someone. Sounds like a supervillain line.
2. "Залишити з носом" (Zalyshyty z nosom)
Залишити з носом
/zɑˈlɪʃɪtɪ z ˈnɔsɔm/“To leave someone with a nose”
Means to deceive or leave someone empty-handed. Like a cartoon character tricked into holding nothing.
3. "Бити байдики" (Byty baydyky)
Бити байдики
/ˈbɪtɪ bɑɪˈdɪkɪ/“To beat the idlers”
Means to laze around. No actual beating involved, thankfully.
4. "Купити коту в мішку" (Kupyty kotu v mishku)
Купити коту в мішку
/ˈkupɪtɪ ˈkɔtu v mɪʃˈku/“To buy a cat in a bag”
Equivalent to 'buying a pig in a poke.' Don’t trust mysterious bags.
5. "Не в своїй тарілці" (Ne v svoyiy tariltsi)
Не в своїй тарілці
/nɛ v svojij tɑˈrɪlt͡sʲi/“Not in one’s plate”
Means feeling out of place. Like sitting at the wrong dinner table.
6. "Водити за ніс" (Vodyty za nis)
Водити за ніс
/ˈvɔdɪtɪ zɑ ˈnɪs/“To lead by the nose”
Means to manipulate someone. Nose-leading is apparently a thing.
7. "Сизий як голуб" (Syzʹy yak holub)
Сизий як голуб
/ˈsɪzɪj jɑk ˈɦɔlub/“Grey as a pigeon”
Describes someone very drunk. Pigeon-coloured intoxication.
8. "Голова як решето" (Holova yak resheto)
Голова як решето
/ɦɔˈlɔvɑ jɑk rɛˈʃɛtɔ/“Head like a sieve”
Forgetful person. Memories just fall right through.
9. "Ловити ворон" (Lovyty voron)
Ловити ворон
/ˈlɔvɪtɪ ˈvɔrɔn/“To catch crows”
Means daydreaming or not paying attention. Crows are distracting.
10. "Пектися як тісто" (Pektysya yak tisto)
Пектися як тісто
/pɛkˈtɪsʲɑ jɑk ˈtʲistɔ/“To bake like dough”
Means to be in a tough spot. Like dough in an oven.
11. "Гуляти як кіт з мишею" (Hulyaty yak kit z mysheyu)
Гуляти як кіт з мишею
/ɦʊˈlʲɑtɪ jɑk kit z mɪˈʃɛju/“To walk like a cat with a mouse”
Means to toy with someone. Cats are ruthless.
12. "Робити з мухи слона" (Robyty z mukhy slona)
Робити з мухи слона
[rɔˈbɪte z ˈmuxe sɫɔˈna]“To make an elephant out of a fly”
Means to exaggerate. Ukrainian drama queens love this one.
