мачеха - a stepmother (20th May 2012)

мачеха  [MA-che-ha] (feminine noun) - a stepmother

Злая мачеха плохо обращалась с Золушкой. = Wicked stepmother treated Cinderella badly.

 

Foalfoot (a plant) is called "мать-и-мачеха" (literally: mother and stepmother) in Russian, as its leaves are soft on one side and hard on the other.

Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 17:43 by Registered CommenterKorobova Elena | CommentsPost a Comment

прошляпить - to miss an opportunity (17th May 2012)

прошляпить [pra-SHLYA-pit'] (perfective verb) - to miss an opportunity

У тебя была возможность заработать огромные бабки, и ты её прошляпил! = You had a chance to make so much money, and you missed it!

Мы застряли в пробке и прошляпили самолёт. = We got stuck in a traffic jam and missed the plane.

 

The verb comes from "шляпа" = a hat. We also call "шляпа" someone who's dupe or not smart enough.

This verb is used in informal Russian.

Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 13:51 by Registered CommenterKorobova Elena | CommentsPost a Comment

шуршать - to rustle (12th April 2012)

шуршать  [shur-SHAT'] (imperfective verb) - to rustle

Опавшие листья шуршали под ногами. = The fallen leaves were rustling under our feet.

Дети шуршали конфетными обёртками. = Children were rustling with candy wrappers.

 

Noun: шуршание, шорох

Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 23:55 by Registered CommenterKorobova Elena | CommentsPost a Comment

брезгливый - squeamish (29th March 2012)

 брезгливый [brez-GLI-viy] (adjective) – squeamish

Эта работа не для брезгливых людей. = This job isn't for squeamish people.

 

Adverb: брезгливо. Он брезгливо вытер руки. = He wiped his hands in disgust.

 

Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 23:03 by Registered CommenterKorobova Elena | CommentsPost a Comment

уставиться - to stare (23rd March 2012)

уставиться   [us-TA-vit'-sya] (perfective verb) – to stare

Что он на меня так уставился? = Why is he staring at me like this?

 

Please, note that this is a perfective verb, so it isn't used in the Present tense. To translate the Present tense in English, you'll need to use the Past tense in Russian:

Why are you staring at her? = Что ты уставился на неё?

Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 01:46 by Registered CommenterKorobova Elena | CommentsPost a Comment
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