Some English and Russian proverbs are common and can be translated word by word from one language into another. For example, " There is no smoke without fire" has the Russian equivalent  " Нет дыма без огня". With others, the meaning of the proverb can be expressed in different ways. For example,   " Once bitten, twice shy" can be expressed in Russian by "Обжегшись на молоке, будешь дуть и на воду" or " Пуганая ворона куста боится. "

 Below are some English  proverbs. See if you  can match them with their Russian equivalents.

1.  Still waters run deep.
2. Birds of a feather flock together.
3. The leopard cannot change his spots.
4. Every cloud has a silver lining.
5. Rome was not built in a day.
6. Blood is thicker than water.
7. Necessity is the mother of invention.
8. Don't carry coals to Newcastle.
9. Haste makes waste.
10. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
11. Like father, like son.
12. Every family has a black sheep.
13. Make hay while the sun shines.
14. There is no place like home.
15. You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.

     a)    Москва не сразу строилась.

     b)   Своя рубашка ближе к телу.

     c)   Поспешишь - людей насмешишь.

     d)  В тихом омуте черти водятся.

    e)    У семи нянек дитя без глазу.

    f)    В семье не без урода.

    g)   Горбатого могила исправит.

    h)   Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.

    i)    В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше.

    j)   Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает.

   k)   В Тулу со своим самоваром не ездят.

   l)    Насильно мил не будешь.

   m)  Нет худа без добра.

    n) Куй железо пока горячо.

   o)   Голь на выдумки хитра.

Can you complete the following proverbs? 

   1. When the cat is away

   2. Where there is a will

   3. Better late

   4. Look

    5. What's done

    6. An apple a day

    7. One man's meat

    8. Honesty

    9. A new broom

    10. All is well

    11. A friend in need

    12. A bird in the hand

    13. No news

    14. So many men

    15. All that glitters

    a) that ends well.

    b) is not gold.

    c) is another man's poison.

    d) sweeps well.

    e) is a friend indeed.

    f)  is worth two in the bush.

    g) is good news.

    h) keeps the doctor away.

    i) so many minds.

    j) the mice will play.

   k) can't be undone.

   l) is the best policy

  m) than never.

  n) before you leap.

  o) there is a way.

Check your answer with the key!

       Task 1.

      1 - d;  2 - h;   3 - g;  4- m;  5 - a;  6 - b;   7 - o;  8 - k;  9 - c;  10 - e;   11 -  j;   12 - f; 13 - n; 14 - i; 15 - l.

       Task 2.

       1 - j;   2- o;    3 - m;   4 - n;   5 - k;   6 - h;   7 - c;   8 - l;  9 - d;   10 - a;   11 - e;   12 - f;   13 - g; 14 - i;   15 - b.