Ukrainian idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday Ukrainian. Learning to use common idioms and expressions will make your Ukrainian sound more natural, so it’s a good idea to master some of these expressions.
Because idioms don’t always make sense literally, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun. π
None of the idioms on this page are unusual or old fashioned, so you can be confident using any of them with native Ukrainian speakers.
1. ΠΡΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° ΠΏΡΠΎΠΌΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° – “Talking about the wolf”
Something that you say when someone you have been talking or thinking about suddenly appears.
Π’ΠΈ ΡΡΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄Π½Ρ Π±Π°ΡΠΈΠ»Π° ΠΠ΅ΡΡΠ°? Π, Π° ΠΎΡΡ Ρ Π²ΡΠ½! ΠΡΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° ΠΏΡΠΎΠΌΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ°.
Did you see Peter today? Oh, here he comes! Speak of the devil.
2. ΠΠΎΠΊΠ°Π·Π°ΡΠΈ Π΄Π΅ ΡΠ°ΠΊΠΈ Π·ΠΈΠΌΡΡΡΡ – “To show where the crayfish is wintering”
Often used as a threat. To punish, to teach someone a lesson; to show someone what’s what.
Π― ΠΏΠΎΠΊΠ°ΠΆΡ ΡΠΎΠ±Ρ Π΄Π΅ ΡΠ°ΠΊΠΈ Π·ΠΈΠΌΡΡΡΡ! 😡
I’ll teach you a lesson!
3. ΠΡΠ»Π° Π²ΠΎΡΠΎΠ½Π° – “A white crow”
This idiom is used to describe a person who is unusual or extraordinary, not like others. It can be translated in English as βa black sheepβ, or just an odd person. ΠΡΠ»Π° Π²ΠΎΡΠΎΠ½Π° is someone who stands out of a group (looks different, behaves differently).
Π£ ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»Ρ ΡΡ Π½Π°Π·ΠΈΠ²Π°Π»ΠΈ Π±ΡΠ»ΠΎΡ Π²ΠΎΡΠΎΠ½ΠΎΡ, Π±ΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ½Π° Π½ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»ΠΈ Π½Π΅ Π³ΡΠ°Π»Π°ΡΡ Π· ΡΠ½ΡΠΈΠΌΠΈ Π΄ΡΡΡΠΌΠΈ Ρ Π²Π΅ΡΡ ΡΠ²ΡΠΉ Π²ΡΠ»ΡΠ½ΠΈΠΉ ΡΠ°Ρ ΠΏΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈΠ»Π° Π·Π° ΡΠΈΡΠ°Π½Π½ΡΠΌ ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³.
At school, she used to be called an odd bird as she never played with other children and she spent all her free time reading books.
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4. ΠΡΠ΄ΡΡΠ½ΡΡΠΈ ΡΠ²ΠΈΠ½Ρ – “To plant a pig on someone”
To do a vile thing to someone, to make trouble for someone surreptitiously.
Π― Π½Π΅ Π΄ΡΠΌΠ°Π»Π°, ΡΠΎ ΡΠΈ ΠΏΡΠ΄ΡΡΠ½Π΅Ρ ΠΌΠ΅Π½Ρ ΡΠ°ΠΊΡ ΡΠ²ΠΈΠ½Ρ. 😟
I didn’t expect that you would play such a dirty trick.
5. ΠΡΠΏΠΈΡΠΈ ΠΊΠΎΡΠ° Π² ΠΌΡΡΠΊΡ – “To buy a cat in a sack”
To buy or accept something without examining it carefully first, with the possibility that it may be something of poor quality or not what you want.
ΠΡΠ·ΡΠΌΡΡΡ ΠΌΠ°ΡΠΈΠ½Ρ Π½Π° ΡΠ΅ΡΡ-Π΄ΡΠ°ΠΉΠ² ΡΠΏΠΎΡΠ°ΡΠΊΡ. ΠΠΈ ΠΆ Π½Π΅ Ρ ΠΎΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅ ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΠΈ ΠΊΠΎΡΠ° Π² ΠΌΡΡΠΊΡ, ΡΠΈ Π½Π΅ ΡΠ°ΠΊ?
Take the car for a test drive first. You donβt want to buy a pig in a poke, do you?
6. ΠΡΠΌΠΈΠΉ ΡΠΊ ΡΠΈΠ±Π° – “Mute as a fish”
Someone that says very little or nothing (often in order to keep a secret); reserved, uncommunicative.
ΠΠ΅ Ρ Π²ΠΈΠ»ΡΠΉΡΡ! Π― Π½Π΅ Π²ΠΈΠ΄Π°ΠΌ ΡΠ²ΡΠΉ ΡΠ΅ΠΊΡΠ΅Ρ. Π― Π±ΡΠ΄Ρ Π½ΡΠΌΠΈΠΉ ΡΠΊ ΡΠΈΠ±Π°.
Don’t worry! Your secret’s safe with me. I won’t breathe a word to anyone.
7. Π―ΠΊ Π΄Π²Ρ ΠΊΡΠ°ΠΏΠ»Ρ Π²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ – “Like two drops of water”
To bear a very close resemblance; to be exactly alike.
ΠΡΠ°ΡΠΈ ΡΡ ΠΎΠΆΡ ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈΠ½ Π½Π° ΠΎΠ΄Π½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΡΠΊ Π΄Π²Ρ ΠΊΡΠ°ΠΏΠ»Ρ Π²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ.
The brothers are two peas in a pod.
8. ΠΡΠ°ΠΏΠ»Ρ Π² ΠΌΠΎΡΡ – “A drop in the sea”
An insignificant amount (when compared with the amount that is needed, was previously available, etc).
ΠΡΠ±ΡΠ°Π½Ρ Π³ΡΠΎΡΡ ΡΠ΅ Π»ΠΈΡΠ΅ ΠΊΡΠ°ΠΏΠ»Ρ Π² ΠΌΠΎΡΡ.
The collected money is just a drop in the ocean.
9. Π§Π΅ΠΊΠ°ΡΠΈ Π· ΠΌΠΎΡΡ ΠΏΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ – “To wait for the weather from the sea”
To wait before doing something, not undertaking any action; to wait while there’s no point in waiting.
ΠΠΎΠ½Π° ΡΠ΅ΠΊΠ°Ρ Π· ΠΌΠΎΡΡ ΠΏΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ.
She is waiting for the sun to shine.
ΠΠ΅ΠΌΠ°Ρ ΡΠ΅Π½ΡΡ ΡΠ΅ΠΊΠ°ΡΠΈ Π· ΠΌΠΎΡΡ ΠΏΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ. ΠΠΎΡΡΡΠ±Π½ΠΎ Π±ΡΠ°ΡΠΈ ΡΠΏΡΠ°Π²Ρ Π² Π½Π°ΡΡ ΡΡΠΊΠΈ.
There is no point waiting for the grass to grow. We have to take matters into our own hands.
10. ΠΠ²Π° ΡΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡΠΈ – ΠΏΠ°ΡΠ° – “Two shoes make a pair”
The two people in question are similar with regard to personality traits, behaviors, etc (which are usually negative, undesirable).
ΠΠ΅ΡΡΠΎ ΡΠ°ΠΊΠΈΠΉ ΡΠ°ΠΌΠΈΠΉ ΡΠΊ Ρ ΡΠΈ. ΠΠ²Π° ΡΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡΠΈ – ΠΏΠ°ΡΠ°.
Petro is just like you. Two shoes make a pair.
11. ΠΡΠ΄ ΠΊΠ°Π±Π»ΡΠΊΠΎΠΌ – “Under (one’s) heel”
Π‘ompletely under the control or influence of someone, entirely dependent on someone (often of a husband in relation to his wife).
ΠΠΊΡΠ°Π½Π° ΡΡΠΈΠΌΠ°Ρ ΠΠ΅ΡΡΠ° ΠΏΡΠ΄ ΠΊΠ°Π±Π»ΡΠΊΠΎΠΌ.
Oksana keeps Petro under her thumb.
12. ΠΠ°Π²Π°ΡΠΈΡΠΈ ΠΊΠ°ΡΡ – “To make porridge”
To cause a situation that brings about troublesome or unpleasant consequences.
Π―ΠΊΡ ΠΆ ΠΊΠ°ΡΡ Π²ΡΠ½ Π·Π°Π²Π°ΡΠΈΠ²… Ρ Π΄Π»Ρ ΡΠΎΠ³ΠΎ?!
What a mess he stirred up… and what for?!
13. ΠΠΎΠΆΠΊΠ° Π΄ΡΠΎΠ³ΡΡ Ρ Π±ΠΎΡΡΡ ΠΌΠ΅Π΄Ρ – “A spoonful of tar in a barrel of honey”
Something small that spoils something valuable and nice; a single thing that is spoiling a situation that could have been very positive or enjoyable.
ΠΠ°Π³Π°Π»ΠΎΠΌ, ΡΠ΅ Π±ΡΠ»Π° ΡΡΠ΄ΠΎΠ²Π° Π²ΡΠ΄ΠΏΡΡΡΠΊΠ°! ΠΠΎΠΆΠΊΠ° Π΄ΡΠΎΠ³ΡΡ Ρ Π±ΠΎΡΡΡ ΠΌΠ΅Π΄Ρ – ΠΏΠΎΠ³Π°Π½ΠΈΠΉ Π³ΠΎΡΠ΅Π»Ρ, ΡΠ΅ Π±ΡΠ² ΡΠ΄ΠΈΠ½ΠΈΠΉ Π½Π΅Π΄ΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊ.
All in all, it was a great vacation! The fly in the ointment at the hotel was the only downside.
14. ΠΡΠ°ΡΠΈΡΡ Π· Π²ΠΎΠ³Π½Π΅ΠΌ – “To play with fire”
To do something dangerous or risky; to do something that could cause you trouble later.
Π’ΠΈ ΠΌΠΎΠΆΠ΅Ρ Π²ΡΡΠ°ΡΠΈΡΠΈ Π±Π°Π³Π°ΡΠΎ Π³ΡΠΎΡΠ΅ΠΉ, ΡΠΊΡΠΎ Π·Π²’ΡΠΆΠ΅ΡΡΡ Π· ΡΠΈΠΌ ΠΏΡΠΎΠ΅ΠΊΡΠΎΠΌ. Π’ΠΈ Π³ΡΠ°ΡΡ Π· Π²ΠΎΠ³Π½Π΅ΠΌ! ΠΡΠΌΠ°Ρ, ΡΠ΅ Π°ΡΠ΅ΡΠ°.
You may lose a lot of money if you get involved with this project. You are playing with fire! I think it’s a scam.
ΠΡΡΠΊΠ° ΡΠΈ ΠΊΡΡΡΠΊΠ°? Chicken orβ¦ jacket? Learn more about some confusing Ukrainian words that sound alike.
15. ΠΠΈΡΠ°Π²Π»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠΉ Π»ΠΈΠΌΠΎΠ½ – “A squeezed lemon”
Used to talk about a very tired, physically exhausted person.
ΠΠ°ΠΉ ΠΌΠ°ΠΌΡ Π²ΡΠ΄ΠΏΠΎΡΠΈΡΠΈ – Π²ΠΎΠ½Π° ΡΠΊ Π²ΠΈΡΠ°Π²Π»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠΉ Π»ΠΈΠΌΠΎΠ½.
Let mom rest – she’s dead tired.
16. ΠΠ΅ΡΠ΅Π³ΡΠΈ ΡΠΊ Π·ΡΠ½ΠΈΡΡ ΠΎΠΊΠ° – “To guard as the apple of eye”
To guard (cherish) someone or something like the apple of one’s eye; to guard someone or something with one’s life.
ΠΡΡ Π²Π°ΡΠ° ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³Π°. ΠΠΎΠ½Π° Π΄ΡΠΆΠ΅ ΡΡΠ°ΡΠ° Ρ ΡΡΠ΄ΠΊΡΡΠ½Π°. ΠΠ΅ΡΠ΅ΠΆΡΡΡ ΡΡ ΡΠΊ Π·ΡΠ½ΠΈΡΡ ΠΎΠΊΠ°.
Here’s a book for you. It is very old and rare. Guard it with your life.
17. Π ΠΎΠ·ΡΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡΠΈ Π²ΡΡ ΠΊΡΠ°ΠΏΠΊΠΈ Π½Π°Π΄ “Ρ” – “To put all the dots over the letters “i”
To clarify some matter fully and in all its details, leaving no ambiguities.
ΠΠ°Π²Π°ΠΉ ΡΠΎΠ·ΡΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΠΌΠΎ Π²ΡΡ ΠΊΡΠ°ΠΏΠΊΠΈ Π½Π°Π΄ “Ρ”.
Let’s dot all the i’s.
18. ΠΡΠ΄ Π»Π΅ΠΆΠ°ΡΠΈΠΉ ΠΊΠ°ΠΌΡΠ½Ρ Π²ΠΎΠ΄Π° Π½Π΅ ΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅ – “Under the lying stone water does not flow”
If a person makes no effort, he will make no progress, get nowhere (said when someone is inactive and does nothing toward attaining a goal or furthering some matter, etc).
Π’ΡΠ΅Π±Π° Π±Π°Π³Π°ΡΠΎ ΠΏΡΠ°ΡΡΠ²Π°ΡΠΈ, Π±ΠΎ ΠΏΡΠ΄ Π»Π΅ΠΆΠ°ΡΠΈΠΉ ΠΊΠ°ΠΌΡΠ½Ρ Π²ΠΎΠ΄Π° Π½Π΅ ΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅.
I have to work hard, because no pain, no gain.
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19. Π‘Π»ΠΎΠ²ΠΎ Π½Π΅ Π³ΠΎΡΠΎΠ±Π΅ΡΡ… – “A word is not a sparrow…”
Words that are said cannot be taken back.
ΠΡΠΌΠ°ΠΉ, ΡΠΎ ΡΠΈ Π³ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΡΠΈΡ. ΠΠΎ ΡΠ»ΠΎΠ²ΠΎ – Π½Π΅ Π³ΠΎΡΠΎΠ±Π΅ΡΡ, Π²ΠΈΠ»Π΅ΡΠΈΡΡ – Π½Π΅ ΡΠΏΡΠΉΠΌΠ°ΡΡ!
Think about what you’re saying. A word spoken is past recalling!
20. ΠΠΎΠΏΡΠΉΠΊΠ° Π³ΡΠΈΠ²Π½Ρ Π±Π΅ΡΠ΅ΠΆΠ΅ – “Kopiyka saves hryvnia”
Ukrainian currency is called hryvnia or Π³ΡΠΈΠ²Π½Ρ in Ukrainian. Hryvnia coins are ΠΊΠΎΠΏΡΠΉΠΊΠΈ.
ΠΠΎΡ Π±Π°Π±ΡΡΡ Π·Π°Π²ΠΆΠ΄ΠΈ ΠΊΠ°ΠΆΠ΅: “ΠΠΎΠΏΡΠΉΠΊΠ° Π³ΡΠΈΠ²Π½Ρ Π±Π΅ΡΠ΅ΠΆΠ΅“.
My grandma always says, “Take care of the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves”.
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Iryna Podoliak
In 2013, Iryna graduated from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and got a Master's degree in Philology. She specializes in the methodology of teaching Ukrainian as a foreign language. Iryna worked with students from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Poland. She appreciates the opportunity of cultural and worldview interchange during the lessons. Iryna is interested in early learning methods as she has a little son.
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