Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
слова нельзя сказать
English translation:
to jump down one's throat
Added to glossary by
Andrew Vdovin
Oct 11, 2006 09:02
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Russian term
DELVING into DETAIL
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian, Russian to English, and 2 more.
слова нельзя сказать
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
- Ну и характерец у вас, слова сказать нельзя, - и старик демонстративно покачал головой.
(P.S. До этого старик приставал к героям с подозрительными вопросами, вот они его в конце концов и послали "куда подальше". )
Подобное выражение ("уж и слова сказать нельзя") в русском языке довольно устойчиво. А вот есть ли столь же устойчивый эквивалент в английском?
(P.S. До этого старик приставал к героям с подозрительными вопросами, вот они его в конце концов и послали "куда подальше". )
Подобное выражение ("уж и слова сказать нельзя") в русском языке довольно устойчиво. А вот есть ли столь же устойчивый эквивалент в английском?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Nik-On/Off
Ukraine
Ukraine
Native in Russian
Ukraine
careful, caring, and perfectionist
Native in: Russian , Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
Selected
to jump down one's throat
consider this idiom
jump down someone's throat -- to react angrily to something that someone says or does. (She's been very irritable recently, jumping down my throat every time I open my mouth. )
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/jump down throat
jump down someone's throat -- to react angrily to something that someone says or does. (She's been very irritable recently, jumping down my throat every time I open my mouth. )
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/jump down throat
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much for your help! Thanks everybody!!!"
10 mins
one cannot say a word
Just an example.
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Note added at 30 mins (2006-10-11 09:32:51 GMT)
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or "one is afraid to say (utter) a word " sounds better
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Note added at 30 mins (2006-10-11 09:32:51 GMT)
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or "one is afraid to say (utter) a word " sounds better
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Mikhail Kropotov
: Obviously, one "can". You'd need a different auxiliary verb to express the permission aspect. // I'm sorry, it just doesn't get there. Doesn't mean what you want it to.
1 hr
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I gave another suggestion in the comment box. It is obviously about being afraid more than about permission.
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| agree |
Sergei Tumanov
: one cannot say a word, without being shot in reply ^0)
5 hrs
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:) Thanks Sergei!
|
1 hr
Henry Schroeder
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
174
there's nothing else to say
I'm completely unsure. Maybe a little more context would help at least non-Russians.
1 hr
Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Germany
Native in Russian
Works in field
Germany
US-educated, precise & thorough
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
376
pardon me if I so much as utter a word!
This is extending the idea a bit, but I hope you can use it.
2 hrs
they would always shut you up not bothering to listen
just a variant
+1
4 hrs
Tevah_Trans
Native in Russian
&
English
Specializes in field
MS Industrial Engineering; MBA
Native in: English , Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
64
short fuse
If I say "you have such a short fuse" it means "you blow up/get mad/get excited very quickly". It's common in the US, don't know about UK.
12 hrs
The way you guys are, there's no talking to you
options:
The way you guys are, there's no talking to you/ there's no way of saying a word to you without being cut short/without you blowing up/getting short-circuited
The way you guys are, there's no talking to you/ there's no way of saying a word to you without being cut short/without you blowing up/getting short-circuited
1 hr
(you are not exactly angels) cutting me short like that / jumping down my throat like that
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-11 10:52:30 GMT)
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2 Petja: I'd appreciate if you leave your initial comments if pos., otherwise I sound as if I talk to myself please.
Now, "слOва нельзя сказать" and "затыкать глотку" are almost the same. Again "затыкать глотку" is metaphoric, no violence or abuse involved.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-10-11 15:59:15 GMT)
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"I cannot say a word without you telling me off"
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-10-11 16:02:22 GMT)
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"talking to you is like walking on eggshells"
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Note added at 21 hrs (2006-10-12 06:26:45 GMT)
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Walking on eggshells:
Definition:
To be in a delicate situation; to be on the edge of danger or ruin.
Example:
1) Ever since I smashed their car, I've been walking on eggshells with my parents.
2) We're walking on eggshells with our landlord -- she told us that if we have one more loud party, she's going to kick us out of our apartment.
http://www.englishdaily626.com/slang.php?159
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-11 10:52:30 GMT)
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2 Petja: I'd appreciate if you leave your initial comments if pos., otherwise I sound as if I talk to myself please.
Now, "слOва нельзя сказать" and "затыкать глотку" are almost the same. Again "затыкать глотку" is metaphoric, no violence or abuse involved.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-10-11 15:59:15 GMT)
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"I cannot say a word without you telling me off"
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-10-11 16:02:22 GMT)
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"talking to you is like walking on eggshells"
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Note added at 21 hrs (2006-10-12 06:26:45 GMT)
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Walking on eggshells:
Definition:
To be in a delicate situation; to be on the edge of danger or ruin.
Example:
1) Ever since I smashed their car, I've been walking on eggshells with my parents.
2) We're walking on eggshells with our landlord -- she told us that if we have one more loud party, she's going to kick us out of our apartment.
http://www.englishdaily626.com/slang.php?159
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