What does the expression «seven Fridays in a week» mean?
“Эх, да у него семь пятниц на неделе!” (“Ekh, da u nego sem pyatnits na nedele!” or "Oh, he's got seven Fridays in a week!") Don't expect someone described like this to keep their promises – they usually don't keep their word and constantly change their minds.
The phrase originated around the 18th century: At that time, Friday was considered a market (or trading) day, when people would go shopping and make trade deals. Fridays were also designated as deadlines for debt repayments or payments for goods.
Wanting to be cunning, some would promise to pay another day and, the following day, swear they'd definitely bring the money on Friday. And so on ad infinitum. Such a cunning person would be described as having “seven Fridays in a week”. And they themselves were considered unreliable and untrustworthy.
Over time, this expression came to be used not only for those involved in transactions, but also for those who constantly change their minds or plans.
