9 Russian idioms about the HEAD
The Russian language has idioms for every situation. Below, we’ve highlighted those that describe how to maintain composure, dodge being fooled and avoid shifting responsibility to someone else in the event of a mistake!
1. «Сломя голову» (“Slomya golovu”)
“Breaking one’s head.”
To run somewhere very quickly, at full speed.
2. «На свою голову» (“Na svoyu golovu”)
“On your own head.”
We gave a detailed meaning of this expression here.
3. «Как снег на голову» (“Kak sneg na golovu.”)
“Like snow on one’s head.”
This is said when describing something sudden, such as an unexpected visit from someone.
4. «Голова идет кругом.» (“Golova idet krugom.”)
“One’s head is going in circles.”
This expression literally describes dizziness. But, figuratively, it's confusion, due to stress or, for example, an overload of work.
5. «Потерять голову» (“Poteryat golovu.”)
“Lose one’s head.”
It's all about love, of course. Romantic feelings cause a person to act foolishly – or figuratively lose their head!
6. «Голова садовая» (“Golova sadovaya.”)
“Garden head.”
The head of a garden scarecrow is often made from a hollowed-out pumpkin or clay pot. This can be an ironic expression for an absent-minded or foolish person, who has acted without considering the consequences.
7. «Морочить голову» (“Morochit golovu.”)
“Fool one’s head.”
The word ‘morok’ in Russian means ‘fog’, ‘darkness’. So, if you realize that the person you’re speaking to is lying, evading the answer and/or trying to distract you from the topic of conversation, it means they're fooling you.
8. «Сложить голову» (“Slozhit golovu.”)
“Fold one’s head.”
The verb ‘sledovatel’ (‘to lay down’) in this case means ‘to perish’. It's often used to describe battle scenes. That is, to "fold one's head" means to die on the battlefield.
9. «Валить с больной головы на здоровую» (“Valit s bol'noy golovy na zdorovuyu.”)
“To throw a sick head on a healthy one.”
Shifting responsibility for something onto someone who has nothing to do with the problem. Or blaming others for the wrong reasons.
Here are some examples of folk wisdom.
«Дурная голова ногам покоя не дает» (“Durnaya golova nogam pokoya ne dayet.”)
"A bad head gives one's feet no rest."
Out of stupidity, without assessing the consequences, or in haste, a person makes a mistake for which they will now have to pay.
«Одна голова хорошо, а две лучше» (“Odna golova khorosho, a dve luchshe.”)
"One head is good, but two are better.”
Collaborating on solutions is more effective than working alone.
