Antique expressions that Russians use in everyday speech
In Russia, Greek and Roman myths and legends have woven themselves so tightly into the cultural fabric that many idioms remain popular to this day. Here’s how they sound in Russian.
1. Achilles’ heel – Ахиллесова пята (Akhillesova pyata)
A weak or vulnerable spot.
For example:
“Таблицы в Эксель – моя ахиллесова пята!”
“Excel spreadsheets are my Achilles’ heel!”
2. Damocles’ sword – Дамоклов меч (Damoklov mech)
An ever‑present threat that hangs over you.
“Никак не могу сделать отчет на работе, он висит надо мной дамокловым мечом!”
“I can’t seem to finish the report at work; it hangs over me like Damocles’ sword!”
3. To fall into Lethe – Кануть в Лету (Kanut’ v Letu)
To be forgotten, to disappear without a trace.
“С развитием ИИ многие профессии могут кануть в Лету.”
“With the rise of AI, many professions may fall into Lethe.”
4. Between Scylla and Charybdis – Между Сциллой и Харибдой (Mezhdu Scilloy i Kharibdoy)
In Russian, this can also be expressed as “between two fires” or “between the hammer and anvil”. It means being in a perilous position, facing threats from two sides or being unable to choose.
“На работе сложности и в семье скандалы – я словно между сциллой и харибдой”
“Difficulties at work and family scandals – I feel like I’m between Scylla and Charybdis.”
5. Embrace of Morpheus – Объятия Морфея (Obyatiya Morfeya)
A dreamy, sleepy state.
“Я уже был в объятиях Морфея, когда мне позвонили с работы”.
“I was already in the embrace of Morpheus when I got a call from work.”
6. Crossing the Rubicon – Перейти Рубикон (Pereiti Rubikon)
Taking a decisive, irreversible step.
“Рубикон пройден, я уволился и уже не смогу вернуться на работу”.
“The Rubicon has been crossed; I’ve quit and can’t go back to the job.”
7. Sisyphus’ labor – Сизифов труд (Sizifov trud)
Useless, futile work.
“Как мне надоело делать отчеты… это сизифов труд”.
“I’m tired of making reports… it’s Sisyphus’ labor.”
8. Tantalus’ torment – Танталовы муки (Tantalovy muki)
The impossible to obtain something you want but that remains just out of reach.
“Это танталовы муки сидеть на работе, когда за окном лето и такая погода!”
“It’s Tantalus’ torment to be stuck at work while summer is outside the window!”
9. Apple of discord – Яблоко раздора (Yabloko razdora)
A source of quarrel or conflict.
“Новое назначение на работе стало яблоком раздора среди коллег”
“The new assignment at work became an apple of discord among the colleagues.”
10. Pandora’s box – Ящик Пандоры (Yashchik Pandory)
A source of disaster and catastrophe.
“Он высказал коллегам все, что думает, и открыл этим ящик пандоры – все перессорились”.
“He told his coworkers everything he thought; that opened Pandora’s box and everyone began bickering.”
