без царя в голове
phrase
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Transcription (the accent is shown in capital letters):
[byes tsa-RYA v ga-la-VYE]
Translation / meaning:
(lit.) without a tsar in the head
used to desribe an unbalanced, careless, or good-for-nothing person
More explanations and examples here: Камень в огород
More from "Russian idioms"
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тебя только за смертью посылать
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arrive when everyone else is already leaving
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to run away, to disappear, to vanish
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мыть кости / перемывать косточки
(lit.: to wash the bones) to gossip, to discuss someone behind his back
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the phrase is used to sarcastically describe aging people, mostly men
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to study diligently, to burn the midnight oil, to grind away at one's books
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lit.: to spin on the tongue to be on the tip of one's tongue
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