Голь на выдумки хитра
With accent marks:
Голь на вы́думки хитра́.
Translation:
Poor people are inventive.
Meaning:
This Russian proverb notices the fact that poverty and need make a person to look for non-standard, cheap and low-tech ways to achieve the goals that people with money achieve by buying something or hiring someone. The word "голь" comes from "голый" (naked) and here symbolizes the poor.
Other Russian proverbs
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Man does not live thanks to bread alone.
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You see your friends in the times of trouble.
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На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай
Put your trust in God, but don't make mistakes yourself
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A bad example is contagious.
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За двумя зайцами погонишься – ни одного не поймаешь
If you are chasing two hares at once, you won’t catch a single one.
-
A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.
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Век живи, век учись, а дураком помрёшь
Live for a century, learn for a century, but die being a fool anyway.
-
Your own shirt is closer to your body.
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