Не руби сук, на котором сидишь
With accent marks:
Не руби́ сук, на кото́ром сиди́шь.
Translation:
Do not chop the branch you sit on
Meaning:
This proverb is addressed to a person who harms himself by his actions.
The English equivalent of this proverb is "To shoot oneself in the foot".
Other Russian proverbs
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Не плюй в колодец – пригодится водицы напиться
Do not spit in the well - you will need it when thirsty
-
Что имеем – не храним, а потерявши – плачем
We don't appreciate what we have but we cry when we lose it.
-
Man does not live thanks to bread alone.
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Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют
The demon is not as scary as he is depicted.
-
Кабы знал, где упасть, так соломки бы подстелил
If I knew where I would fall, I would lay some straw there.
-
Готовь сани летом, а телегу зимой
Get your sleigh ready in summer and your (horse-drawn) cart in winter.
-
За что боролись, на то и напоролись
We got what we fought for.
-
In a quiet whirlpool, demons live.
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