В тесноте, да не в обиде
With accent marks:
В тесноте́, да не в оби́де.
Translation:
Crowded, but not aggrieved.
Meaning:
This Russian proverb dates back to the XVII-XVIII centuries, when people used to live very tightly in peasant huts. Оne room could accommodate a father, a mother, their already adult sons with their wives and children. But if the family was friendly, then crowding did not bother anyone, everyone got along peacefully.
Nowadays, the proverb is sometimes remembered when a lot of people get into public transport at rush hour. Since everyone needs to go, nobody should complain.
The closest English equivalents of this proverb are: "the more the merrier" and "plenty is no plague"
Other Russian proverbs
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When the job is done, you can go for a walk.
-
Как аукнется, так и откликнется
What goes around comes around.
-
Some to the forest, some for firewood.
-
Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает
The apple never falls far from the tree.
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The eyes are scared, but the hands are doing.
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There is no bad withouth good.
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The quieter you go, the further you'll get.
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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.
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