10 HANDY Russian expressions about incredible efforts
They’re used to emphasize that you have to work hard to achieve a result.
1. “Рвать жилы.” (“Rvat zhily.”)
“To tear one’s veins.”
To do something at the limit of your abilities.
There are two versions of how this expression originated. The first is connected with medieval torture: Executioners would pull ropes on your arms and legs until your limbs popped out of their sockets. The second, however, is much more plausible and slightly less bloodthirsty: peasants often performed extremely difficult work, straining themselves so much that their tendons would show through the effort. It seemed as if they were about to tear them.
2. “Расшибиться в лепешку.” (“Rasshibitsya v lepeshku.”)
“To break in flatbread.”
To use all means to achieve the desired result or to provide assistance. This expression is used when you want to add expressiveness to a conversation. For example, you could say, "I'll break in flatbread to buy you a million roses!"
3. “Ломать хребет.” (“Lomat khrebet.”)
“To break one's spine.”
To work hard and exhaustingly. It can also be used figuratively: to destroy someone.
4. “Лезть вон из кожи.” (“Lezt von iz kozhi.”)
“To climb out of one’s skin.”
To try with all one's strength, despite one's own discomfort.
5. “Лечь костьми.” (“Lech kostmi.”)
“To lay down one's bones.”
In the old days, this expression was used to talk about death on the battlefield. Later, it came to emphasize a willingness to take extreme measures to achieve something.
6. “Вырывать зубами.” (“Vyryvat zubami.”)
“To tear out with one's teeth.”
To achieve something by force or great persistence.
7. “Прыгать выше головы.” (“Prygat vyshe golovy.”)
“To jump higher than one's head.”
To accomplish the impossible.
8. “Надрывать живот.” (“Nadryvat zhivot.”)
“To tear one's stomach.”
In Russian literature, this expression is used both literally and figuratively. For example, when talking about incredible efforts that lead to injury or death. But, more often, "to laugh one's heart out" is used to describe laughter to the point of exhaustion.
9. “Прошибать лбом стену.” (“Proshibat lbom stenu.”)
“To bang one's head against a wall.”
To engage in something pointless and hopeless. However, this expression can also be used to demonstrate a willingness to overcome any obstacle.
10. “Выворачиваться наизнанку.” (“Vyvorachivatsya naiznanku.”)
“To turn oneself inside out.”
To use any means necessary to obtain what one wants. This expression is also used as a metaphor: to emphasize the speaker's utter frankness.
