VN TH THETA Na esse CHEST KNIT TELESIS 2,200 Expressions with Examples WASYL JASZCZUNFOREWORD ‘This collection ineludes the following types of expressions 1. Phraseological fusions. These are word combinations whose rigid overall meaning derives neither from their fossilized comnonents no loner independent in use today (e.g, Ours 6axajwn — to twiddle one’s thumbs, to waste one's time, to loiter, to idle), nor from the accumulative meaning of their viable parts (eg. samopiirs wepaRcxd = to have a snack, to take a bite). The semantic content of this type of idiom is sometimes not ‘even remotely determined by the relationship of the whole to its parts. 2. Phraseological units. In these phrases the meaning of the whole is partially dependent on the semantic independence of its individual words. ‘These idioms permit of partial substitution, that Is, of individual words (eg, 2epxare [au uxt») Kimens 3a nésyxoh = to conceal a great hatred toward somebody). Most of the expressions of this type consist of words ‘with concrete meanings which are used in a figurative sense 8. Phraseological combinations. This type of idiom presents the freest of non-free combinations. The comprehension of the meaning of the in- dividual words is mandatory for an understanding of the whole, and as a rule substitutions are possible, but only within certain lexical limits (ee., tamépurs xord-a, naraiaon [san 996pos, raaaéun] — to examine somebody superciliously from top to toe) 4. Single words used figuratively. Ulustrative of these is: GexopyuKa ‘ine gentleman, fine lady. 5. Colloguiatisms. These are expressions which are peculiar to colloquial Russian (e.g, Gostyis instead of lt. cnaémux; anomda instead of lit. xevarH, yuéero; ranmaarod instead of It. Gecemticaiu): Regional and dialectal expressions as well as proverbs are not included. About 20 per cont of the sentences illustrating the expressions arequotations from Russian literary works, mostly used in undergraduate and graduate courses, the rest have been provided by the authors. ‘This collection is intended primarily for the advanced American student who has a knowledge of the essentials of Russian grammar and is familiar with a basic Russian voeabulary of about 2,000 words. Occasionally he may have to consult a dictionary for the meaning of some Russian words en- countered in the illustrative literary examples. 1 acknowledge with gratitude my debt to Mrs. Stefania Krynski, widow of my late collaborator Szymon Krynski. Her invaluable assistance during her husband's final illness enabled him to see his own share in the dictionary completed. Tam also indebted to Professor J. Alan Pfeffer for his advice and for permission to consult the manuscript of his Introduction to Baste (Spoken) German Idiom List, to Mr. Joseph B. Harsky for his suggestions and proof- reading, and to Mrs. Cecilia Z. Avner for supplying some English synonyms and for typing the manuseript. I should also like to express my gratitude to the University of Pittsburgh Press for the care and efficiency expended on the production of this book, wos.