Russian equivalents of some English idioms

Question

I don't speak or read Russian myself, but I'm trying to find some genuine and natural-sounding Russian equivalents of a couple of English phrases.

The first is "keep your shirt on," a colloquial and slightly irritable way of telling someone "calm down" or "don't worry". I found a phrase on a couple of informational websites that seems close: "В ус не дуть". I understand it translates literally as "not blowing into one's mustache", and is meant to convey a sense of calm and ease, though it isn't clear if it is meant in the imperative sense (i.e., "not worried" vs "don't worry"), which is what I'm after.

The second is a term of endearment with a sarcastic inflection, such as "slick", "sparky" or "sunshine" (e.g., "when I want your opinion, I'll ask for it, sunshine"). Interestingly, I found a reference to a diminutive term "лучик", which apparently translates as "little ray [of sunshine]" and is typically meant affectionately. Practically any English term of endearment originally meant affectionately can be delivered with sarcasm, and I was hoping the same was true in Russian. Can anyone confirm this for "лучик", or suggest an equivalent term of endearment more often used sarcastically? Preferably one in the common parlance, of course.

Answer 1

Keep your shirt on can be translated as He кипятись! or Не выходи из себя! or Придержи коней! or Остынь! And as for the second one, you can say sunshine as солнышко, which can be used sarcastically. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The first is "keep your shirt on," a colloquial and slightly irritable way of telling someone "calm down" or "don't worry".

Depending on the shade of meaning, that would be не парься ("don't worry"); obscene не ссы and its family-friendly version не дрейфь ("don't be afraid"); не кипятись ("don't be angry").

• ― Я пошла, ― сказала она и стала собирать сумку. ― Да ладно тебе, не парься. ― Он схватил ее за ногу. [Маша Трауб. Ласточ…ка (2012)]

• Они получили то, что заслуживают, и если в дальнейшем они захотят развязать с нами войну, мы готовы постоять за наши интересы! ― резко закончил Джино. ― Подожди, сынок, не кипятись. Вот что значит молодая, горячая кровь. [Андрей Ростовский. Русский синдикат (2000)]

• ― Ладно, не ссы, достану я тебе твою мелочь, ― зевнув, сказал Витек. [Алексей Грачев. Ярый против видеопиратов (1999)]

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The second is a term of endearment with a sarcastic inflection, such as "slick", "sparky" or "sunshine" (e.g. "when I want your opinion, I'll ask for it, sunshine")

Lots of terms of endearment work this way. Some of them (голубчик, соколик, дорогуша) are more often used in the sarcastic sense than not:

• Клинобородый строго посмотрел на вертлявого и вдруг улыбнулся, обнажая лошадиные зубы, которых было раза в три больше, чем положено нормальному человеку. ― Со свиданьицем, дорогуша! ― каркнул клинобородый. ― Чем отличился этот соколик? ― обратился он к коллегам. [Е. Ю. Каминский. Чудотворец (начало) // «Волга», 2000]

• Ничего, голубушка, никуда ты не денешься, я из тебя выжму правду-матку. [Александра Маринина. Ангелы на льду не выживают. Т. 1 (2014)]

Answer 3

The idiom "в ус не дуть" is used differently. "He doesn't blow into his mustache" means that someone is too calm.

As for "keeping one's shirt on", quite often Russian people say: "[Alexander of Macedon is a hero but] why breaking chairs?" It is a quote from the play "The Government Inspector" by Gogol.