Dictionaries on line

[Ralph Cleminson]

> As an undergraduate studying Russian I repeatedly looked up an
> expression that was only defined as "he won't burn down the Thames."
> I don't remember the Russian expression, but I've always remembered
> the English (although I'm not sure I understand it).
>

I've never heard that, but "he'll never set the Thames on fire" is quite a
common expression on this side of the Atlantic.  The Russian
equivalent is "zvezd s neba ne skhvatit".  Both mean that his
achievements will be only moderate.


R.M.Cleminson,
Professor of Slavonic Studies,
University of Portsmouth,
Park Building,
King Henry I Street,
Portsmouth PO1 2DZ
tel. +44 23 92 846143, fax: +44 23 92 846040

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