Thread: I can't find some of these words in the Oxford Russian dictionary or Googletranslate

such words that are typically used in Russian proverbs and sayings are very archaic and old-fashioned. Thus, such words are not likely to be found in common dictionaries. Besides, this saying is old, as for me I hear it for the first time (maybe because I am an urbanite and we don't tend to use old and archaic language frequently). I think, the general trend today is modernization of the Russian language (which is arguably not very good) and such old words and expressions are dying for sure.

I am reading one book (of several I bought in St. Petersburg last summer) На языке улиц Рассказы о петербургской фразеологии because I so fell in love with that city when I visited as a student in 1984 (27 years ago.) There are many words and phrases which are trying my patience, but I am captivated with the city and I probably wont be back again in my lifetime. It seems like all the Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Brodsky et al I have read have left an indelible mark. Alas.

So I'm wondering where the old-time language starts and ends for urbanites? This book is definitely about St. Petersburg. Maybe it all goes along with what Brodsky talked about with the strange light and shadows of the northern capital. It is all a bit mystifying. I've got a couple other books just like this one, also on St. Petersburg so I'm sure I'll have more of these. Thanks so much for your help.