Thread: На что и клад, когда дети идут в лад и другие выражения

Hello,

I wanted to make a tread to better understand some expressions.

Children are poor men's riches. Everyone understands. For instance a poor mine worker with a beautiful daughter or very smart boy, sorry for the cliche
In russian I don't.

На что и клад, когда дети идут в лад.

Children are poor men's riches. - i think in Russia this is understood as follows: Poor people have nothing to rely on but their children (in material sense), hence extended families in the past (and hence children become 'riches' or poor man).

На что и клад, когда дети идут в лад? - (i suggest that question mark should be at the end, as it is a RHETORICAL question) Modern language translation: There is no need to have a treasure (i.e. material riches) if your children are very well and successful.
So the meaning is that wellness of one's progeny is valued more than material riches.

Nice explanation. thank you!

Here is another one

чему быть, того не миновать


I don't get it how it means "What must be, must be." / What can't be cured, must be endured

I would have said : Что должно быть, будет!

I don't understand why Dative for Чему

Dative is required by быть in this structure. (i.e. быть + noun(pronoun) )

Ex. Быть войне (dative) - The war is pending, The war is to happen.
Быть засухе - The drought is to happen (is expected).

But this structure sounds a bit old-fashioned.
The modern way of saying is Будет война - The war will happen. Будет засуха - There will be a drought.

In terms of cases any pronoun is similar to a noun. Hence чему requires Dative as any noun would in this structure.