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показать кузькину мать. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
показать кузькину мать, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
показать кузькину мать in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
показать кузькину мать you have here. The definition of the word
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показать кузькину мать, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Russian
Etymology
- Literally, “to show Kuzka's mother” (to someone). The proverbial Ку́зька (Kúzʹka) is no-one in particular. It may be a pejorative short name for Кузьма́ (Kuzʹmá, “Kuzma, male name”) or a dog's name. Possibly implying that little puppy Kuzka's mother is a big and vicious dog.
- The possessive form ку́зькин (kúzʹkin) is normally in lower case because it is a set expression.
Pronunciation
Verb
показа́ть ку́зькину ма́ть • (pokazátʹ kúzʹkinu mátʹ) pf (imperfective пока́зывать ку́зькину ма́ть)
- (derogatory) to teach someone a lesson
- Synonym: показа́ть, где ра́ки зиму́ют (pokazátʹ, gde ráki zimújut, literally “to show where crayfish/yabbies spend a winter”)
«Мы вам пока́жем ку́зькину ма́ть!»- «My vam pokážem kúzʹkinu mátʹ!»
- "We'll teach you a lesson!" (used by Nikita Khrushchov in 1959 addressed to Richard Nixon)
Conjugation
Conjugation of
показать кузькину мать: see
показа́ть