Aug 18, 2010 02:09
13 yrs ago
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Russian term

Oстатки сладки

Russian to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Rather than a standard dictionary entry, i.e., an English equivalent as offered in published dictionaries, I am looking for an explanation (preferably in Russian) of this saying: its meaning, how and when it is most commonly used.

Thanks in advance.

Discussion

Judith Hehir (asker) Aug 18, 2010:
Thank you, Danya. I should've thought to look in the NRC for examples.
danya Aug 18, 2010:
someone grabbing the last piece of smth., esp. food, and sort of saying sorry that there's no more left
also
http://search.ruscorpora.ru/search.xml?mycorp=&mysent=&mysiz...

Proposed translations

5 mins
Selected

см. ниже

It's used to highlight the psychological principle of scarcity - for instance, when somebody is finishing the last two slices of a particularly good cake, they may seem even better than the first ten, all because the person knows that there won't be anymore.

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Note added at 11 mins (2010-08-18 02:20:11 GMT)
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Используется как в прямом значении - когда речь о еде, так и в переносных. Например, в конце курортного сезона хозяйка съёмной квартиры может так прокомментировать своей подруге появление последних квартирантов.

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Note added at 15 mins (2010-08-18 02:24:28 GMT)
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Several overstock clothing stores in Russia are actually called "Остатки Сладки" http://inout.ru/?action=pv&id=251333
Note from asker:
Thank you, Dennis.
Thanks again, Dennis. Yes, I saw all the Google ads for the stores.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you to all. Thanks, Dennis. You were the first to respond exactly as I requested :)"
+1
8 mins

The nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat.

http://www.famous-proverbs.com/14th_Century_Proverbs.htm

Means that the last piece is always the tastiest, both literally and figuratively speaking.

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Note added at 14 mins (2010-08-18 02:23:51 GMT)
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If you use it figuratively, it will mean that the less meat on the bone (the less of something you have), the more you value it.

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Note added at 18 mins (2010-08-18 02:27:58 GMT)
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I have also met it in the meaning similar to "Beggars can't be choosers" when, let's say, you pick the last apples from a tree in the late fall and they are not perfect and maybe even frostbitten, but still you are happy to have them that late in the season. If you know what I mean.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Angela. How would it be used figuratively?
Gotcha. Thanks!
Peer comment(s):

agree dennis_bg : yes, good point about the beggars :)
51 mins
Thank you, Dennis.
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3 hrs
Russian term (edited): остатки сладки

the last one is always best

http://filipinojokes.blogspot.com/2006/05/last-one-is-always...

Some contexts on "остатки сладки"

"- Да что не пьешь? Допей, остатки сладки." — about wine
— А.Островский, Воевода.

"Остатки сладки, а недостатки хватки" — хватки = catchy, grippy
http://zhurnal.lib.ru/b/bukwicaslowo/slovo_12_poslov_old.sht...

"Летят года, остатки сладки,/ И грех печалиться./ Как жизнь твоя? Она в порядке,/ Она кончается"
http://guberman.lib.ru/stat_3/dm.htm

Some allusions

"здоровье на дне тарелки"
— ancient proverb

"Как ни сладок был бы этот последний кусочек, отказываюсь от него во имя родины"
http://vilavi.ru/raz/mesh/10-2.shtml
Note from asker:
Thank you!
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