FEATURES AND DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSLATING PHRASEOLOGICAL EXPRESSIONS FROM ENGLISH INTO RUSSIAN

ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 30 FEATURES AND DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSLATING PHRASEOLOGICAL EXPRESSIONS FROM ENGLISH INTO RUSSIAN Gulparshin Bazarbaeva Allambergenovna Assistant-teacher of Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh Faculty of Foreign Languages English Linguistics Department bazarbaevagulparshi[email protected] ANNOTATION This article discusses the peculiarities and difficulties of translating English phraseological expressions into Russian. It examines semantic, cultural, and structural challenges that arise during translation, offering strategies and examples to ensure adequate equivalence and cultural adaptation. The research aims to highlight how phraseology reflects national identity and worldview, thus emphasizing the translator’s role as a mediator between two linguistic cultures. Keywords: phraseology, translation, idioms, equivalence, linguistic culture, semantics, adaptation, English-Russian translation. INTRODUCTION Language is not merely a tool of communication but a reflection of the culture, mentality, and worldview of its speakers. Among all linguistic units, phraseological expressions—idioms, proverbs, and collocations—are the most expressive and culturally loaded elements of language. They carry figurative meanings that go beyond literal interpretation and reveal the unique mindset of a nation. The translation of phraseological expressions from English into Russian poses a significant challenge due to differences in cultural background, historical traditions, and linguistic structures. Phraseological units often lose their emotional ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 31 coloring, imagery, or stylistic nuance if translated word-for-word. For instance, the English idiom “to spill the beans” cannot be directly translated as “пролить бобы” in Russian; instead, it must be rendered as “выдать секрет” to convey its true meaning. Moreover, the study of phraseological translation is relevant in the modern world of globalization, where intercultural communication and translation play a vital role in diplomacy, media, education, and business. Translators today must not only be linguistically competent but also culturally sensitive, able to decode the underlying meaning of idioms and express them naturally in the target language. This paper aims to analyze the main features, difficulties, and methods of translating English phraseological expressions into Russian. The research is based on comparative linguistic and cultural approaches, using examples from literature, media, and everyday speech to demonstrate practical solutions for achieving semantic and stylistic equivalence. MAIN PART The Nature of Phraseological Expressions Phraseological expressions, or idioms, are a vital part of any language’s lexicon. They enrich the language, make it colorful, and allow speakers to express complex ideas succinctly. These expressions are stable combinations of words whose meanings cannot be deduced from the meanings of their components. For instance, in the idiom “to let the cat out of the bag”, the literal sense of “cat” and “bag” has nothing to do with the idiom’s actual meaning — “to reveal a secret.” According to linguistic scholars such as V.V. Vinogradov and A.V. Koonin, phraseological units differ from free word combinations in their semantic unity, grammatical stability, and reproducibility. In other words, they are memorized and used as fixed patterns rather than constructed freely each time. English and Russian languages both possess rich phraseological systems. However, their idioms often stem from different historical, social, and cultural backgrounds. ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 32 For example, English idioms may reflect seafaring traditions (“to sail close to the wind”), while Russian idioms may come from agricultural or folk sources (“дело в шляпе” — literally “the matter is in the hat,” meaning “it’s done”). This cultural difference makes translation both fascinating and challenging. 2. The Role of Culture in Phraseological Meaning Culture plays a central role in the formation and understanding of idioms. Every phraseological expression contains not only linguistic but also cultural information, reflecting the way people perceive the world around them. For example, English idioms like:  “A storm in a teacup” → “буря в стакане воды” (literal and cultural equivalence),  “To rain cats and dogs” → “льет как из ведра” (non-equivalent image), show that even when the idea is similar, the imagery may differ because of national mentalities. The translator’s task is to interpret both the denotative (literal) and connotative (emotional, cultural) meanings of an idiom. Translating idioms literally without considering their cultural implications may lead to misunderstandings or comic effects. For instance:  “To kick the bucket” → “пнуть ведро” (literal) sounds absurd in Russian, while the correct idiomatic equivalent is “сыграть в ящик” or simply “умереть.” Therefore, translators must decode cultural references embedded in idioms to recreate their emotional and stylistic power in the target language. 3. Classification of Translation Difficulties When translating phraseological expressions, translators often encounter several types of difficulties: a) Lexical difficulties – differences in vocabulary and meaning. b) Structural difficulties – differences in grammatical or syntactic form. ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 33 c) Cultural difficulties – references to realia, traditions, or customs unknown in the target culture. d) Stylistic difficulties – differences in the emotional tone, register, or humor. For example:  “To be in the same boat” is easily translated as “быть в одной лодке”, since both languages share a similar image.  However, “To have a skeleton in the closet” has no direct equivalent in Russian. Translators may render it as “таить семейную тайну” (descriptive translation), thus conveying meaning rather than imagery. 4. Methods and Strategies of Translation There are several well-established methods for translating phraseological expressions from English into Russian, each depending on the idiom’s structure and meaning. 1. Full Equivalence (Exact match) When the idiom exists in both languages with the same meaning and imagery:  “To lose one’s head” → “потерять голову”  “To wash one’s hands of something” → “умывать руки.” Such idioms usually come from shared sources (e.g., biblical, mythological, or classical texts). 2. Partial Equivalence (Similar meaning, different imagery) Here, idioms express the same idea but through different metaphors:  “To carry coals to Newcastle” → “ехать в Тулу со своим самоваром.” Both mean doing something unnecessary, but their imagery is culturespecific. 3. Descriptive (Explicative) Translation Used when there is no idiomatic equivalent in the target language:  “To spill the beans” → “выдать секрет.”  “To bite the bullet” → “смириться с трудностями.” ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 34 4. Adaptation or Functional Substitution Replacing the English idiom with a Russian idiom that conveys a similar meaning:  “The last straw” → “последняя капля.”  “To burn the candle at both ends” → “жить на износ.” 5. Borrowing In rare cases, the English expression is kept in its original form for stylistic or cultural reasons, especially in journalism or modern slang:  “Big Brother,” “Black Friday,” “Fake news.” Translators should select the method that preserves both semantic accuracy and stylistic effect, ensuring the translation sounds natural for native speakers. 5. Comparative Analysis of Selected Idioms Let us examine several examples illustrating how idioms differ in structure and meaning across the two languages: English Expression Literal Meaning Russian Equivalent Translation Strategy To cry over spilt milk To regret what’s done Поздно плакать Descriptive To make ends meet To have enough money Сводить концы с концами Full equivalence To put all eggs in one basket To risk everything Поставить всё на одну карту Functional substitution To have green fingers To be good at gardening Легкая рука к растениям Partial equivalence A wolf in sheep’s clothing A dangerous person disguised as kind Волк в овечьей шкуре Full equivalence These examples demonstrate that while many idioms have parallels, others must be adapted creatively to fit the linguistic and cultural norms of Russian. 6. The Translator’s Competence and Creative Role The translator’s role extends far beyond word replacement. They must have:  Linguistic competence (deep understanding of both languages),  Cultural awareness (knowledge of customs, metaphors, and worldviews), ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 35  Stylistic intuition (ability to reproduce tone and humor). According to E. Nida’s theory of dynamic equivalence, translation should aim to produce the same effect on the target audience as the original text did on its audience. This is particularly important when translating idioms, proverbs, and phraseological expressions that carry emotional, humorous, or ironic tones. For example:  “The pot calling the kettle black” → “чья бы корова мычала.” Here, both languages use humor to express hypocrisy, but the imagery is adapted to local cultural forms. Translating idioms thus becomes an artistic process that combines analytical thinking and creativity. 7. The Impact of Context The meaning of many phraseological expressions can only be understood in context. Some idioms have multiple meanings depending on the situation:  “To break the ice” – can mean initiating a conversation or resolving tension.  “To have a big mouth” – may refer to being talkative or revealing secrets. Context helps determine whether to translate literally, idiomatically, or descriptively. Translators must analyze the communicative intent, emotional tone, and audience expectations before deciding on a final version. 8. Modern Tendencies in Idiom Translation In recent years, digital translation tools like Google Translate and DeepL have improved significantly but still struggle with idioms. They often translate phraseological units literally, producing unnatural or comical results. For instance:  “To pull someone’s leg” → “тянуть чью-то ногу.” Clearly, such translations fail to convey the humorous meaning “to joke with someone.” Thus, human translators remain irreplaceable when it comes to phraseological translation, as it requires sensitivity to nuance, metaphor, and culture. In modern ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 36 translation studies, idioms are increasingly viewed as cultural codes rather than mere lexical units, highlighting the translator’s vital role in cross-cultural communication. CONCLUSION Translating phraseological expressions from English into Russian is one of the most complex yet fascinating areas of translation studies. It requires balancing between literal meaning and cultural adaptation, ensuring that the translated text remains natural and emotionally equivalent to the source. Through comparative analysis, we can conclude that complete equivalence is rare, as idioms are deeply rooted in cultural and historical realities. Nevertheless, with the right strategies—such as functional equivalence, descriptive translation, or contextual substitution—translators can successfully convey both the meaning and the spirit of the original phraseology. The study also highlights the importance of cultural competence in modern translation. A translator who understands the worldview and traditions behind idiomatic expressions can bridge linguistic gaps more effectively, contributing to genuine intercultural understanding. In future research, it would be useful to expand the comparative study to other language pairs and explore how digital translation tools handle idiomatic expressions. Such analysis would deepen our understanding of the human factor in translation and the irreplaceable role of cultural intelligence in global communication. REFERENCES 1. Vinogradov, V.V. Russian Phraseology: Grammar and Semantics. Moscow, 1986. 2. Fedorov, A.V. Introduction to Translation Theory. Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 2002. ZAMONAVIY TA'LIMDA FAN VA INNOVATSION TADQIQOTLAR http://zamtadqiqot.uz/index 3-son 10–to’plam 2025 y. Sahifa: 37 3. Baker, M. In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. Routledge, 2018. 4. Newmark, P. A Textbook of Translation. Prentice Hall, 1988. 5. Nida, E. & Taber, C. The Theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: Brill, 2003. 6. Koonin, A.V. English Phraseology. Moscow University Press, 2007. 7. Halliday, M.A.K. Language as Social Semiotic. Edward Arnold, 1992.