Bedeutung
Something is very close by.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In large Russian cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, 'рукой подать' is often used for anything within a 10-15 minute walk. This reflects the scale of these cities where 'far' usually means a long metro ride. Hosts often use this phrase to make their home seem more accessible and convenient for guests, emphasizing that the journey is easy. At a dacha (summer house), this phrase is frequently used to describe the distance to the forest or the river, highlighting the connection to nature. Classic authors like Tolstoy and Chekhov used this idiom to ground their characters in a physical reality, often contrasting the 'closeness' of a goal with the internal 'distance' between characters.
Use with 'Уже'
Add 'уже' (already) to sound more relieved: 'Уже рукой подать!' (We're almost there!)
Don't Conjugate
Never say 'я рукой подаю'. The verb must stay as 'подать'.
Bedeutung
Something is very close by.
Use with 'Уже'
Add 'уже' (already) to sound more relieved: 'Уже рукой подать!' (We're almost there!)
Don't Conjugate
Never say 'я рукой подаю'. The verb must stay as 'подать'.
The 'До' Rule
Always remember that the destination needs the 'До + Genitive' structure. Practice: До школы, До парка, До моря.
Sarcasm Check
Be careful! If someone says 'рукой подать' about a 2-hour walk, they are being very sarcastic.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition and phrase.
От моего офиса ___ метро ___ ___.
The idiom uses 'до' + Genitive and the fixed form 'рукой подать'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say the shop is very close?
Как сказать, что магазин очень близко?
Option B follows the standard 'До + [Place] + рукой подать' structure.
Match the situation to the best use of the phrase.
You are telling a friend that the walk to the cinema is only 2 minutes.
'До кино рукой подать' perfectly describes a 2-minute walk.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
— Мы опоздаем на поезд! — Не волнуйся, до вокзала ___.
The idiom is used here to reassure the other person about the short distance.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenОт моего офиса ___ метро ___ ___.
The idiom uses 'до' + Genitive and the fixed form 'рукой подать'.
Как сказать, что магазин очень близко?
Option B follows the standard 'До + [Place] + рукой подать' structure.
You are telling a friend that the walk to the cinema is only 2 minutes.
'До кино рукой подать' perfectly describes a 2-minute walk.
— Мы опоздаем на поезд! — Не волнуйся, до вокзала ___.
The idiom is used here to reassure the other person about the short distance.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, you cannot say 'My friend is rukoy podat'. It is only for locations or goals.
Yes, it's neutral. You can use it to describe the location of your office to a client.
'Близко' is a simple adverb. 'Рукой подать' is more descriptive and sounds more native.
Yes, but it's less common. It's better for physical distance. For time, 'не за горами' is more common.
Because it's in the Instrumental case, meaning 'by means of a hand'.
No, the phrase is fixed. You don't say 'руками подать'.
No, it's figurative. It just means it's a very short walk.
Just add 'было': 'До дома было рукой подать'.
It's used everywhere in Russia, from rural areas to the heart of Moscow.
Usually, it implies walking. If you have to drive, 'совсем рядом' is better.
Verwandte Redewendungen
В двух шагах
synonymIn two steps; very close.
Под боком
similarUnder the flank; right next to you.
Не за горами
similarNot behind the mountains; coming soon.
За тридевять земель
contrastBeyond thrice-nine lands; very far away.
На краю света
contrastAt the edge of the world.
