стрелять из пушки по воробьям
стрелять из пушки по воробьям
using a sledgehammer to crack a nut
Bedeutung
Using excessive force for a small task
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Russia, this idiom is often used to criticize government over-regulation. It reflects a historical distrust of 'heavy' state machinery trying to fix 'small' local problems. In the 90s and 2000s, 'new Russians' were often accused of this when they used massive security details for minor tasks, turning the idiom into a critique of 'showing off.' Classic authors like Saltykov-Shchedrin used similar imagery to mock the absurdity of the Russian Imperial bureaucracy. Russian developers are very fond of this phrase to describe 'over-engineering'—a common topic of debate in the Russian tech community (Habr, etc.).
Use it in Business
This is a very 'smart' way to criticize a project budget without sounding rude. It shows you care about efficiency.
Don't change the bird
Even though 'pigeons' (голуби) are also small, the idiom only works with 'sparrows' (воробьи).
Bedeutung
Using excessive force for a small task
Use it in Business
This is a very 'smart' way to criticize a project budget without sounding rude. It shows you care about efficiency.
Don't change the bird
Even though 'pigeons' (голуби) are also small, the idiom only works with 'sparrows' (воробьи).
Teste dich selbst
Заполните пропуски правильными предлогами и окончаниями.
Не стоит стрелять ___ пушки ___ воробь___.
The idiom uses 'из' + Genitive and 'по' + Dative plural.
Выберите ситуацию, к которой лучше всего подходит эта идиома.
Какая ситуация описывает 'стрельбу из пушки по воробьям'?
Using a supercomputer for a simple math problem is the definition of overkill.
Дополните диалог подходящей фразой.
— Я хочу нанять 20 юристов, чтобы оспорить штраф в 500 рублей. — Но это же ...
While 'a' is also possible, 'b' specifically highlights the use of 20 lawyers (massive resource) for a tiny fine.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenНе стоит стрелять ___ пушки ___ воробь___.
The idiom uses 'из' + Genitive and 'по' + Dative plural.
Какая ситуация описывает 'стрельбу из пушки по воробьям'?
Using a supercomputer for a simple math problem is the definition of overkill.
— Я хочу нанять 20 юристов, чтобы оспорить штраф в 500 рублей. — Но это же ...
While 'a' is also possible, 'b' specifically highlights the use of 20 lawyers (massive resource) for a tiny fine.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
3 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or with your friends. It's very common in journalism.
It's much more common in the plural ('по воробьям'). Using the singular sounds like a literal description rather than the idiom.
They are almost identical. However, 'overkill' can sometimes be positive (extra safety), while the Russian idiom is almost always a critique of waste.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Забивать гвозди микроскопом
similarUsing a delicate/expensive tool for a crude task.
Овчинка выделки не стоит
similarThe result isn't worth the effort.
Бить мимо цели
contrastTo miss the target completely.
Слон в посудной лавке
similarA bull in a china shop.
