| Russian | English |
| голодный откусил бы и от камня | as hungry as a wolf |
| голодный откусил бы и от камня | as hungry as a hunter |
| дай воли на палец – и всю руку откусят | if you agree to carry the calf, they'll make you carry the cow |
| дай воли на палец-и всю руку откусят | if you agree to carry the calf, they'll make you carry the cow (дословно: Только согласись нести телёнка, так на тебя целую корову взвалят) |
| дай ему палец, он всю руку откусит | give him an inch and he'll take a mile an ell |
| дай ему палец, он всю руку откусит | give someone an inch and they'll take a mile (4uzhoj) |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | give him a ring, and he'll want your whole arm |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | if you agree to carry the calf, they'll make you carry the cow |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | give him an inch and he'll take an ell (дословно: Дай ему вершок, он все три аршина отхватит) |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | give him a finger and he'll take the whole arm |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | give him an inch and he'll take a yard (used to mean: if you grant some people a small favour, it only encourages them to take much more than they are offered) |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | give him an inch and he'll take an ell (used to mean: if you grant some people a small favour, it only encourages them to take much more than they are offered) |
| дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит | give him an inch and he'll take a mile (used to mean: if you grant some people a small favour, it only encourages them to take much more than they are offered) |
