Classic phrases

These can sound a little older-fashioned, so you are likely to hear them from a supportive lecturer or mentor – or find them in a book. 

Не вешай нос – lit. “don’t hang your nose.” This typical somber incline of the head is where the phrase is believed to be originating from. It means “chin up”/“cheer up” or, depending on the context, “don’t give up.” 

Держи хвост пистолетом – lit. "keep your tail straight as a gun." The phrase’s origin is unlcear but definitely referring to animal behavior. It is somewhat less common and slightly outdated, but carries the same meaning of “chin up” or “stay cool.”

Не боги горшки обжигают – lit. it’s not gods that make pots; this is more of a proverb than an idiom, with supposed but unconfirmed Greek origins. What it means is, if someone can do it, so can you; you don’t need to be a great master of something to get the hang of it and be good at it.

Modern flair 

These, on the other hand, are quite zoomer-coded: your groupmates are bound to use or appreciate those, and you’ll definitely see them used online a lot.

Лежать в направлении цели – lit. to lie in the direction of your goal; that’s to say sometimes, you don’t have the energy for any action at all, but even doing the smallest thing towards your goal counts. 

Это для сюжета / лора – it’s for the plot / lore: essentially, everything that happens in your life, even the challenges, just make the “plot” interesting. Sometimes, this perspective helps handle whatever challenge life throws at us better.

Ты в своей прайм эре – you are in your prime era. Borrowed directly from English, it means the same thing: you are at your peak and you can handle whatever happens!