Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foil'

English Word: foil

Key Russian Translations:

• сорвать [sɐrˈvatʲ] - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts to mean disrupting plans]
• предотвратить [prʲɪdvɐˈratʲ] - [Formal, suitable for written or official language]
• вмешаться [vʲmʲɪˈʂatʲsə] - [Informal, implying interference to stop something]

Frequency: Medium (Common in narratives and conversations about obstacles, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context; for 'сорвать', it's B1, while 'предотвратить' might be B2 due to its formality).

Pronunciation (Russian):

сорвать: [sɐrˈvatʲ]

предотвратить: [prʲɪdvɐˈratʲ]

вмешаться: [vʲmʲɪˈʂatʲsə]

Note on сорвать: The stress falls on the last syllable ('vatʲ'), which is a common feature in Russian perfective verbs; be careful with the soft 'tʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Note on предотвратить: This word has a prefix 'pre-' that affects pronunciation; the 'r' is rolled, typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To prevent or thwart someone's plans or actions (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сорвать - Used in informal spoken language, such as in casual stories or conversations about failures.
• предотвратить - Applied in formal contexts, like legal or professional discussions, to denote proactive prevention.
• вмешаться - Employed when external interference is key, often in social or interpersonal scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Они сорвали его тщательно продуманный план, вмешавшись в последний момент.

  They foiled his carefully planned scheme by intervening at the last moment.

• Полиция предотвратила ограбление, получив анонимный совет.

  The police foiled the robbery after receiving an anonymous tip.

• Его друзья вмешались, чтобы сорвать неудачную затею.

  His friends intervened to foil the ill-fated idea.

• Агенты предотвратили шпионаж, отслеживая подозрительную активность.

  The agents foiled the espionage by monitoring suspicious activity.

Meaning 2: A thin sheet of metal (as a noun, e.g., aluminum foil)

Translation(s) & Context:

• фольга - Common in everyday contexts, such as cooking or packaging.

Usage Examples:

• Заверните еду в фольгу, чтобы она оставалась теплой.

  Wrap the food in foil to keep it warm.

• Фольга используется в кухне для запекания мяса.

  Foil is used in the kitchen for baking meat.

• Купите рулон фольги в магазине для бытовых нужд.

  Buy a roll of foil from the household store.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like 'сорвать' and 'предотвратить', which are perfective, they follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Сорвать' is a perfective verb and conjugates irregularly in some aspects, while 'предотвратить' is more regular.

For 'фольга' (noun, feminine), it declines as a standard first-declension noun:

Note: 'Вмешаться' is reflexive and follows reflexive verb patterns, which do not change significantly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вмешаться (similar to 'foil' but emphasizes intervention)
  • помешать (more general, used when blocking something physically)
• Antonyms:
  • помочь (to help or assist)
  • поддержать (to support)

Related Phrases:

• сорвать план - A common phrase meaning "to foil a plan"; used in strategic or narrative contexts.
• предотвратить катастрофу - Meaning "to foil a disaster"; often in emergency or preventive scenarios.
• вмешаться в ситуацию - Translates to "to intervene in a situation"; implies foiling through active participation.

Usage Notes:

'Foil' as a verb corresponds closely to 'сорвать' in informal English-Russian exchanges, but 'предотвратить' is preferred in formal writing to match the precision of English legal or narrative language. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: 'сорвать' is perfective (completed action), so use it for finished events. In conversational settings, 'вмешаться' might be more natural if the focus is on personal involvement. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; always consider context to choose the right synonym.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'сорвать' with 'сорвать' in the sense of 'to tear off' (e.g., tearing paper), leading to misuse. Correct usage: Use 'сорвать план' for foiling plans, not physical tearing. Incorrect: "Я сорвал книгу" (meaning tore a book); Correct: "Я сорвал его план" (I foiled his plan).

• Another error is improper conjugation, such as saying 'я сорваю' incorrectly in past tense. Explanation: Always match the tense; for past, use 'сорвал' for masculine subjects.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'сорвать план' often appear in literature and films depicting espionage or adventure, influenced by historical events like the Cold War. This reflects a cultural emphasis on resilience and thwarting external threats, as seen in classic works by authors like Dostoevsky, where characters frequently foil each other's schemes.

Related Concepts:

• препятствие (obstacle)
• саботаж (sabotage)
• интрига (intrigue)