Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overboard'

English Word: overboard

Key Russian Translations:

• за борт [za bɔrt] - [Literal, nautical context; used for physical falling over a ship's side]
• перегнуть палку [pʲɪrʲɪˈɡnutʲ ˈpalʲkʊ] - [Idiomatic expression; Informal, often used in everyday conversations to indicate excess]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, media, and nautical contexts, but not in daily casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of idiomatic expressions and contextual usage; the literal translation 'за борт' is easier at B1 level, while 'перегнуть палку' may challenge learners due to its figurative nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

за борт: [za bɔrt] (The stress is on the first syllable; note the soft 'z' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's palatalization.)

Note on за борт: This phrase has a straightforward pronunciation, but ensure the 'р' is rolled for authenticity in Russian speech.

перегнуть палку: [pʲɪrʲɪˈɡnutʲ ˈpalʲkʊ] (Stress on the third syllable of 'перегнуть'; the 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative.)

Note on перегнуть палку: Pay attention to the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables, common in Russian; for example, 'е' in 'пере' sounds like [ɪ].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically over the side of a ship or boat (Literal usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• за борт - Used in nautical or adventure contexts, such as describing someone falling into water; Formal or neutral register.

Usage Examples:

• Матрос упал за борт во время шторма.

  The sailor fell overboard during the storm.

• Капитан крикнул: «Человек за бортом!»

  The captain shouted: "Man overboard!"

• Волны были так сильны, что я едва не свалился за борт.

  The waves were so strong that I almost fell overboard.

• Спасатели быстро отреагировали, когда ребенок упал за борт яхты.

  The rescuers quickly responded when the child fell overboard from the yacht.

Meaning 2: To go too far or exceed reasonable limits (Idiomatic usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• перегнуть палку - Used in informal discussions about behavior, emotions, or actions that are excessive; Informal register, often in social or professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он перегнул палку, когда начал кричать на всех на собрании.

  He went overboard when he started shouting at everyone during the meeting.

• Не перегни палку с подарками — это может показаться слишком.

  Don't go overboard with the gifts — it might come across as too much.

• В погоне за совершенством она перегнула палку и переработала себя.

  In her pursuit of perfection, she went overboard and overworked herself.

• Партия перегнула палку с обещаниями, что отпугнуло избирателей.

  The party went overboard with promises, which scared off voters.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

за борт is a fixed phrase and does not inflect as a single word; it remains unchanged in most contexts. However, if used with nouns, the noun may inflect (e.g., за борт корабля - genitive case).

перегнуть палку is a verb-noun phrase where 'перегнуть' is a verb (perfective aspect of 'перегибать') and 'палку' is in the accusative case. Verb inflections:

Note: 'Палку' inflects as a feminine noun: Nominative - палка, Accusative - палку, Genitive - палки, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • переусердствовать (pʲɪrʲɪʊˈsʲerdstvəvətʲ) - Similar to 'go overboard' but emphasizes excessive effort.
  • сойти с ума (səˈjɪtʲ s ʊˈma) - Used when actions are extremely irrational.
• Antonyms:
  • сдерживаться (sdʲɪrˈʐɪvətʲsə) - To hold back or restrain oneself.
  • умерять (ʊmʲɪˈrətʲ) - To moderate or keep in check.

Related Phrases:

• за борт - за бортом шторма (in the midst of a storm overboard) - Refers to being overwhelmed by chaos; English explanation: Used metaphorically for extreme situations.
• перегнуть палку - перегнуть через край (to bend over the edge) - Means to go to extremes; English explanation: A variation emphasizing the tipping point in behavior.
• не перегнуть палку в отношениях (not to go overboard in relationships) - Common in personal advice contexts; English explanation: Advises against excess in emotional investments.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'overboard' translates variably in Russian based on context: literally as 'за борт' for nautical scenarios, and idiomatically as 'перегнуть палку' for excessive behavior. English speakers should note that 'за борт' is neutral and formal, while 'перегнуть палку' is informal and conversational. When choosing between translations, consider the register—use 'перегнуть палку' in social discussions to convey exaggeration without sounding overly literal. Grammatically, 'перегнуть' requires agreement with the subject in tense and aspect, so pair it carefully with verbs in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Directly translating 'go overboard' as 'идти за борт', which is incorrect as it implies physical movement. Correct: Use 'перегнуть палку' for idiomatic sense. Explanation: This mistake conflates literal and figurative meanings, leading to confusion in context.
• Error: Misinflecting 'палку' as 'палка' in phrases, e.g., saying 'перегнуть палка' instead of 'перегнуть палку'. Correct: Always use accusative 'палку' after the verb. Explanation: Russian nouns change based on case, and ignoring this can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'перегнуть палку' often reflect a historical emphasis on moderation, influenced by literature such as Chekhov's works, where excess is critiqued. 'За борт' may evoke nautical traditions in Russian folklore, symbolizing peril and adventure in stories of explorers like those in the Russian Navy's history.

Related Concepts:

• утонуть (ʊtəˈnutʲ) - To drown, related to nautical themes.
• переоценить (pʲɪrʲɪəˈt͡sʲenʲɪtʲ) - To overestimate, linked to excessive behavior.