сыр-бор

Russian

Etymology

Literally, a damp pine forest. From сыр (syr, damp) +‎ бор (bor, pine forest); see usage note below.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˌsɨr ˈbor]

Noun

сыр-бо́р • (syr-bórm inan (genitive сыр-бо́ра, nominative plural сыр-бо́ры, genitive plural сыр-бо́ров)

  1. (colloquial, often ironic) hubbub, fuss, commotion

Usage notes

  • Normally found in the expression сыр-бо́р загоре́лся (syr-bór zagorélsja, all hell broke loose, literally a damp pine forest caught fire).

Declension