яблоку негде упасть

Russian

Etymology

Literally, there isn't room for an apple to fall.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈjabɫəkʊ ˈnʲeɡdʲe ʊˈpasʲtʲ]
  • Audio:(file)

Phrase

я́блоку не́где упа́сть • (jábloku négde upástʹ)

  1. (figuratively) it's heaving, it's packed, it's overcrowded, there's not enough room to swing a cat

See also

  • как се́льди в бо́чке (kak sélʹdi v bóčke)