из говна и палок

Russian

Etymology

Literally, “from shit and sticks”; vulgar alteration of из спи́чек и желуде́й (iz spíček i želudéj, “from matchsticks and acorns”), a common phrase in Soviet children's books providing instructions for making toys by hand from found materials.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɪz‿ɡɐvˈna i ˈpaɫək]

Adverb

из говна́ и па́лок • (iz govná i pálok)

1. (vulgar, idiomatic) in a quick-and-dirty manner, crudely, from materials available at hand
   • 2020, Анты, “Отдай свои мысли”, in Библиотека Максима Мошкова:

     Костылей и велика не было, пришлось изворачиваться, создавая на ходу из говна и палок.

     Kostylej i velika ne bylo, prišlosʹ izvoračivatʹsja, sozdavaja na xodu iz govna i palok.

     I didn't have crutches and a bike, so I had to improvise with quick-and-dirty workarounds using whatever I had at hand.