полтора землекопа

Russian

Etymology

Literally, “one and a half diggers”; referring to a common textbook word problem about the number of diggers required to dig a ditch if the diggers are working at some fixed rate for a certain length of time; popularized by a 1965 children's book and a 1969 cartoon.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pəɫtɐˈra zʲɪmlʲɪˈkopə]

Phrase

полтора́ землеко́па • (poltorá zemlekópa)

1. (humorous) one man and his dog, one or two people (a very small group)

   Synonym: раз, два и обчёлся (raz, dva i občólsja)

2. an obviously absurd mathematical result