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)