paska haisee, balalaikka soi

Finnish

Alternative forms

• paska haisee ja balalaikka soi

Etymology

Literally, "It reeks of shit [and] the balalaika plays". From an older and still used paska haisee ja banjot soi, with the reference to banjos replaced with the balalaika. First used in the song mentioned below. The original saying is a reference to country music.

Phrase

paska haisee, balalaikka soi (humorous, vulgar, derogatory)

1. Used to describe the general state of affairs in the Soviet Union or the Russian Federation.
   • 1940s, “Sörnai Gusha”, trad (lyrics), Matvey Blanter (music):

     Oon vain köyhä poika Petroskoista, / ei oo mulla yhtään ystävää. / :,: Sirppi ja vasara ne taivahalla loistaa, / paska haisee, balalaikka soi! :,:

     I'm just a poor boy from Petrozavodsk, / I haven't got a single friend. / :,: The hammer and sickle shine up in the sky, / it reeks of shit, and someone plays the balalaika! :,:

Related terms

• paska haisee, banjot soi
• paska haisee ja banjot soi