 |
| Russian | English |
| дела как сажа бела | things are so bad or so awful, that it couldn't get any worse (Maggie) |
| как сажа бела | couldn't get any worse (in response to "Как дела?" Maggie) |
| как сажа бела | could be better (in response to "Как дела?" Maggie) |
| как сажа бела | as bad as bad can be (in response to "Как дела?" Maggie) |