Some sayings in Russian to express hopelessness - just c'est la vie!
Yesterday I went to the train station to see my friend off. She was going to Kyiv and she was almost late and, as usual, she was so funny in being late - meaning, she always laughs and takes things easy.
My friend was already inside when the train started to move, and so I made sure she would get to Kyiv safely and started to move from the station. There I was for nearly the first time seeing somebody off, because usually it is me in the train leaving. So never before had I seen people who were late and actually seeing the tail of the train leaving. How sad it must be! I saw a girl who was just near the train - she came to the platform just at the very moment the train started to move... I believe she made efforts to catch it but she lost, and she look so hopeless and upset that nothing could be done at the time.
In this case we say in Russian:
поезд ушёл - [‘poist u'shol] - the train has left
Of course, we not only use the saying in this literal situation, but also when you are late for an event or something have already happened before you decided what to do etc. For example:
*Hello, Sasha! Hey, I was thinking about your proposition to take the job and I have decided - I will take it! I want this job very much and I am ready to do it and I am .....
*Hey, look, I am sorry but I have found another guy to do this and he agreed a week ago and he is already working on a project. I am really sorry but поезд ушёл.
Meaning that the guy lost his chance.
Another example:
*Hello, Lisa, you know I saw a lovely pare of shoes in the store at Sumskaya street. I want them! I can't wait!
*So why did not you get them?
*I wanted but I had not enough money wit me! I am going there right now. Are you with me?
*Sure, maybe I will find something for myself, too.
Later in the store.
*Hey, look, Lisa, that woman is buying the shoes, and they told they had only one pare left!
*Well, it seems поезд ушёл, Helena. But you don't worry - must be you don't need them. Do you see the other pare over there? I think they will better fit the new dress you bought a week ago!
*Oh, yes! Could be.
By the way, the story in the train station is not that sad, since I saw another guy who also was late, but he saw an open door in the leaving train and jumped into it.
Well, he nearly made the carriage guide fall (she was standing in doors) - but in this case we can say:
поймать поезд - [pai'mat' ‘poist] - catch the train.
We also use the following saying:
бежать за поездом - [bi'zhat za ‘poizdam] - to run after train.
This means to try and do something, to make efforts when it is already late anyway. You can run really fast after the train and if you are the lucky one, you will get in, but if you really бежать за поездом, it means that you rather think about something much earlier next time so that you can поймать поезд.
Sincerely
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