The Russian Federation Ministry of Education

2.2.4. Descriptive Translation. If an English PU has neither equivalent nor analogue in the Russian language and literal translation could lead to obscure literalism a translator has to refuse to convey figurativeness and use descriptive translation, i.e. to explain the meaning of a PU by free state words (a skeleton in the cupboard (closet) – семейная тайна; неприятность, скрываемая от посторонних).
# Julia could almost have wished that it had failed like the others in order to take him down a peg or two. (Ch.9, p.78). (To take sb. down a peg or two - осадить к-л, сбить спесь).
Джулия чуть было не пожелала, чтобы эта пьеса тоже провалилась, как и две предыдущие, - так ей хотелось хоть немного сбить с него спесь.
# For once his cunning found its match. (Ch.9, p.78). (To find one’s match – встретить достойного соперника). - Наконец-то Майкл встретил достойного противника. (С.64).
2.2.5. Translation of Specific National Phraseological Units. Translating this kind of figurative units a translator should be guided by three basic rules:
1. To use literal translation only in the case if the English realities, which are a part of the PU, are well known to TR. For example: to carry coals to Newcastle – возить уголь в Ньюкасл, because everybody knows that Newcastle is a centre of England coal industry; but to dine with Duke Humphrey – остаться без обеда, но не обедать с герцогом Хемфри because TR doesn’t know who Duke Humphrey was.
2. To try to convey English PUs with vivid national coloring by Russian ones without national coloring (he will not set the Thames on fire – он пороха не выдумает; to fight like Kilkenny cats – бороться не на жизнь, а на смерть; Queen Anne is dead! – Открыл Америку!).
3. To use never Russian PUs which have specific national realities as they are unlikely to be applicable to English life. For example, to English PU to carry coals to Newcastle suits Russian one ездить в Тулу со своим самоваром, but it would be better here to use literal translation; or to the phrase what will Mrs. Drundy say? suits что будет говорить княгиня Марья Алексеевна? but что люди скажут is more appropriately.