Andrii Ishchenko (asker) Jul 27, 2010:

Перефразируя Стивена, можно также сказать "too many generals, not enough troops".

Andrii Ishchenko (asker) Jul 27, 2010:

Мне понравился вариант, предложенный Стивеном: too many generals and not enough privates. Спасибо всем за помощь!

Alexander Onishko Jul 27, 2010:

Andriy Ishchenko - имейте совесть! Вы нашли вариант ответа? Поделитесь с общественностью!

Alexander Onishko Jul 27, 2010:

Михаил Коровкин, вы считать умеете? Тогда уж, следуюя вашей логике, - Two Ukrainian Soldiers make Three Generals :)

Michael Korovkin Jul 27, 2010:

in the Ukraine four soldiers make three officers and one general

Alexander Onishko Jul 27, 2010:

Hi, Deborah! Based on your nice suggestion, we can make up this proverb: In Ukraine there are too many chiefs but not enough Indians :)

Michael Korovkin Jul 27, 2010:

depends who you're translating it for In most of the North America, people would not be too sure what "Ukrainian" means, leave alone "Hetman". Last year, 10% of Canadian high¡school students answered the question "who is the Canadian head of State" (the Queen) by saying George W. Bush. 80% said it was (sic!) the Prime Minister (but few could actually name him!) Hetmans my bum! Use some accessible local metaphor.

Stephen C. Farrand Jul 23, 2010:

Re: Regional Variation? Well, Deborah, my mother was born in Chicago. I think you're right--and Google backs you up. Both exists, but yours is more common by a factor of about 90,000!

Deborah Hoffman Jul 23, 2010:

regional variation? I am just curious where in the US "many chiefs and no braves is used," only because here in the Midwest it's "too many chiefs, not enough Indians"? Maybe mine is the local variant, I don't know.

Nadiia and Vatslav Yehurnovy Jul 23, 2010:

Stephen, yours is the best The one about generals and privates. Even though it is 2 Ukrainians who make of themselves 3 Hetmans :)

Andrii Ishchenko (asker) Jul 23, 2010:

A nice suggestion. I like it. Thank you, Stephen.

Stephen C. Farrand Jul 23, 2010:

Common idiom? If so, more idiomatic would be (Ukrainians tend to be a people with) "too many chiefs and no braves" or "too many generals and no privates."