смотреть (уставиться) как баран на новые ворота {v. phr.} {informal}
smotret' (ustavit'sya) kak baran nanoviye vo`rota
{literally}
To stare at like a ram at a new gate.
~ give an empty stare
To look at someone or sth. with a puzzled, perplexed or dismayed expression on one's face; to look rather stupid, not understanding what is going on; to look quite lost.
Originating as an extention of a persistent statement смотреть (уставиться) как баран — stare as a ram. A ram (Баран) is considered such a damb animal that it, as they say, does not recognize its own farm if it sees a new gate, and since the ram is usually looking at the gate for a long time before it dares to enter.
Latest discussions :: смотреть как баран на новые воротаAmit 2009-12-21 17:00:23
"stado baranov" ("a flock of rams") is somewhat related, meaning a group of people, not very smart, doing the same stupid things etc. Reply