| Russian | English |
| быть на мели | be short of the ready (Andrey Truhachev) |
| быть на мели | be strapped for cash (Victorian) |
| на мели | at low water ("It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England, when they take a watch, to scratch the numbers of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case. (...) There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case. Inference – that your brother was often at low water." (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) ART Vancouver) |
| на мели | in dire straits |
| Оказаться на мели | flat busted (То же самое, что flat broke и busted flat Fig. having no money at all. Sorry, I'm flat broke. Not a cent on me. You may be flat broke, but you will find a way to pay your electricity bill or you will live in the dark. Mary was flat busted, and it was two more weeks before she was due to get paid. ZWern  thefreedictionary.com ZWern) |
| Оказаться на мели | busted flat (То же самое, что flat broke and flat busted Fig. having no money at all. Sorry, I'm flat broke. Not a cent on me. You may be flat broke, but you will find a way to pay your electricity bill or you will live in the dark. Mary was flat busted, and it was two more weeks before she was due to get paid. thefreedictionary.com ZWern) |
| оставить на мели | leave in the lurch (Alex_Odeychuk) |
| оставить человека на мели, без средств к существованию | leave someone high and dry (Pier) |
| посадить на мель | leave in the lurch (Alex_Odeychuk) |
| сидеть на мели | be short of the ready (Andrey Truhachev) |
