Sherlock Holmes is a literary character who became the hero of numerous detective works by the English writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The image of Sherlock Holmes appears in such novels as A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Terror. In addition, the plot about the famous detective is reflected in collections of stories, the most popular of which are The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Notes on Sherlock Holmes and The Return of Sherlock Holmes. The narration in most works about detective Holmes is told on behalf of Dr. Watson, his faithful assistant.
Doyle's works have become classics of the detective genre. The author himself was at a loss as to why readers and critics were so enthusiastic about the stories about Sherlock Holmes. Doyle primarily considered himself a master of the historical novel. However, his detective works were much more successful than his historical ones.
Sherlock Holmes is a talented and multifaceted personality. In the course of solving crimes, the detective relied not only on the law, but also on his life principles. Thanks to this, he deliberately allowed some criminals to escape punishment. He did not refuse substantial fees, but if he came across a poor client, Holmes might not take a penny from him for his services. It is noteworthy that Sherlock Holmes is absolutely not picky about comfort; he was always content with basic amenities. He was a homebody and could go weeks without setting foot in his home. At the same time, he knew his city perfectly, and this knowledge often helped him solve crimes without leaving home.
In the process of solving crimes, Detective Holmes was guided by a deductive method, according to which he collected all existing facts and, like a mosaic, connected them into an overall picture. Holmes had perfectly developed logical thinking, with which he never ceased to amaze readers.
The plot about the famous detective is also reflected in cinema. The story of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is in the Guinness Book of Records for the most number of film adaptations. In total, there are about a hundred films in which the main character is the protagonist of Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories.
From book
The most difficult crime to solve is one committed without any purpose.
If there is no goal, then maybe it’s not worth wasting time?
And they say there are no coincidences. And what fool came up with this?
There are undoubtedly similarities.
Murder is a strange thing, my friend. Sometimes it is a very personal thing, and sometimes it is only done if others encourage it.
An outburst of anger or passion often leads to crimes.
In a complicated matter, Watson, the best assistant is common sense. I suspect everyone until I find the culprit.
Common sense has never harmed anyone.
I could take four shots, but six is too much.
Everything has its limit.
Throw away everything that could not have happened, and one single fact remains, which is the truth.
A fact is an undeniable truth.
An explanation is not always a solution to a problem.
Solving a problem does not mean explaining it.
People usually see and hear what they want to see and hear.
This is the law of nature.
Fantasies are still better than brain fog.
It is better to fantasize than to have no thoughts at all.
I'm not a timid person. However, not taking into account the danger that threatens you is more stupidity than courage.
Being brave doesn't mean you always have to get into trouble.
Oh, how much evil there is in the world, and the worst thing is when evil deeds are committed by a smart person!
Stupid people may simply not think of this.
A man should furnish the attic of his brain with everything that he is likely to need, and he should put the rest of his knowledge in a closet in his library, from where he can get it when needed.
Knowledge must be in order.
I look like a mathematician. I am interested in one thing: the correct solution to a difficult problem, and how this decision will affect people is, really, completely indifferent to me.
Sometimes you have to ignore others.
Vocabulary and grammar exercises
To better experience the dialogue between Sherlock and Watson, we suggest you complete several exercises to consolidate vocabulary and grammar.
Exercises on words from the TV series Sherlock
Choose the correct word that appeared in the video:
Holmes: A man's alibi/life depends on it. Holmes: Are you wearing lipstick/hat ? Molly: I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee/tea . Mike: And what's wrong with the cell phone/landline ? Holmes: Really? I thought it was a big improvement. Your mouth's/ears're too small now. Holmes: How do you feel about the guitar/violin ? Holmes: I did. Told Mike this morning that I must be a suitable/difficult man to find a flatmate for. Watson: How did you know about Iraq/Afghanistan ? Holmes: I think I left my riding crop in the cafe/mortuary . I know you've got a brother who's worried about you but you won't go to him for help because you don't approve of him – possibly because he's an drug addict/alcoholic .
Grammar exercises
Choose the correct option:
I have to need/to know what bruises form in the next twenty minutes. A man's alibi depends/depends on it. Mike, can/must I borrow your phone? There's/there're no signal on mine. Potential flatmates should/can know the worst about each other. Together we must/ought to be able to afford it. The name's Sherlock Holmes and the address is/are 221B Baker Street. I prefer/prefers to text. I play/play to the violin when I'm thinking. Sometimes I don't/doesn't talk for days on end. We don't know/knows a thing about each other. Sorry – I gotta/has to dash.
From the movie
Modern religious zeal worries me. Where is the tolerance for misunderstandings?
Misunderstandings tend to end.
It's elementary, Watson!
For some it’s elementary, for others it’s not at all.
The times of knighthood have not passed. The dragons just became different.
Well, instead of horses now there are cars)
My brain is rebelling against the lack of work. Stagnation is destructive.
Work is salvation from all ailments.
There is nothing more stimulating than when things go wrong.
Then out of spite you want to do it the right way.
A lot of people don't like me just because I have my own opinion.
They don’t agree with him, so they don’t like me.
History repeats itself. The wheels are turning, but nothing new.
There is not always something new in everything.
In fact, it's the little details that usually matter the most.
This is the catch in any business.
Nothing is more obscure than an obvious fact.
The obvious, as a rule, is not actually so obvious...
You have a priceless gift of silence! He makes you a great teammate.
The ability to remain silent is a great strength.
You cannot theorize before the facts appear. Inevitably, you begin to adjust the facts to your theory, rather than building a theory based on the facts. Facts, facts, facts! I can't build a house without cement!
Facts are always at the root of any case.
Video of the meeting between Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson
Those who read “A Study in Scarlet” in the original will remember that the first meeting between Holmes and Dr. Watson was quite English: reserved on the part of the doctor and more open on the part of Sherlock.
The same cannot be said about the meeting in the latest film version: Sherlock tells Watson the story of his life, not at all embarrassed by strangers. Sherlock of Doyle's time would never have dared to do this.
Let's see how it happened and listen to the excellent British English from the lips of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
Text of the meeting of Sherlock and Watson in English with translation
Yes, it’s not an easy task to watch Sherlock in the original! Surely you are now reading the continuation of this article with a slightly questioning expression on your face. Don't worry if you didn't understand every word.
To help you understand what the characters Sherlock and Watson are talking about, we will go through each line of dialogue.
| Original text | Translation into Russian |
| Molly: So, bad day, was it? | Molly: Was it a bad day? |
| Holmes: I need to know what bruises form in the next twenty minutes. A man's alibi depends on it. Text me. | Holmes: I need to know what the bruising will be like in 20 minutes. A person's alibi depends on this. Send me a message. |
| Molly: Listen, I was wondering: maybe later, when you're finished… | Molly: Look, I was just wondering, maybe later, when you're done... |
| Holmes: Are you wearing lipstick? You weren't wearing lipstick before. | Holmes: What is this, lipstick? You haven't painted your lips before. |
| Molly: I, er, I refreshed it a bit. | Molly: I, well, I freshened them up a little. |
| Holmes: Sorry, you were saying? | Holmes: Sorry, what were you talking about? |
| Molly: I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee. | Molly: I was wondering if you would like some coffee. |
| Holmes: Black, two sugars, please. I'll be upstairs. | Holmes: Black, two sugars, please. I'll be upstairs. |
| Molly: Okay. | Molly: Okay. |
| Watson: Well, a bit different from my day. | Watson: Things have changed a bit since then. |
| Mike: You've no idea! | Mike: You have no idea! |
| Holmes: Mike, can I borrow your phone? There's no signal on mine. | Holmes: Mike, can I borrow your phone? There is no signal on mine. |
| Mike: And what's wrong with the landline? | Mike: What's wrong with a landline phone? |
| Holmes: I prefer to text. | Holmes: I prefer to text. |
| Mike: Sorry. It's in my coat. | Mike: Sorry, it's in my coat. |
| Watson: Er, here. Use mine. | Watson: Um, you can use mine. |
| Holmes: Oh. Thank you. | Holmes: Oh, thank you. |
| Mike: It's an old friend of mine, John Watson. | Mike: This is my old friend, John Watson. |
| Holmes: Afghanistan or Iraq? | Holmes: Afghanistan or Iraq? |
| Watson: Sorry? | Watson: Excuse me? |
| Holmes: Which was it – Afghanistan or Iraq? | Holmes: What was it - Afghanistan or Iraq? |
| Watson: Afghanistan. Sorry, how did you know...? | Watson: Afghanistan. Excuse me, how do you know this? |
| Holmes: Ah, Molly, coffee. Thank you. What happened to the lipstick? | Holmes: Oh, Molly, coffee. Thank you. What happened to your lipstick? |
| Molly: It wasn't working for me. | Molly: It didn't suit me. |
| Holmes: Really? I thought it was a big improvement. Your mouth's too small now. | Holmes: Really? In my opinion, it was much better. Right now your mouth is too small. |
| Molly: Okay. | Molly: I see. |
| Holmes: How do you feel about the violin? | Holmes: How do you feel about the violin? |
| Watson: I'm sorry, what? | Watson: Excuse me, what? |
| Holmes: I play the violin when I'm thinking. Sometimes I don't talk for days on end. Would that bother you? | Holmes: I play the violin when I think. Sometimes I don't talk for days in a row. Won't this bother you? |
| Potential flatmates should know the worst about each other. | Potential roommates should know the worst about each other. |
| Watson: Oh, you... you told him about me? | Watson: Oh, you... you told him about me? |
| Mike: Not a word. | Mike: Not a word. |
| Watson: Then who said anything about flatmates? | Watson: Then who said what about the neighbors? |
| Holmes: I did. Told Mike this morning that I must be a difficult man to find a flatmate for. Now here he is just after lunch with an old friend, clearly just home from military service in Afghanistan. Wasn't that difficult a leap. | Holmes: I told Mike this morning that it must be difficult for me to find a roommate. And right after lunch, he appears with an old friend who recently returned home from military service in Afghanistan. It wasn't that difficult. |
| Watson: How did you know about Afghanistan? | Watson: How did you find out about Afghanistan? |
| Holmes: Got my eye on a nice little place in central London. Together we ought to be able to afford it. We'll meet there tomorrow evening; seven o'clock. Sorry – gotta dash. I think I left my riding crop in the mortuary. | Holmes: I've got my eye on a nice place in central London. I think we can pull it off together. We'll meet there tomorrow evening at seven. I have to run. I think I left my whip at the morgue. |
| Watson: Is that it? | Watson: That's all? |
| Holmes: Is that what? | Holmes: What are you talking about? |
| Watson: We've only just met and we're gonna go and look at a flat? | Watson: We just met and are we going to look for an apartment? |
| Holmes: Problem? | Holmes: What's the problem? |
| Watson: We don't know a thing about each other; I don't know where we're meeting; I don't even know your name. | Watson: We don't know anything about each other. I don't know where we are meeting. I don't even know your name. |
| Holmes: I know you're an Army doctor and you've been invalided home from Afghanistan. I know you've got a brother who's worried about you but you won't go to him for help because you don't approve of him – possibly because he's an alcoholic; more likely because he recently walked out on his wife. And I know that your therapist thinks your limp's psychosomatic – quite correctly, I'm afraid. That's enough to be going on with, don't you think? | Holmes: I know that you are a military doctor and you were recently discharged from Afghanistan due to injury. You have a brother who worries about you, but you don't ask him for help because you don't approve of his behavior - probably because he's an alcoholic, but more likely because he recently left his wife. And I know that your therapist considers your lameness psychosomatic - I'm afraid quite rightly so. Enough for a start, do you think? |
| The name's Sherlock Holmes and the address is 221B Baker Street. Afternoon. | The name is Sherlock Holmes and the address is 221B Baker Street. During the day. Good day. |
| Mike: Yeah. He's always like that. | Mike: Yes. He's always like this. |
Case three
/* Death of a TV star. The fans are crazy, Sherlock is collected and persistent */
-For what reason does he do this? If he knows that the death is suspicious, why does he give a hint? ―Good Samaritan. -Who equips living bombs? ― Bad Samaritan.
/* Moriarty is pleased. Bad person… */
- What bliss, right? Connect the dots...
/* Brother is suffering. Seems… */
-They idolized her. I saw how girls with the stern, like that of an armadillo, became princesses.
/* Mrs. Hudson looks at the root */
“Nice woman, but too many suspenders.” Now everyone does it, but then they can’t smile. Stupid, right?
“Fans are an irreplaceable source of gossip.
/* Connie Prince was poisoned with a lethal dose of Botox. But the hostage died... */ /* He usually looks at everything as if from above. Organizes everything, but does not come into direct contact with anyone */
“They come to him for a crime plan, as if for a ticket to a travel agency?”
/* Watson is disappointed... */
-You are disappointed in me. -Good deduction, yes. -Don't turn people into heroes, John. There are no heroes, but if they were, I’m from a different opera.
“And someone who is touchy is no help to me.” What kind of detective with such a tender heart?
Lying detective
Season 4, Episode 2
But this is a real spoiler from the translators (as if the final episode leaked online wasn’t enough). The title of the series The Lying Detective, depending on the context, can be translated as “Lying Detective” and “Lying Detective”. Sherlock is under the influence of drugs throughout the episode, and his health is in very poor condition. On the other hand, he also spends the entire episode lying to Watson about his real intentions in order to catch the serial killer. In the Russian translation, the episode is called very unambiguously: “Sherlock is dying.”
The first case of the Great Game
/* Photo of an empty room, shoes, Carl Powers file */ /* Strange thing. But everyone is interested in something else... */
-Do you read his blog? - Of course. We read everything. Do you really not know that the Earth revolves around the Sun?
/* Jim appeared. Handsome. Masterfully pretends to be Molly's boyfriend and gay */
“Gay in what sense?” We are a couple. “Happiness is good for you, Molly.” You have gained one and a half kilograms. - Half a kilo! - No, one and a half.
“And he’s not gay!” Why are you ruining everything? Lies! - With such self-care? “He just got his head in order.” I'm also tidying it up. “You wash it, that’s all.” No no. Eyelashes and eyebrows are made up, traces of cream in the folds of the skin, such a tired, languid look. And more underwear. -What about underwear? ―Protrudes from under the belt. A very specific brand. This and the ambiguous fact that he left his phone number should give you a real reason to break up with him and save yourself the misery.
/* John made a couple of comments about sneakers */
“Not bad, John, very good.” True, you missed almost everything important, but nevertheless.
/* Now Mycroft writes to Watson. Asks what's new */
“Listen, he said, national importance. -How unusual. -What exactly? - Trembling. For the state and the Queen.
“You can’t ignore it!” -I am not ignoring. On the contrary, I am throwing away my best strength. - Well, okay. Who?..
/* The first victim is saved. Botullotoxin can still be detected in Karl Powers' shoes */
The second case of the Great Game
/* Janus machines, Columbia and the thieving banker */
-What's that noise? - This city lives, Sherlock. But don't worry - I'll fix it soon.
-Why did you lie to her? -People don't like to tell. They love to talk back to you.
“Why are you suddenly giving me the key?” -Who knows the reasons for their actions? I'm just bored. It's like we were made for each other.
/* Case is closed. The banker faked his death and fled to Colombia. Hostage rescued */
