ли́хо

uncommon #5388

nounneuterinanimateuncountableform of лихо́й

1.
evil, misfortune, trouble
Не буди́ ли́хо, пока́ оно́ ти́хо.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Mostly folkloric or literary; best known from the proverb «Не буди лихо, пока оно тихо».
2.
dashingly, valiantly, rakishly
Он ли́хо сдви́нул ша́пку на заты́лок.
He rakishly pushed his cap back on his head.
Adverb use of the same form; far more frequent in everyday speech than the noun.

Examples

Не буди́ ли́хо, пока спит тихо.
Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.
Солдат, хлебавший лиха на войне, стал молчаливым.
The soldier, having endured many hardships during the war, became taciturn.
Не помина́йте лихом!
Remember me kindly!
Лиха беда́ начало.
Well begun is half done.
Сначала э́то будет трудно, но лиха беда́ начало.
At first it will be difficult, but the hardest part is getting started.
Не буди́ ли́хо, пока оно тихо.
Never trouble till trouble troubles you.