The idiom is a bit mixed, but we wholeheartedly endorse the message, and so we'll try to explain it. Kaif is a Russian distortion of the Arabic keif, which Russky Yazyk Publishers' Short Dictionary of Foreign Words defines as "rest (usually after lunch), pleasant idleness."
But kaif means so much more to a certain generation, which just happens to include many of our colleagues.
Originally, kaif meant drugs, and by extension, the narcotic effect they produced. But the meanings have branched out. Now you have, according to Rozhansky's inimitable pamphlet on hippy slang, the following:
Kaif as alcoholic beverages, as in Sgonyai v magazin za kaifom: "Go to the store and get some booze."
Kaif as a pleasant experience, as in U menya s etoi takoi kaif nachalsya: "I got such a high from that grass."
Kaif as an expression of approval or positive assessment, as in Vchera ya khodil na takoi klassny kontsert. Kaif!, "Yesterday I saw this great concert. It was excellent."
Kaif as a statement of degree of pleasure, as in Mne ne v kaif napisat' pro Yeltsina, "I don't feel like writing about Yeltsin."
A substitute for this usage is po kaifu, as in Seichas parochku butilok vina bylo by po kaifu, "Right now a couple of bottles of wine would be great."
We tried to investigate further, but were rebuked by some colleagues, who accused us of being kaifolomy, "kaif-busters," with our incessant queries.
Somehow, this expression sounded to us like it belonged in California, where people are always talking about "mellow stokes" and things like that.
If you haven't noticed any of your companions saying these things, hey, that's groovy too. Maybe they stay away from you when they're pod kaifom, under the influence of whatever their kaif may be.
The narcotic meaning, incidentally, should not be overestimated. You have to remember that these expressions entered Russian in the heady days of the 1960s and 1970s, when (even in Russia) people had different attitudes about mind-altering substances.
Of our associates who say kaif today, we don't know a single drug-user. These days, people try to lovit' kaif, "look for their kaif," in other places.
We won't ask where, not wanting to be kaifolomy, so we'll just say "There is no life without kaif" and stay out of it.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.