дело, штука, фишка

[ammaelis.livejournal.com]

also, am i correct in thinking that дело, штука and фишка have similar meanings? i know the last two are slang, but it seems that one can replace the word дело in many phrases with one of those, e.g

в том–то и дело! = в том–то и штука!

let me know if i'm off-base. also a more complete guide to phrases using these words would be much appreciated, if anyone has the time and expertise.

Comments

[defying-elphaba.livejournal.com]

Definitely not фишка-- it means a token, like in a board game (like the knight, hat, dog, ship etc in Monopoly)!

[arnold3.livejournal.com]

фишка has yet one sense which is derived from english feature.

[vakhitov.livejournal.com]

+1

[vakhitov.livejournal.com]

You can also use "в том-то и фокус/проблема/загвоздка/хитрость", depending on the particular kind of situation you are trying to describe. Дело/штука/фишка are most general (and фишка is the most colloquial of the three).

[towarysc.livejournal.com]

Дело is a general usage, штука is colloquial, фишка is slang.

[misino.livejournal.com]

+1

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

I remember wolk_off saying he had heard the word used in the colloquial sense decades before the English "feature" could have possibly entered the Russian language.

[arnold3.livejournal.com]

I think this word was borrowed from hippies.

Re: фишка

[ammaelis.livejournal.com]

thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for :)