своя своих не познаша

• СВОЯ СВОИХ НЕ ПОЗНАША{{}}

[saying]

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⇒ said when, because of some confusion, an ally is mistaken for an enemy:

- he (you etc) didn't recognize (one of) his (your etc) own;

- he (you etc) couldn't tell (a) friend from (a) foe.

     ♦ В первый же день он [Саша] сказал: "Володя, чтобы не было недоразумений. Я разделяю линию партии. Будем держать свои взгляды при себе. Ни к чему бесполезные споры". - "У меня тем более нет желания дискутировать со сталинскими подголосками, - высокомерно ответил Володя, - но уж раз вы меня сюда [в ссылку] загнали, то рот не заткнёте". Саша улыбнулся. "Я вас сюда не загонял, меня самого загнали". - "Своя своих не познаша" (Рыбаков 2). On the very first day, he [Sasha] said: "Volodya, just so there won't be any misunderstandings, I want you to know that I accept the Party line. Let's keep our views to ourselves. No need to have pointless arguments." "I haven't the slightest desire to debate with Stalinist yes-men," Volodya had replied haughtily. "But since you put me here [in exile], don't try to gag me as well." Sasha smiled. "It wasn't me who sent you here. I've been sent here too, you know." "They don't recognize their own, do they?" (2a).

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← From the Church Slavonic text of the Bible (John 1:10-11).