Б-272 • КАК НЕ БЫВАЛО кого-чего coll [VP; sub/gen: more often inanim; Invar; fixed WO] (a person or thing) disappeared, went away completely: X-а как не бывало = X vanished (without a trace); there is no trace (left) of X; it is as if X had never existed (been); thing X is completely gone.
Раздался треск и грохот. Через несколько минут крайней избы как не бывало. (Салтыков-Щедрин 1). There came a resounding crack and a crash.. In a few moments the hut on the end was completely gone. (1a).
Б-273 • КАК НИ В ЧЁМ НЕ БЫВАЛО делать что, вести себя и т.п. coll [AdvP; Invar; adv or sent adv; fixed WO] (to do sth., behave) in a manner suggesting that one has not been affected by the preceding or concurrent events (which would be expected to elicit some reaction): as if (though) nothing (had) happened (were happening); as if (though) nothing were wrong; as if it (that) were nothing out of the ordinary; [lim] as if one had never seen (heard etc); as if (though) it were the most natural thing in the world; just as one used to do.
Заветная была у него [Джульбарса] мечта — покусать собственного хозяина, и он-таки её осуществил — придравшись, что тот ему наступил на лапу. Когда хозяин наутро пришёл к нему, весь перебинтованный, Джульбарс его поприветствовал как ни в чём не бывало. (Владимов 1). His [Djulbars’s] cherished dream was to bite his own master, and he succeeded in carrying it out, with the excuse that his master had trodden on his paw.. When his master came to him next morning all bandaged up, Djul-bars greeted him as though nothing had happened. (1a).
Б-274 • НИЧУТЬ (НИЧЕГО) obs) НЕ БЫВАЛО coll [sent; these forms only; fixed WO] (used to emphasize that sth. turned out differently than expected, presumed, described etc) absolutely not, not at all (what has been suggested, claimed etc): nothing of the sort (kind) (happens); far from it; that isn’t (wasn’t) the case (at all).
«Всё думаешь: с завтрашнего дня начнёшь новую жизнь, с завтрашнего дня сядешь на диету — ничуть не бывало: к вечеру того же дня так объешься, что. язык не ворочается.» (Го -голь 3). “You keep thinking that from tomorrow you’ll start a new life, that from tomorrow you will go on a diet, but nothing of the sort happens: on the evening of that very day you gorge yourself so much that. you can hardly utter a word” (3a).
Б-275 • КАК БЫК coll [как + NP; nom only] 1. здоров ~ [sing only; modif] (of a person, usu. a man, in very good health) completely (healthy): healthy as a horse (an ox); (as) fit as a fiddle.
«Шунечка, ты болен?» — «Ерунда. Здоров как бык, просто устал» (Грекова 3). “Shunechka, are you sick?” “Nonsense. Healthy as a horse, just tired” (3a).
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2. сильный, здоровый ~ [sing only; modif] (of a strong, solidly built man) extremely (strong): (as) strong as a bull (an ox, a horse); sturdy as an ox.
«Да что с тобой говорить! Здоровый, как бык, а ума.» — дед Момун безнадёжно махал рукой (Айтматов 1). “Ah, what’s the use of talking to you. Strong as an ox, and the brain of an.. ” And Grandpa Momun would shake his head hopelessly (1a).
3. ~ упереться [adv (intensif)] (to resist sth.) very stubbornly: (balk) like a mule; (be) stubborn (as balky) as a mule; (be) bullheaded (pigheaded).
[Кашкина (подражая Ларисе):] «Он [Шаманов] упёрся как бык. не знаю уж, кем он себя вообразил, но он тронулся, это точно» (Вампилов 2). [K. (imitating Larisa):] “He [Shamanov] was stubborn as a mule.. I don’t know who he thought he was, but he went nutty, that’s for sure” (2b).
Б-276 • БРАТЬ/ВЗЯТЬ (ХВАТАТЬ/СХВАТИТЬ) БЫКА ЗА РОГА coll [VP; subj: human; fixed WO] to take bold, resolute action, immediately and bravely addressing the most essential, difficult aspects of the matter: X взял быка за рога = X took the bull by the horns.
«Сколько лет, сколько зим!» — «Вот гостя тебе из Москвы привёз. — Шилов брал быка за рога. — Чем привечать будешь?» (Максимов 1). “Haven’t seen you out here for ages!” “I’ve brought you a visitor from Moscow.” Shilov took the bull by the horns: “What can you offer us?” (1a).
Б-277 • БЫЛ ДА (И) СПЛЫЛ coll [VP; subj: any common noun (often omitted); past only; fixed WO] (a person or thing) was present somewhere, or (a thing) was in s.o.‘s possession, but is no longer: (X) был да сплыл = X was here (s.o. did have X etc), but not anymore (any longer); X was here (s.o. did have X etc) but it’s all gone now; here today, gone tomorrow; here one day (minute), gone the next; [lim] X came and went (has come and gone).
Я встал и сказал: «Да ладно уж. Сказано — сделано. Сбрею [бороду]. Считайте, что её уже нет. Была и сплыла» (Аксёнов 1). I stood up and said, “Well, okay then.. No sooner said than done. I’ll shave it [my beard] off. Think of it as already gone. Come and gone” (1a).
Б-278 • И БЫЛ ТАКОВ coll [VP; subj: human or animal (more often male); past only; preceded by one or more verbs (usu. pfv past); occas. used in fut contexts] one ran away, disappeared (from sight): X… и был таков = and off (away) X went; and that’s (that was) the last anyone (I, we etc) saw of X; and X was gone (before you (I, we etc) knew it); and X was off in a flash; and X skipped; [lim] and X up and ran away.
«Так вот, сударь, как настоящие-то начальники принимали! — вздыхали глуповцы, — а это что! Фыркнул какую-то нелепицу, да и был таков!» (Салтыков-Щедрин 1). “Now that, sir, is the way real governors received you!” sighed the Foolovites. “But this one! Splutters some kind of fol-de-rol and off he goes!” (1a). ♦ Проснувшись. [Аркадий] переоделся в гражданское, навёл на себя всяческий блеск и марафет — и был таков (Залыгин 1). On waking. he [Arkady] changed into civilian clothes, spruced himself up and was gone (1a).
Б-279 • КАК (В ЧЁМ) БЫЛ coll [subord clause; past only; fixed WO] without having or being given a chance to change clothes: (just) as one was; in what one had on (was wearing).
Разбудили нас Чудаков и Евдощук. Они, как были, в шапках и тулупах, грохотали сапогами по настилу, вытаскивали свои чемоданы и орали: «Подъём!» (Аксёнов 1). Chudakov and Yev-
doshchuk woke us up. Just as they were, in their hats and sheepskins, their boots clumping on the floorboards, they pulled out their suitcases and roared: “Rise and shine!” (1a).
Б-280 • КТО БЫ (ТО) НИ БЫЛ [NP; nom only; used as appos or subord clause; fixed WO] regardless of who a person is; any person: no matter who he is; whoever it (he) may (might) be.