[Ирина:] Человек должен трудиться, работать в поте лица, кто бы он ни был. (Чехов 5). [I.:] Man must work, he must toil by the sweat of his brow, no matter who he is. (5a).
Б-281 • БЫЛА НЕ БЫЛА coll [Invar; indep. clause or sent adv (parenth)] (used to express one’s resolve to do sth. risky—usu. after some hesitation—in the hope of achieving success) I will go ahead and risk it: here goes (nothing); whatever happens happens; (I (we etc) will do sth.) come what may; you only live once.
«Эх, была не была! — крикнул Скороход, снимая с ног жернова, — прыгаю через радугу!» (Искандер 5). “Well, here goes,” Highspeed shouted, removing the millstones from his feet. “I’m going to jump over the rainbow!” (5a). ♦ «Я вижу, вас что-то смущает?» — «Так точно, смущает, товарищ Сталин». — «Что же именно вас смущает?» А, была не была, Дрынов решился (Вой-нович 4). “I see something’s bothering you.” “Yes, sir, there is, Comrade Stalin.” “So just what is it?” Here goes nothing, thought Drinov (4a).
Б-282 • ГДЕ; БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО; КУДА БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [AdvP; these forms only; adv; fixed WO] any (or to any) place, regardless of where: anywhere (at all (whatsoever, whatever)); [lim ] it doesn’t matter where; no matter where; wherever; [after a compar form + чем] than anywhere (else); than in any other place (city, country etc).
Б-283 • КАК БЫ ТО (ТАМ) НИ БЫЛО [AdvP; these forms only; usu. sent adv (parenth); usu. in the initial position; fixed WO] whatever the circumstances or situation may be, regardless of whether the preceding statement is true (or, in the case of several preceding statements, which of them is true), even though that might be true, it is irrelevant: whatever the case (the cause, the reason) (may be); however that (this) may be; whatever the truth of the matter is; [lim] be that as it may; at any rate.
Сейчас мне не совсем понятно, почему, собственно, потребовалось вмешательство бабушки: ведь я был достаточно взрослым мальчиком. По всей вероятности, бабушка была послана, так сказать, для отчёта. Как бы то ни было, этот день. соединён именно с бабушкой. (Олеша 3). It isn’t entirely clear to me now just why my grandmother’s intervention was required; I was, after all, quite sufficiently grown-up to have gone by myself.. Most likely, my grandmother was sent to keep account, so to speak. Whatever the reason, that day. is united with the memory of my grandmother (3a).
Б-284 • КАКОЙ БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [AdjP; modif; fixed WO] any: any. (at all (whatsoever, whatever)); [lim.] any sort (kind) of; no matter what sort (kind) (of).
При настоящих, усложнённых формах государственной и общественной жизни в Европе возможно ли придумать какое бы то ни было событие, которое бы не было предписано, указано, приказано государями, министрами, парламентами, газетами? (Толстой 7). With the present complex forms of political and social life in Europe, can one think of any event that would not have been prescribed, decreed, or ordered by monarchs, ministers, parliaments, or newspapers? (7a).
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Б-285 • КОГДА БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [AdvP; Invar; adv; fixed WO] at any time, regardless of when: anytime (at all (whatsoever, whatever)); [lim] no matter when; whenever; [after a compar form + чем] than ever (before).
«Сейчас можно сказать, что дела у него прекрасны. Лучше, чем когда бы то ни было. Он добился многого. Машины его работают уже на одном заводе. А скоро будут работать на сотне заводов» (Дудинцев 1). “One can say that his affairs are going very well now. Better than ever before. He has achieved a great deal. His machines are already working in one factory, and soon they will be working in hundreds more” (1a).
Б-286 • КТО) БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [NP; obj or, usu. as a response to a question, subj; often used with a negated predic; fixed WO] any person, regardless of who: anyone (anybody) at all; anyone whatever; [lim] no matter who; [after a compar form] than anyone (anybody) (else).
.Лёва не мог подозревать кого бы то ни было в чём бы то ни было. — тем более, незнакомого человека. (Битов 2). .Lyova was incapable of suspecting anyone whatever of anything whatever. especially a man he didn’t know. (2a).
Б-287 • НЕ ТУТ-ТО БЬ1ЛО coll [sent; Invar; often a clause in a compound sent (often after Conj «но» or «да»); fixed WO] (of unrealized hopes, expectations, usu. when attempting to accomplish sth.) the desired or expected event (as specified by the preceding context) did not happen, the desired or expected result was not achieved etc: nothing doing; no such luck; nothing of the kind (the sort) (happened); it (things etc) didn’t work out (that way); [lim] far from it; it was not to be.
.К нему [старому кучеру] подбежала фрейлейн Мари и объявила ему о своём желании зарезать гусака собственноручно. Конечно, он отговаривал её, упрашивал, пригрозил даже нажаловаться. Не тут-то было! (Федин 1). .Fraulein Marie ran up to him [the old coachman] and announced her desire to cut the goose’s neck personally. Of course he tried to talk her out of it, begged, threatened even to complain about her. Nothing doing! (1a). ♦ «Иди домой.!» — крикнул ей Чунка по-русски. Но не тут-то было! (Искандер 5). “Go home.!” Chunka yelled to her in Russian. No such luck (5a).
Б-288 • ПОЧЕМУ БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [AdvP; Invar; adv; fixed WO] because of any circumstances: for any reason (at all (whatsoever, whatever)); for whatever reason; [lim] no matter what the reason (may be); whatever the reason (may be).
Характер у Никиты для бизнеса неподходящий. Если он почему бы то ни было решит заняться коммерцией, у него наверняка ничего не выйдет. Nikita’s personality isn’t suited for business. If he for whatever reason decides to try it, he’ll certainly fail.
Б-289 • СКОЛЬКО БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [AdvP; Invar; adv; fixed WO] any number or quantity, regardless of how much or how many: however much (many); [lim.] it doesn’t matter how much (many); no matter how much (many).
Б-290 • ЧЕЙ БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [AdjP; modif; fixed WO] any person’s, regardless of whose: anyone’s (anybody’s); it doesn’t matter whose.
«Чьи лыжи можно взять?» — «Да чьи бы то ни было». “Whose skis can I take?” “Anybody’s.”
Б-291 • ЧТО БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО [NP; usu. obj; fixed WO] any thing, regardless of what: anything (at all (whatsoever,
whatever)); [lim] no matter what; any of it; [after a com-par form + чем] than anything (else).
.Лёва не мог подозревать кого бы то ни было в чём бы то ни было. — тем более, незнакомого человека. (Битов 2). .Lyova was incapable of suspecting anyone whatever of anything whatever. especially a man he didn’t know. (2a).
Б-292 • ЧТОБЫ НЕПОВАДНО БЫЛО (ЧТОБЫ НЕ БЫЛО ПОВАДНО) (кому) coll [these forms only; subord clause; the main clause indicates how s.o. was or will be punished, or expresses a threat to punish s.o.; fixed WO] (s.o. was or will be punished, rebuked etc for some wrongdoing) so that he or another will not commit a similar wrongdoing (again): чтобы (X-у) неповадно было = (in order) to teach X a (good) lesson; as a lesson to X; so that X will know better (think twice) next time.