В-235 • ВОЛК В ОВЕЧЬЕЙ ШКУРЕ coll, disapprov [NP; usu. subj-compl with copula, nom or instrum (subj: human);
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fixed WO] a person who has evil intentions but covers them up, appears harmless or friendly: wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Мы «злые», лишь по недоразумению восхитившие наименование «добрых». Мы волки в овечьей шкуре (Салтыков-Щедрин 2). It was we who were “the wicked” who merely appropriated the name of “the good” owing to a misunderstanding. We were the wolves in sheep’s clothing (2a).
< Russian source: the Bible (Matt. 7:15); English source: Aesop's fables and the Bible.
В-236 • КАК ВОЛК голоден coll [как + NP; nom only; modif (intensif) ] very (hungry): (hungry) as a wolf (a bear).
«Разве что на дороге случилось?» — «Ничего не случилось. так, замешкались немного. Зато мы теперь голодны, как волки» (Тургенев 2). “Did something happen to you along the way?” “Nothing happened. We just tarried a bit. But now we’re hungry as wolves” (2g).
В-237 • МОРСКОЙ ВОЛК coll [NP; usu. subj-compl with copula, nom or instrum (subj: human, male) or obj; fixed WO] an experienced sailor: sea dog (sea-dog); old salt.
«.Меня окрестили здесь морским волком, а меня тошнит, когда я проезжаю мостом через Эльбу.» (Федин 1). “.They’ve called me a sea-dog here, but it makes me sick to cross the bridge over the Elbe.” (1a).
В-238 • ТРАВЛЕНЫЙ (СТАРЫЙ, СТРЕЛЯНЫЙ) ВОЛК; ТРАВЛЕНЫЙ ЗВЕРЬ all coll [NP; often subj-compl with copula, nom or instrum (subj: human, usu. male); fixed WO] a man who has been through much adversity, survived many dangers, and acquired much experience in life: old hand; (one) has seen it all; [lim] (one is) battle-scarred; (one) has been there and back.
В-239 • КАК (СКОЛЬКО) ВОЛКА НИ КОРМИ, (А) ОН (ВСЁ) В ЛЕС СМОТРИТ (ГЛЯДИТ) [saying] no matter how you try to change s.o., win s.o. over, his true nature, feelings, habits etc will surface: = a leopard cannot change its spots; once a wolf always a wolf; nature is stronger than nurture; what is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
В-240 • С ВОЛКАМИ ЖИТЬ — ПО-ВОЛЧЬИ ВЫТЬ
[saying] a person should adapt himself to the habits and customs of those in whose society he finds himself: = he that lives with the wolves learns to howl; when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Как въехали они в нашу квартиру — Николай Николаевич с Ниночкой, я им сразу сказал: «Коля! — говорю, — Ниночка! держите ухо востро. Не поддавайтесь на провокацию. Живите как в отдалении. А я возле вас погреюсь на старости лет». — «Нет! — отвечает Ниночка. — С волками жить — по-волчьи выть» (Терц 5). “When they moved into our apartment—Nikolay Nikolayevich and Ninochka, that is—I told them at once: “Nicky,” I said, “Ninochka! Keep your ears open. Don’t give in to provocation. Keep your distance. And I’ll warm myself at your hearth in my old age.” “No!” Ninochka answered. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” (5a).
В-241 • И ВОЛКИ СЫТЫ, И ОВЦЫ ЦЕЛЫ [saying; often used as a subord clause introduced by чтобы] sth. satisfies both parties involved, both opposing sides (usu. said in situations when a person is trying to please two people or parties with different interests or views): = the
wolves are sated and the sheep intact; we (you etc) have pleased everyone; we (you etc) have managed to keep everyone happy; Peter has been paid without robbing Paul.
[Мамаев:] В какие отношения ты поставил себя к тётке? [Глумов:] Я человек благовоспитанный, учтивости меня учить не надо. [Мамаев:] Ну, вот и глупо. Женщины не прощают тому, кто не замечает их красоты. [Ты] имеешь больше свободы, чем просто знакомый; можешь иногда. лишний раз ручку поцеловать. Она женщина темперамента сангвинического. очень легко может увлечься каким-нибудь франтом. А тут, понимаешь ты. свой, испытанный человек. И волки сыты, и овцы целы (Островский 9). [M.:] What are your relations with your aunt? [G.:] I have had a proper upbringing, it is not necessary to teach me how to respect my elders. [M.:] Poppycock!. Women never forgive a person for not noticing their beauty.. You can take more liberties than just an acquaintance. Might kiss her hand an extra time or so.. Your aunt, she’s very temperamental. she could easily fall for some dandy.. But you, you’re one of the family, one to be trusted. In this way the wolves are sated and the sheep intact (9b).
В-242 • ВОЛКОВ БОЯТЬСЯ — В ЛЕС НЕ ХОДИТЬ
[saying] once you are determined to do sth., you must not let impending difficulties or risks deter you (said to encourage o.s. or another person when undertaking a dangerous or unknown affair involving risk): = if you’re going to play with matches (fire), you can’t be afraid of getting burned; nothing ventured, nothing gained; risk nothing, win nothing.
В-243 • ВОЛКОМ ВЫТЬ/ВЗВЫТЬ coll [VP; subj: human; fixed WO] to complain bitterly (about one’s suffering, hardships): X волком взвоет = X will start howling; X will (thing Y will make X) moan and groan.
В-244 • СМОТРЕТЬ (ГЛЯДЕТЬ) ВОЛКОМ (на кого) coll [VP; subj: human] to look (at s.o.) angrily, in a hostile way: X (на Y- а) волком смотрит = X scowls (glowers, glares) (at Y); X looks daggers at Y; X gives (keeps giving) Y dirty (nasty) looks.
«Так вот ты. запер его [полицмейстера], беднягу, в сортир-ной кабинке, припёр дверцу метлой и не выпускал.» — «Серьёзно? — сказал Виктор. — Ну и ну. То-то он сегодня на меня весь день волком смотрит» (Стругацкие 1). “What happened. is that you backed him [the police chief] into the toilet. Then you barricaded the door with a broom and refused to let him out.” “No kidding,” said Viktor. “How do you like that? No wonder he’s been giving me dirty looks all day” (1a).
В-245 • ХОТЬ ВОЛКОМ ВОЙ coll [хоть + VPlmper; Invar; predic or subord clause; fixed WO] (used to express despair, hopelessness, impotence) (it is) an intolerable, untenable situation: it’s enough to make you (a grown man) cry; you could just scream; it’s more than one can bear (take).
В-246 • ДО СЕДЫХ ВОЛОС (дожить и т.п.) [PrepP; Invar; adv; fixed WO] (of a person) (to have lived etc) until old age: till one goes (grows) gray; till one’s hair turns (begins to turn) gray; into (one’s) old age.
«Что ж, тебе не хотелось бы так пожить?». — «И весь век так?» — спросил Штольц. «До седых волос, до гробовой доски. Это жизнь!» (Гончаров 1). “Now, wouldn’t you like to live like that?”. “To live like that all the time?” “Till you grow gray—till you are laid in the grave! That is life!” (1b).
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В-247 • НА ВОЛОС; НА ВОЛОСОК both obs [PrepP; these forms only] 1. [adv or modif; often preceded by хоть] (even) a little: (even) the slightest (tiniest) bit; (even) in the slightest way; [lim.] (even) by a hairbreadth (a hair’s-breadth etc).