ЕЛЕ ДЫШАТЬ
• ЕЛЕ <ЕДВА, ЧУТЬ> ДЫШАТЬ coll
[VP; fixed WO]
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1. [subj: human]
⇒ to be very weak, decrepit, or incurably ill:
- X еле дышит••≈ X is on his last legs;
- X is on his way out;
- X is declining (failing, sinking fast).
2. [subj: concr]
⇒ to become dilapidated, useless, unable to carry out its function:
- X еле дышит••≈ X is on its last legs;
- X is on its way out;
- X is about to fall apart;
- X has just about had it;
- X is dying;
- [of a campfire etc] X is dying down (going out).
♦ Мне нужна новая пишущая машинка, моя еле дышит. I need a new typewriter-mine is on its last legs.
Смотреть больше слов в «Большом русско-английском фразеологическом словаре»
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