СТРЕЛЯНЫЙ ВОЛК

• ТРАВЛЕНЫЙ <СТАРЫЙ, СТРЕЛЯНЫЙ> ВОЛК; ТРАВЛЕНЫЙ ЗВЕРЬ all coll

[NP; often subj-compl with copula, nom or instrum (subj: human, usu. male); fixed WO]

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⇒ a man who has been through much adversity, survived many dangers, and acquired much experience in life:

- old hand;

- (one) has seen it all;

- [in limited contexts](one is) battle-scarred;

- (one) has been there and back.