В196

ТИШЕ ВОДЫ, НИЖЕ ТРАВЫ быть*, вести себя, держаться и т. п. collAdjPInvarsubj-compl with copula (subj: human or advfixed WO
one is timid, humble, self-effacing
one behaves timidly, humbly
X (держится) тише воды, ниже травы = X is (keeps) (as) quiet as a mouse
X is (as) gentle (meek) as a lamb
you'd never hear a peep from (out of) X. "И чего на него нашло такое? Никому никогда не перечил, тише воды, ниже травы был - и на тебе вдруг!» (Айтматов 1). "What's come over him? He never crossed anyone, always quiet as a mouse, and now-look at him" (1a). "What on earth's come over him? He never crossed anybody, he was meek as a lamb-then this all of a sudden" (1b).

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В197 →← В195

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