ДЛИННЫЕ РУКИ

• ДЛИННЫЕ РУКИ у кого coll

[NP, pl only; usu. VPsubj with copula]

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1. (in refer, to a person or organization) s o. or sth. has so much power, influence etc that it is impossible to hide from or escape him or it: у X-a длинные руки ≈ X has a long reach.

     ♦ "Впрочем, вы можете уйти, но у нас, предупреждаю, длинные руки!" (Ильф и Петров 1). "You can leave, by the way, but I warn you, we have a long reach" (1a)

2. s.o. is thievish, prone to steal: у X-a длинные руки ≈ X is light-fingered (sticky-fingered); X has sticky fingers.