П123

ПЕСОК СЫПЛЕТСЯ (из кого) collVP subj.pres onlyusu. this WO s.o. is very old, decrepit, and near the end of his life: из X-a песок сыплется - X is on his last legs.

«Каков он из себя? Очень стар?» - «Лет восемьдесят». -«Однако же и движется, бодр?..» - «Песок сыплется...» (Гоголь 3). What does he look like? Is he very old?" "About eighty." "But he can still move about, eh9 He's in good health, isn't he?.. " "He's on his last legs" (3a).