до времени

• ДО ВРЕМЕНИ{{}}

[PrepP; Invar; adv]

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1. obs for the meantime, until a moment when the situation changes and some opportunity arises:

- for the time being;

- for the present;

- [in limited contexts] for now;

- until the time is right.

     ♦ ...С тем убеждением прожил я годы подпольного писательства, что я не один такой сдержанный и хитрый. Что десятков несколько нас таких - замкнутых, упорных одиночек... Несколько десятков нас таких, и всем дышать нелегко, но до времени никак нельзя нам открыться даже друг другу (Солженицын 2). ...I lived through those years as an underground writer in the conviction that I was not the only aloof and cunning one. That there were dozens of stubborn, self-contained individuals like me. ... Yes, dozens and dozens of us, all suffering from lack of air-but for the present it was impossible for us to come out into the open and reveal ourselves even to each other (2a).

2. before the time that is customary, appropriate, or expected under normal circumstances:

- before one's <its> time;

- too soon;

- prematurely;

- sooner <earlier> than one <it> should;

- too early;

- [in limited contexts] ahead of time.

     ♦ Теперь уже могло показаться странным, но Митишатьев был ещё школьным товарищем Левы. Просто Митишатьев до времени полысел и обрюзг (Битов 2). Mit ishatyev had been a schoolmate of Lyova's, although by now it was hard to believe. He had gone bald and flabby before his time... (2a).

     ♦ Костанжогло ещё более поразил Чичикова смуглостью лица, жесткостью черных волос, местами до времени поседевших, живым выраженьем глаз... (Гоголь 3). Chichikov was struck even more by the swarthiness of his [Kostanjoglo's] face, the coarseness of his black hair, gone prematurely grey in places, the lively expression of his eyes... (3a).

     ♦ Лучше прийти к месту позже (собаки все равно наведут по следу), чем нагрянуть до времени, спугнуть зверя (Тендряков 1). It was better to get to the place later (the dogs would be able to pick up the scent) than to appear too early and frighten the bear away... (1a).