как ни говори

• ЧТО <KAK> НИ ГОВОРИ(ТЕ) coll

[these forms only; sent adv (parenth) or indep. clause; often foll. by a clause introduced by Conj "а"; fixed WO]

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⇒ regardless of any contrary opinions or judgments that may be voiced or held (the opinion or judgment that follows is the correct one):

- say what you like;

- no matter what you say (anyone says);

- whatever you say.

     ♦ Подарок, что ни говори, был богатый... (Искандер 4). Say what you like, it was a rich gift... (4a).

     ♦ Баба Дуня тащила свою добычу. Ноша была нелёгкая. Одной соли пуд, да мыла тридцать шесть кусков по четыреста граммов каждый... Что ни говори, тяжесть получилась порядочная (Войнович 2). Granny Dunya was lugging her booty home. It was no light burden. The pood of salt alone was thirty-six pounds, then there were the thirty-six bars of soap, four hundred grams each. ...No matter what you say, a respectable load (2a).

     ♦ "Во-первых, власть новая... Во-вторых, что там ни говори, они за простой народ, в этом их сила" (Пастернак 1). "То begin with, it's a new government. ...And then, whatever you say, they are on the side of the common people, that's their strength" (1a).