недолго до беды

• ДОЛГО ЛИ ДО ГРЕХА <ДО БЕДЫ>; НЕДОЛГО (И) ДО ГРЕХА <ДО БЕДЫ> all coll

[sent; these forms only; fixed WO]

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⇒ (used, usu. as a question or exclamation, to connect the description of events in the preceding context with that of their potential or real consequences in the context that follows) sth. unpleasant or irreparable could easily happen (at any moment, under such circumstances, or if s.o. does sth.):

- that can easily lead to trouble;

- something bad may happen;

- anything can happen;

- trouble is never far off.

     ♦ "Только с огнём... осторожнее обращайтесь, потому что тут недолго и до греха. Имущества свои попалите, сами погорите - что хорошего!" (Салтыков-Щедрин 1). "Only...be careful how you handle fire, because that can easily lead to trouble. You burn your property, you burn yourselves - and what's the good of that?" (1b).

     ♦ "Не пишет жена... А, может быть, заболели! Долго ли в эвакуации до беды" (Гроссман 2). "My wife still hasn't written. ... May be they've fallen ill. Anything can happen when you're evacuated" (2a).