статочное ли дело

• СТАТОЧНОЕ ЛИ ДЕЛО obs

[sent; Invar; usu. the main clause in a complex sent (often foll. by а чтобы-clause), a clause in a compound sent, or indep. sent (often used as an exclamation or rhetorical question); fixed WO]

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⇒ (used to express one's displeasure, resentment etc over some action, occurrence, suggestion etc) this is unacceptable, impermissible, utterly unreasonable:

- how can such a thing be (possible)?;

- can such a thing really be?;

- how is that (it) possible?;

- is it conceivable that...?;

- it is hardly possible that...

     ♦ "Статочное ли дело, чтоб... барин давно не нашёл себе невесты, кабы захотел жениться..." (Гончаров 1). "...It was hardly possible that our master would not have found a wife long ago had he meant to marry..." (1b).