в диковину

• В ДИКОВИНКУ (в ДИКОВИНУ) coll

[PrepP; these forms only; subj-compl with copula]

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1. в диковину (кому) [subj: abstr, concr, human, or infin]

⇒ a person (thing etc) is unusual, surprising to s.o.:

- X Y-у в диковинку{{}}≈ Y has never seen anything like X before;

- thing X surprises Y;

- Y is surprised at thing X;

|| Aleg X Y-y не в диковинку{{}}≈ thing X is nothing new (unusual) to Y;

- there is nothing surprising (unusual) about X;

- thing X is not unusual with Y;

- thing X comes as no surprise (to Y);

- thing X is by no means uncommon;

- [in limited contexts] X is (such things etc are) not unknown;

- thing X won't take Y by surprise.

     ♦ ...Этот парень ей [Рахили] в диковинку. Не только потому, что он из Швейцарии, она об этой Швейцарии понятия не имела, просто она никогда не видела, чтобы еврейский парень был голубоглазый блондин... (Рыбаков 1). She [Rachel] had never seen anything like this boy before It wasn't only that he came from Switzerland, which didn't mean anything to her, anyway, but she had never seen a Jewish boy with fair hair and blue eyes... (1a).

     ♦ [Грекова:] Вы так привыкли к разного рода резкостям, что мои слова едва ли будут вам в диковинку... (Чехов 1). [G :] You're so used to all kinds of rudeness, I doubt if what I say will surprise you at all (1b).

     ♦ Матросы всюду матросы... Хороший шторм им не в диковину Оренбург 2). A sailor is always a sailor. ...A good storm is nothing new to him (2a).

     ♦ Что Ноздрев лгун отъявленный, это было известно всем, и вовсе не было в диковинку слышать от него решительную бессмыслицу... (Гоголь 3). That Nozdrev was an archliar was a fact known to all, and there was nothing surprising in hearing him tell the wildest fabrications... (3c). That Nozdryov was an inveterate liar was a fact they all knew and it was nothing unusual to hear him talk the most absurd nonsense... (3a).

     ♦ ...В первую минуту гнева [Троекуров] хотел было со всеми своими дворовыми учинить нападение на Кистенёвку... Таковые подвиги были ему не в диковину (Пушкин 1)...In the first moment of anger [Troekurov] wanted to gather all his men and fall upon Kistenevka. ...Such exploits were not unusual with him (1a).

     ♦ ...На базаре откуда-то появился в продаже спирт, и уже не в диковинку было видеть в те дни пьяных... офицеров (Шолохов 3). ...Illicitly distilled spirits appeared on sale at the markets and it was by no means an uncommon sight to see drunken officers...in the streets (За).

     ♦ Случались кое-где ограбления, изнасилования, но во время войны в любых войсках такое не в диковинку... (Копелев 1). There were a few robberies and rapes, but in wartime in any army such incidents are not unknown (1a).

2. [subj: any common noun, often animal]

⇒ a person (thing etc) is an uncommon phenomenon:

- rare thing;

- rarity;

- oddity.