тянуть душу

• ТЯНУТЬ ЗА ДУШУ (кого) coll

[VP]

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1. Also: ТЯНУТЬ ДУШУ (из кого, кому) coll [subj: human]

⇒ to vex, exasperate s.o. to an extreme degree (by one's annoying actions, pestering, deliberate slowness in recounting or relating sth. etc):

- X тянет из Y-а душу{{}}≈ X torments <tortures, harrows> Y;

- X makes Y <Y's life> miserable;

- X puts Y through torture;

- [in refer, to persistent annoying actions] X pesters <bugs> Y;

- [in refer, to causing s.o. anxiety by being slow or reluctant to tell him sth.] X keeps Y hanging;

- X has Y on pins and needles;

- X is keeping Y on tenterhooks.

     ♦ Ну что ты своими расспросами из меня душу тянешь? Why do you have to keep bugging me with your questions?

     ♦ "Понимаешь, какая штука, Лашков... Как бы это тебе..." - "Не тяни душу, Александр Петрович!" - "В общем, заходил тут ко мне один, интересовался: кто, мол, да что, мол, ты такое..." (Максимов 3). "Well, it's like this, Lashkov, see...how can I put it?" "Don't keep me on tenterhooks, Alexander Petrovich." "Well, then, a man called on me, wanted to know about you, who you were, what you were like..." (3a).

2. [subj: a noun denoting emotionally disturbing sounds, or a person or instrument producing such sounds]

⇒ to cause s.o. emotional anguish, make him feel alarmed:

- X тянет Y-а за душу{{}}≈ X (person X's singing, person X's violin playing etc) is heartrending <tugs at Y's heartstrings, pulls at Y's heartstrings>.