едва дышать

• ЕЛЕ <ЕДВА, ЧУТЬ> ДЫШАТЬ coll

[VP; fixed WO]

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1. [subj: human]

⇒ to be very weak, decrepit, or incurably ill:

- X еле дышит{{}}≈ X is on his last legs;

- X is on his way out;

- X is declining (failing, sinking fast).

2. [subj: concr]

⇒ to become dilapidated, useless, unable to carry out its function:

- X еле дышит{{}}≈ X is on its last legs;

- X is on its way out;

- X is about to fall apart;

- X has just about had it;

- X is dying;

- [of a campfire etc] X is dying down (going out).

     ♦ Мне нужна новая пишущая машинка, моя еле дышит. I need a new typewriter-mine is on its last legs.