кишка тонка

• КИШКА ТОНКА <ТОНКАЯ> у кого substand

[VPsubj with быть; usu. pres; usu. used with infin]

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1. s.o. does not have the strength, courage, ability, or know-how to do sth.: у X-a кишка тонка ≈ X doesn't have what it takes; X doesn't have it in him; X hasn't got the guts; X isn't man (woman) enough; [in limited contexts] X's muscle can't match person Y's.

     ♦ "За два убийства и вооружённое ограбление полагается расстрел. Это ты знаешь. Чита, конечно, вместе с тобой не убивал - у него кишка тонка. Значит, убивал ты один" (Семенов 1). "For two murders and armed robbery the sentence is shooting. You know that. Cheetah, of course, didn't participate in the murders - he hasn't got the guts for that. That means that you alone did the murdering" (1a).

     ♦ "Вот что, папанечка, - серые, калмыцкого сечения глаза её светились нескрываемой яростью, - спасибочки тебе за хлеб, за соль, только хвост тебе поднимать против моего Витьки кишка тонка" (Максимов 3). Her slanted, gray Kalmyk eyes flashed with undisguised fury. "Listen, dear Father, we thank you kindly for your hospitality, but don't start ordering Victor around, you aren't man enough for that" (3a).

2. s.o. does not have the means to pay for sth.: у X-a кишка тонка ≈ X hasn't got the dough (the cash).