любо-мило

• ЛЮБО-ДОРОГО <ЛЮБО-МИЛО> coll

[AdvP; these forms only; usu. predic with быть (impers or with subj: any common noun or infin)]

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⇒ (sth. is) very good, nice, (sth. is done, to do sth.) very well:

- (be) a (real) treat;

- (be) marvelous (lovely, a pleasure etc);

|| любо-дорого посмотреть{{}}≈ (it is) a sight to see (to behold);

- (it's) a sight for sore eyes;

- (it's) a pleasure to look at (to behold);

- (it's) a (real) treat for the eyes.

     ♦ ...[Егорша] кивнул на чулан, прислушиваясь к песне. "Райка, что ли, поёт?" - спросил Михаил. "Ага. Пойдем, я сейчас ее выкупаю - любо-дорого!" (Абрамов 1)...Не [Egorsha] motioned toward the storeroom, from which singing could be heard. "That Raika singing?" asked Mikhail. "Yup. Come on. I'm going to give her a soaking. We're in for a treat!" (1a).

     ♦ "Теперь, вон, в столовой любо-дорого... На четыре гривенника ешь - не хочу..." (Максимов 3). "It's a real treat over there in the canteen nowaday s. ... Eat as much as you like for a few coppers..." (3a).