мал мала меньше

• МАЛ МАЛА МЕНЬШЕ coll

[AdjP; Invar; usu. detached postmodif; fixed WO]

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1. (of many small children) all are very young-the oldest is young and the others even younger:

- one smaller (younger) than the other;

- each (one) smaller (younger) than the next.

     ♦ "Ваш отец получает у нас всего семьдесят пять рублей месячных, а детей у него, кроме вас, ешё пять человек, мал мала меньше, - значит, вам скорей всего придётся всю жизнь прожить в бедности" (Бунин 1). "Your father only gets paid seventy-five roubles a month, and he has children, five apart from you, one smaller than the other - that means you're more than likely to spend your whole life in poverty" (1a).

     ♦ "Вдовой уже взял её, с троими детьми, мал мала меньше" (Достоевский 3). "When I married her she was already a widow with three children, each one smaller than the next" (3b).

     ♦ [Рисположенский:] Было у него, сударыня ты моя, двенадцать дочерей - мал мала меньше (Островский 10). [R.:] He had twelve daughters, my dear lady - each younger than the next (10a).

2. (of many small objects) all are small - the largest is small and the others are even smaller:

- one smaller than the other;

- each (one) smaller than the next.