скажи на милость

• СКАЖИ(ТЕ) НА МИЛОСТЬ{{}}

[VPimper; these forms only; fixed WO]

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1. old-fash [indep. clause]

⇒ used when making a polite inquiry:

- will (would) you please (kindly) tell me (us);

- would you mind telling me (us);

- (would (could) you) be so good (kind) as to tell me (us).

     ♦ [Лебедев:] Скажи на милость, за каким это лешим ты зачастил к Марфутке? (Чехов 4). [L.:] Will you please tell me why the devil you go to Marfutka's so often? (4a).

     ♦ "Григорий Пантелевич, ваше благородие, скажи на милость, что это такое за животная [ungrammat = животное] у кадетов под орудиями?.." (Шолохов 5). "Grigory Panteleyevich, Your Honour, would you kindly tell us what breed of animal that was the Cadets had pulling their guns?. " (5a).

2. [sent adv (parenth)]

⇒ used to add emphasis, often irony, to a statement or rhetorical question:

- for heaven's (goodness') sake;

- (who <where etc>) in the world;

- (what <where etc>) in God's name.

     ♦ "И, скажи на милость, откуда эта детская похвальба у меня взялась? Не утерпел-таки, сообщил [Ирине], что полковник обещал меня к награде представить..." (Шолохов 1). "For goodness' sake, where had I picked up that childish trick of bragging! All the same, I couldn't keep it to myself, I told her [Irina] the colonel had promised to recommend me for an award" (1a).

     ♦ "И чего только вы с ней связались, скажите на милость! Её - эту Дёмину - у нас на заводе даже начальство за версту обходит, лишь бы не разговаривать" (Максимов 2). "What in God's name possessed you to tangle with Dyomina? Here at the shipyard even the bosses will go a mile out of their way to avoid having to talk to her" (2a).

3. [Interj]

⇒ used to express one's surprise, bewilderment, dissatisfaction etc at s.o.'s statement, actions etc:

- good heavens (grief, gracious, Lord)!;

- (well,) I'll be darned!;

- how do you like that!;

- you don't say (so)!;

- well, what do you know!;

- well, I never!

     ♦ "...Я вёшенская, дедушка", - вспыхнув от радости, сказала Аксинья. - "Скажи на милость!" - воскликнул старик (Шолохов 5). " ..I'm from Vyoshenskaya too. Grandad," Aksinya said, flushing with joy. "You don't say so!" the old man exclaimed (5a).