ноги отказали

• НОГИ ПОДКАШИВАЮТСЯ/ПОДКОСИЛИСЬ у кого (ОТКАЗАЛИ кому)

[VPsubj]

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⇒ s.o.'s legs lose their strength, become shaky, fail to support him because of intense alarm, fear, amazement etc:

- у X-a подкосились ноги{{}}≈ X's legs gave way (under him);

- X's legs buckled under him;

- X's legs wouldn't hold him up;

- X's legs refused to function;

- X's legs went weak;

- X went weak in the knees.

     ♦ ...У неё [Сони] буквально подкосились ноги и она чуть не упала, когда я показала ей проспект "Библиотеки" (Мандельштам 2). ...Her [Sonia's] legs literally gave way and she nearly collapsed when I showed her the prospectus of the Library's forthcoming publications (2a)

     ♦ Радость [встречи с сыном] произвела в больном слишком сильное потрясение, он ослабел, ноги под ним подкосились... (Пушкин 1). The joy of seeing his son was too much of a shock for the sick man: he grew faint, his legs gave way under him... (1a).

     ♦ ...Его [Хвастищева] вдруг продрал озноб, и ноги неожиданно отказали ему... "что с тобой, Радик?" - "Пат, посмотри-ка - часы!" (Аксёнов 6). ...Не [Khvastishchev] felt a sudden chill, and his legs unexpectedly refused to function. ... "What's the matter, Radik?" "Pat, look! A clock!" (6a)