с гулькин нос

• С ГУЛЬКИН <C ВОРОБЬИНЫЙ> HOC highly coll

[PrepP; these forms only]

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1. кого-чего с гулькин нос [quantit subj-compl with быть (subj/ gen: usu. abstr or subj: infin) or adv (quantif)]

⇒ very little (more often in cases when the amount is considered inadequate):

- almost no;

- hardly any;

- (only) a little (tiny) bit;

- (just) a smidgen.

     ♦ Работы там осталось с гулькин нос, мы за полчаса все сделаем. There's hardly any work left; we'll have everything finished in half an hour.

2. [nonagreeing modif or subj-compl with copula (subj: concr or abstr)]

⇒ very small (in size, amount etc):

- (teeny) tiny;

- negligible;

- minuscule;

- (amount to) a hairbreadth (a hairbreadth etc).

     ♦ "С чего вы цапаетесь-то? Никак не могу понять. Объясните? У вас и расхождения-то с гулькин нос!" (Залыгин 1). "What are you squabbling about? It makes no sense to me. Explain yourselves. Your differences amount to a hair's breadth" (1a).