не подарочек

• НЕ ПОДАРОК; НЕ ПОДАРОЧЕК both coll

[NP; these forms only; subj-compl with быть]

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1. [subj: human]

⇒ a person who is not easy to have dealings with:

- X - не подарок{{}}≈ X is no prize;

- X is tough (no fun) to deal with;

- X is no gift to mankind (humanity);

- X is no pushover;

- X is a tough customer;

- [in limited contexts] X is going to be trouble.

     ♦ Степа был хорошо известен в театральных кругах Москвы, и все знали, что человек этот - не подарочек. Но всё-таки то, что рассказывал администратор про него, даже и для Стёпы было чересчур (Булгаков 9). Styopa had a reputation in Moscow theatrical circles, and everybody knew that the man was no gift to humanity. Nevertheless, what the house manager was telling about him was too much even for Styopa (9a).

2. [subj: abstr or infin]

⇒ sth. (or doing sth.) is unpleasant, undesirable:

- X - не подарок{{}}≈ X isn't what I (you) would call luck (fun);

- X isn't my (our) idea of fun (of fun and games, of a good time);

- X is no picnic.

     ♦ "Родители уехали, а меня оставили с младшими братьями. Это, я тебе скажу, не подарок!" - "Я тебе сочувствую". "Му parents are out of town and I'm stuck watching my little brothers. I tell you, it's not what you'd call fun!" "You have my sympathy."