за смертью посылать

• (ТОЛЬКО) ЗА СМЕРТЬЮ ПОСЫЛАТЬ кого coll

[VP; these forms only; impers predic; the verb always takes the final position]

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⇒ (used to express irritation at the long absence of s.o. who was sent on an errand) when he (she etc) goes on an errand, you have to wait an extremely long time for him (her etc) to return:

- X-a только за смертью посылать{{}}≈ you could grow old waiting for X (to get back <to do the simplest little errand etc>);

- it takes X forever (and a day) to do the simplest of errands;

- X is slower than molasses (in January).

     ♦ Где ты столько времени ходишь? Тебя только за смертью посылать! Where have you been all this time? You're slower than molasses in January!