не к спеху

• НЕ К СПЕХУ coll

[PrepP; Invar; used without negation to convey the opposite meaning]

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1. [subj-compl with copula (subj: дело, работа etc) or adv]

⇒ some matter (job etc) is not pressing, need not be taken care of immediately:

- X не к спеху{{}}≈ X isn't urgent;

- X can <will> wait;

- there's no hurry <rush>;

|| X к спеху{{}}≈ X is needed <wanted> in a hurry;

- [as adv] urgently.

     ♦ "Я своих гусар не могу жертвовать. Трубач! Играй отступление!" Но дело становилось к спеху. Канонада и стрельба, сливаясь, гремели справа и в центре... (Толстой 4). "I cannot sacrifice my hussars. Bugler! Sound the retreat!" But matters were becoming urgent. The mingled sound of cannon and musketry thundered on the right and in the center... (4a).

     ♦ ...Кузнецы, как водится, были отъявленные подлецы и, смекнув, что работа нужна к спеху, заломили ровно вшестеро (Гоголь 3). ...[The blacksmiths] were plain blackguards, as usual, and realizing that the work was needed in a hurry, charged him six times the regular price (3c).

2. кому не к спеху [impers predic with быть]

⇒ s.o. is not rushing, is not pressed for time:

- X-y не к спеху{{}}≈ X is in no hurry (rush);

- there's no hurry (rush);

- X can wait.

     ♦ [Аристарх:] Если вы, извиняюсь, здесь что-нибудь делали, ради Бога, пожалуйста, продолжайте. [Семён:] Ничего-с. Мне не к спеху (Эрдман 1). [A.:] If you, I beg your pardon, were doing something, by all means continue, please do. [S.:] Oh, that's all right. I'm in no hurry (1a).

     ♦ "Извините, - сказал он парикмахеру. - Как-нибудь в другой раз... Не к спеху... В другой раз..." (Айтматов 2). "Forgive us," he said to the hairdresser, "it'll have to be some other time. ...There's no hurry. Another time will do" (2a).