с какой стати?

• С КАКОЙ СТАТИ?

[PrepP; Invar; adv; fixed WO]

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⇒ for what reason? (often used in questions to express the speaker's bewilderment, annoyance etc):

- why (on earth)?;

- what for?;

- why (on earth) should...?;

- [in limited contexts] what is the point (of...)?;

- what reason (does one have to...)?

     ♦ "Я боюсь, останься... Тебя убьют". - "...С какой стати меня убивать? Они меня все боятся" (Стругацкие 4). "I am afraid. Stay here...They'll kill you!" "...Why should they kill me? They're all afraid of me..." (4a).

     ♦ "Я не знаю даже, дадут ли нам утром пожрать. Боюсь, что опять не дадут: с какой стати?" (Стругацкие 2). "I don't even know if we'll get grub tomorrow morning. I'm afraid we won't get anything more. Why on earth should they feed us now?" (2a).

     ♦ "Скажите, с какой же стати надеялись, что я отыщу Жучку?.." (Достоевский 1). "Tell me, what reason did you have to hope that I would find Zhuchka?..." (1a).