- ни то ни се
- • НИ ТО НИ СЕ coll, usu. disapprov[NP; Invar; usu. this WO]=====1. [subj-compl with быть, оказаться (subj: human) or nonagreeing modif]⇒ a person or thing that lacks distinguishing characteristics or features, that is mediocre:- neither this nor that;- neither one thing nor the other;- nothing out of the ordinary;- run-of-the-mill;- nondescript;- [in limited contexts] betwixt and between.♦ ...В одном звуке этого слова [миллионщик]... заключается что-то такое, которое действует и на людей подлецов, и на людей ни то ни сё, и на людей хороших, - словом, на всех действует (Гоголь 3). ...The mere sound of the word ["millionaire"]... contains something that affects people of all descriptions: the ones who are scoundrels, the ones who are neither this nor that, and those who are really good-in short, it affects everybody (3c).♦ Есть род людей, известных под именем: люди так себе, ни то ни сё... (Гоголь 3). There is a type of man who is described as "so-so," neither one thing nor the other... (3a).2. rare [adv]⇒ in a mediocre way, neither well nor poorly, neither positively nor negatively etc:- so-so;- fair to middling.♦ "Как твой сын учится?" - "Ни то ни сё". "How is your son doing in school?" "Fair to middling."3. rare [often used as an indep. remark] used to relay one's own or someone else's previous or expected noncommittal response to a question, suggestion etc:- neither yes nor no;- one remains noncommittal;- one doesn't give (s.o.) any definite answer.
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.