ни то ни се

• НИ ТО НИ СЕ coll, usu. disapprov

[NP; Invar; usu. this WO]

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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.