на ходу подметки рвет

• НА ХОДУ ПОДМЕТКИ РВЕТ <РЕЖЕТ> highly coll, occas. disapprov

[VP; subj: human; 3rd pers only; fixed WO]

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⇒ one is extremely resourceful and aggressive (in attaining sth.):

- X на ходу подмётки рвёт{{}}≈ X (certainly) doesn't waste any time;

- X is a (real) go-getter;

- [in limited contexts] X is slick (a slick customer);

- X is pretty brazen;

- X is (a young man <woman>) on the make;

- X is a (one) fast climber;

- X is pushing his way to the top.

     ♦ Ну и парень - на ходу подметки рвёт: только две недели, как поступил на работу, а уже без него начальник и часу прожить не может. What a shrewd guy, he certainly doesn't waste any time: he's been on the job for all of two weeks and already the boss can't get by for a single hour without him.

     ♦ Из-за поворота выкатил встречный "ЗИЛ" Жорки Борбаряна... "Э-и-ей, дядя Митя!" - крикнул Жорка, высовывая голову из окна, и в голосе его, конечно, было восхищение сноровкой старшего товарища. Дядя Митя только успел ему сделать ручкой. Жорку он уважал. Подпирает молодёжь, на ходу подмётки рвёт (Аксенов 10). From round a bend Zhorka Borbaryan's Zil came at them. ..."Heh-e-eh, Old Mitya!" Zhorka shouted, sticking his head out of the window, his voice, of course, full of delight at his old mate's technique. Mitya had time only to wave. He had a great respect for Zhorka. These youngsters were pushing their way in-brazen they were (10a).