черт несет

I

• ЧЕРТ НЕСЕТ /ПРИНЕС кого; ЧЕРТИ НЕСУТ/ПРИНЕСЛИ; НЕЛЕГКАЯ НЕСЕТ/ПРИНЕСЛА all highly coll, disapprov

[VPsubj]

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1. [if impfv, pres only]

⇒ used to express displeasure, annoyance when an unwelcome visitor arrives at the wrong or an inopportune time:

- чёрт несёт <принёс> X-a - the devil must have brought X;

- the devil must have made X come;

- damn X coming here;

- why the devil did X have to come (here)?

|| кого чёрт несёт? ≈ who the devil <the hell, in blazes> can (could) that <it> be?

     ♦ "Что, кум, ведь плохо!"... - "Да, чёрт его [Штольца] принёс! - яростно возразил Тарантьев. - Каков шельма, этот немец! Уничтожил доверенность да на аренду имение взял!" (Гончаров 1). "Well, old man. ...Things don't look very bright, do they?" "No," Tbrantyev replied furiously; "the devil must have brought him [Stolz]! What a rogue that German is! Destroyed the deed of trust and got the estate on a lease!" (1a).

     ♦ "По разговору видно, что он женится на его [Роди] сестре и что Родя об этом, перед самой болезнью, письмо получил..." - "Да; чёрт его принёс теперь; может быть, расстроил всё дело" (Достоевский 3). "From what he says it seems he's supposed to be marrying his [Rodya's] sister and Rodya received a letter about it just before his illness-" "Yes. Damn him coming here now. He might have upset the whole applecart" (3a). "You could see from what they said that he's marrying his [Rodya's] sister, and that Rodya got a letter about it just before his illness..." "Yes; why the devil did he have to come now; he may have spoiled the whole thing" (3c).

     ♦ "Кого... принесла нелёгкая? Отстали бы уж, наконец, совсем!" (Максимов 3). "Who the devil can it be? Why can't they leave me alone once and for all?" (3a).

     ♦ ...Вдруг звонок в дверь. Иду открывать, мысленно по дороге чертыхаясь: кого ещё там нелёгкая на ночь глядя принесла? (Войнович 1). ... All of a sudden the doorbell rang. I went to the door, cursing on the way: Who the hell could it be at this time of night? (1a).

2. Also: ЧЕРТ ЗАНЕС <ПОНЕС>; ЧЕРТИ ЗАНЕСЛИ/ПОНЕСЛИ; НЕЛЕГКАЯ ЗАНЕСЛА <ПОНЕСЛА>; НЕЧИСТАЯ СИЛА НЕСЕТ/ПРИНЕСЛА <ЗАНЕСЛА, ПОНЕСЛА> all highly coll, disapprov [usu. pfv]

⇒ (used to express displeasure or regret caused by s.o.'s or one's decision to go somewhere) it is unclear why or the speaker has no idea why he or s.o. is going to, is headed for, or has arrived at some place:

- чёрт занес X-a в место Y ≈ the devil knows what brought X (what made X come) to place Y;

- what the devil (the hell, the dickens, in blazes) did X (have to) come (go) to place Y for?

     ♦ "Тише ори... всех погубишь, черт сопливый. Слышишь, Штрезенские рыщут - шастают... Вот они. Замри... Ну, твое счастье, - далеко. Прошли мимо. Кой черт тебя сюда понес?" (Пастернак 1). "Not so loud. You'll give us all away, you devil Can't you hear-Strese's crowd are prowling up and down There they are. Don't breathe ..Lucky for you they've gone by. What the devil did you have to come here for?" (1a).

II

• ЧЕРТ НЕСЕТ/ПОНЕС кого; НЕЛЕГКАЯ НЕСЕТ/ПОНЕСЛА all highly coll

[VPsubj; these forms only ; foll. by infin]

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⇒ (in refer, to a reckless, foolhardy action) s.o. is going to do or has done sth. foolish:

- черт понес X-a сделать Y ≈ the devil must have prompted X to do Y;

- for some damn reason X did Y;

|| зачем чёрт несёт (понёс) X-а делать Y? ≈ what the devil (the hell, the dickens, in blazes) would X do Y for?;

- why the devil (the hell, the dickens, in blazes) is X going to do Y?;

- why the devil (the hell, the dickens, in blazes) does X want to do Y?;

- [past only] what the devil (the hell, the dickens, in blazes) made X do Y?

     ♦ "И зачем нас нелегкая несет воевать с Бонапартом?" - сказал Шиншин (Толстой 4). "And why the devil are we going to fight Bonaparte?" asked Shinshin (4a).

     ♦ "Все это, брат, хорошо; одно нехорошо: зачем тебя черт несет жениться?" (Пушкин 2). "That's all very well, brother; one thing is not, however: why the devil do you want to get married?" (2b).