вот что

• ВОТ ЧТО coll

[Interj or Particle; Invar; fixed WO]

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⇒ used to introduce and draw the interlocutor's attention to a statement, or, when used at the end of a statement, to conclude and add emphasis to that statement:

- [when introducing a statement] now, listen to me;

- look here;

- here'ss the thing <the story, the deal>;

- [when recalling sth. one had not been able to recall earlier in the conversation] oh yes (, that's it);

- [when concluding a statement] that's what it is;

- that's the thing;

- that's what;

- [in limited contexts] that's the trouble.

     ♦ "Вот что, станишники [phonetic spelling = станичники]! Нам тут делать нечего. Надо уходить..." (Шолохов 3). "Now, listen to me, Cossacks! There's no point in our staying here. We've got to get away..." (3a).

     ♦ [Полуорлов:] Вот что! Не надо извращать моих слов (Рощин 2). [Р:] Look here! You don't need to twist my words (2a).

     ♦ "Да, вот что, - вспомнил он. - Тётка твоя чулки просила купить..." (Абрамов 1). "Oh yes," he remembered. "Your aunt asked me to buy her some stockings..." (1a).

     ♦ "Вы не хотите, чтоб я любил вас, вот что!" - воскликнул я мрачно... (Тургенев 3). "You don't want me to love you - that's what it is," I burst out gloomily... (3b).

     ♦ "Худо у меня, Михаил, дома, худо". - "А чего? С Марьей поцапались?" - "Ах, кабы только с Марьей! Валентина у меня больна - вот что" (Абрамов 1). "It's bad at my place, Mikhail, bad." "Why? Have you been quarreling with Marya?" "Oh, if it were only Marya. My Valentina is sick, that's the trouble" (1b).