чуть что

• ЧУТЬ ЧТО coll

[subord clause; Invar; fixed WO]

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1. in case some new development (usu. trouble) should occur:

- if something <anything> happens <should happen>;

- in case something <anything> happens;

- if anything crops up;

- if something (anything) goes (should go) wrong;

- in the event of trouble;

- if there's any trouble.

     ♦ [Кудряш:] А мать-то не хватится?.. [Варвара:] У нее первый сон крепок... Да и Глаша стережет; чуть что, она сейчас голос подаст (Островский 6). [К.:] But that ma of yours - no danger of her catching on?... [V.:] She sleeps like a log the first half of the night. ...Besides, Glasha is keeping watch; she'll let us know directly if anything goes wrong (6b).

2. when even the most minor problem, unpleasantness, complication etc arises, or even without any cause at all (one acts as stated):

- at the slightest excuse (provocation);

- at the least little thing;

- at the drop of a hat.

     ♦ В баню нас водили обычно два надзирателя, Ваня и Саня. Ваня маленький, черный, злой; у него была кличка "Цыган". Чуть что - орет, кроет матом, грозит, дерется (Марченко 1). We were usually taken to the bath house by two warders, Vanya and Sanya. Vanya was short, dark and bad-tempered. His nickname was "Gipsy." At the slightest excuse he started bellowing, cursing, threatening and pummeling you (1a).

     ♦ [Аннунциата:] Он очень вспыльчив, и чуть что - стреляет из пистолета (Шварц 3). [A.:] He's very quick-tempered and, at the least little thing, shoots his pistol (3a).