Д-372

ДУША 6БЩЕСТВА NP sing only usu. subj-compl with copula (subj: human fixed WO

the most lively, charismatic, and witty member of a social gathering, the life (and soul) of the party.

...Профессор математики, Владимир Андреевич Т., ленинградец, образованный, ироничный говорун, привык везде быть «душою общества» и задавать тон (Копелев 1). ...А professor of mathematics, Vladimir Andreevich T , a Leningrader, and an educated, ironic talker . was used to always being the "life of the party" and setting the tone (1a).

Ух, дядя Митя веселился на свадьбе! Читал куплеты, разыгрывал с тещей сценки, пел, плясал - в общем, был душой общества (Аксенов 10). Oh, how Old Mitya enjoyed himself at the wedding! He recited couplets, acted scenes with his mother-in-law, sang and danced-in short, he was the life and soul of the party (10a).