З-84

ЧЕСАТЬ ЗАТЫЛОК (ЗАТЫЛКИ, В ЗАТЫЛКЕ, В ЗАТЫЛКАХ ) highly coll VP subj: human

1. to be puzzled, perplexed by sth. : X чешет затылок = X scratches his head (in bewilderment (in wonder etc))

X scratches his head and wonders X is at a loss.

Инженеры часто затылки чесали: дорога, к примеру, далеко недостаточно загрунтована, а по нарядам шлака отсыпано вдвое больше, чем по проекту... (Иоффе 1). The engineers often scratched their heads in wonder-a road, for instance, was by no means sufficiently primed and yet, according to the register, twice as much clinker had been used as should have been according to plan... (1a).

2. disapprov to do nothing, usu. when one should be working

X чесал в затылке - X stood around gaping

X sat around and did nothing.