З-188

HE ПО ЗУБАМ кому highly coll PrepP Invar subj-compl with copula)

1. ( subj: a noun denoting food) sth. is very tough, difficult for s.o. to chew

X Y-y не по зубам - X is too hard (for Y to chew)

Y can't chew X X can't manage Y.

"...Вот здесь хороший кусочек оленьего мяса. Правда, мне он не по зубам. Он немножко жилистый...» (Гинзбург 2). "Here's a nice bit of venison for you. The fact is I can't manage it. It's too stringy for me" (2a).

2. ( subj: abstr) sth. is too difficult, complicated for s.o. to cope with

X Y-y не по зубам = X is over Y's head

X is too much for Y (to handle) X is more than Y can handle (manage) Y doesn't have what it takes (to do X).

He давай детям эту задачу. Она слишком трудная, им не по зубам. Don't give the kids this problem. It's too hard, it will be over their heads.