К-24

КАКОЙ-НИКАКОЙ substand AdjP modifl perhaps (a person, thing, phenomenon is) not adequate, not very good, but at least he or it is there, available etc: какой-никакой X a bad

poor etc) X perhaps, but an X all the same

bad

poor etc) as X is, still he (it etc) is an X

bad (poor etc) as he (it etc) is, he

it etc) is an X all the same

not much of an X, but an X (all the same) (at least) some sort of an X.

Первый весенний день. Как-то не верится: и солнышко припекает, и слегка закапало. Какая-никакая худенькая весна показалась (Терц 3). The first spring day. It's hard to credit: the sun is quite hot and a few drops of melted snow fall pitapat from the roof. Still a poor and feeble thing perhaps, but spring all the same (3a).

«A хоронить будете по-православному иль по-гражданскому?» - «По-граждански». - «Тогда дороже». - «Это почему же?» - «Как сказать... От православного какой-никакой доход: глядишь, за крестиком накажут посмотреть, чтобы не слямзили...» (Федин 1). uD'you want a Christian burial or a civil one?" "A civil one." "Then its dearer." "Why is that?" "How shall I put it... From a Christian one you get some sort of profit: maybe they'll tell you to watch the cross, so's no one swipes it..." (1a).