К-30

ТЁРТЫЙ КАЛАЧ coll, occas. disapprov NP more often sing often subj-compl with copula, usu. nom (subj: human fixed WO

a person who has experienced a lot, is worldly-wise and very difficult to deceive

X - тертый калач = X wasn't born yesterday

X has been around X has been around the block X knows his way around (about) (in limited contexts) X is no-bodyfc fool X is an old hand (pro, stager).

«Что за чудесная женщина Анна Сергеевна», - воскликнул Аркадий... «Да... но чудо - не она, а её сестра». - «Как? эта смугленькая?» - «Да, эта смугленькая. Это вот свежо, и нетронуто, и пугливо, и молчаливо, и всё, что хочешь... Из этой ещё что вздумаешь, то и сделаешь а та - тёртый калач» (Тургенев 2). "What a wonderful woman Anna Sergeyevna is," exclaimed Arkady...."Yes....But the miracle's not her but her sister." "What? That little brown creature?" "Yes, that little brown creature. There you have something fresh and untouched and wild and silent and—anything you like.... You could still make anything you like out of her, but the elder-she already knows her way about" (2e).