М-63

СИДЕТЬ НА МЕЛИ НА МЕЛИ быты,, оказаться и т. п. both coll VP (1st var. ) or PrepP, Invar , subj-compl with copula (2nd var. ) subj: human to be (be left etc) with very little or no money

X сидит на мели = X is (almost

practically, flat etc » broke

X is (really) short of (on) cash X is without (does not have) a kopeck (a penny, a cent etc) to his name X is pressed for cash X is (completely

practically etc)) without means.

Теперь мы сами удивлялись, куда ушли все деньги и почему мы сразу на мели (Гинзбург 2). And now we were ourselves astonished at where all the money had gone

all at once we were without means (2a).