М-212

ЕЛЕ МОЖАХУ (-ом) obs, humor ( orig. VP these forms only fixed WO

1. ( subj-compl with copula (subj: human or adv

in a very drunken state

staggering drunk

feeling no pain three sheets to the wind.

2.

adv

(to do sth. ) with difficulty, almost not (be able to do sth. ): barely

only just.

Зимнюю сессию он одолел «еле можахом», с хвостами, затевал разговор об академическом отпуске, даже пошёл без моего ведома в поликлинику, надеясь получить у врачей справку для отпуска, но там ему намылили шею (Трифонов 5). Не had barely made it through the fall semester (as it was, he had a couple of incompletes) and was starting to talk about taking a leave of absence. Without my knowledge he had even gone to the policlinic, hoping to get a leave of absence on medical grounds, instead he had gotten a good scolding (5a).

«Можаху» and «можахом» are the old forms of the 3rd and 1st person plural, respectively, of the imperfect tense.