Н-51

КАК НЁБО ОТ ЗЕМЛИ отличаться coll (как + NP Invar adv fixed WO

(to differ) very much, sharply

X отличается от Y-a как небо от земли = X and Y are as different as heaven and earth (as night and day )

X is the exact (the very) opposite of Y X is poles apart from Y X and Y are poles (worlds) apart.

"Я не понимаю, отец, как с добрейшей душой, какая у тебя, и таким редким сердцем ты будешь принимать человека, который как небо от земли от тебя, о котором сам знаешь, что он дурён» (Гоголь 3). "I can't understand, father, how a man with a heart of gold like yours, a man as kind as you, can go on receiving a man who's the very opposite of you and who you know yourself is a bad character" (За). "I don't understand, father, that a man with a heart of gold like yours can go on receiving a person who is poles apart from you and whom you yourself know to be a bad character" (3d).