Р-285

ДЕРЖАТЬ РУКИ ПО ШВАМ VP, subj: human the verb may take the final position, otherwise fixed WO

1. Also: СТОЯТЬ (ВЫТЯГИВАТЬ/ВЫТЯНУТЬ и т. п.) РУКИ ПО ШВАМ to stand erect with one's arms extended downward at the sides of one's body (generally when standing at attention)

X стоял (вытянул) руки по швам = X stood with his hands at his sides

X held his arms at his sides X dropped his hands (arms) to his sides (in limited contexts) X stood to (at) attention.

Шура стоял руки по швам, бледный... (Шукшин 1). Shura was standing there with his hands at his sides, his face white . (1a).

2. - при ком, перед кем to be extremely deferential, obedient to s.o. , act in a humble, proper manner in his presence (out of fear of this person, respect for his professional reputation, standing etc)

X при Y-e держит руки по швам - X stands at attention (snaps to attention) in Y% presence.

Нашего директора школы все боятся - при нем даже самые отпетые хулиганы держат руки по швам. Everyone is afraid of the principal of our school - even the biggest rowdies snap to attention in his presence.