С-303

НА ЧЕСТНОМ СЛОВЕ держаться coll, humor PrepP Invar subj-compl with держаться ( subj: concr, usu. пуговица, крючок, брюки etc, or abstr) fixed WO

(of a button, a hook, s.o. 's pants etc) (to hang, be held) precariously, not securely

(of a venture, an undertaking etc) (to be) in a precarious state, liable to end badly: (be) hanging by a thread (of a button etc only) (be) about (ready) to fall off (down) (be) practically ( almost) falling off ( down ) (of a venture etc only) (be) likely to fall through (to fail etc) (in limited contexts) (things are) touch-and-go.

Смотри, не потеряй пуговицу, она держится на честном слове. Be careful not to lose that button-its about ready to fall off.

Подполковник Горчаков был в ночной рубашке, в рейтузах, державшихся на честном слове, и в галошах на босу ногу (Лившиц 1). Lieutenant-Colonel Gorchakov was dressed in a nightshirt, in riding breeches which were almost falling down and in galoshes on his bare feet (1a).