Т-138

ЗНАТЬ (ПОНИМАТЬ) ТОЛК в ком-чём coll ЗНАТЬ ПРОК obs VP subj: human if the obj is a count noun, it is usu. pi) to have an understanding of some group of people or type of person to be extremely knowledgeable in some area, field etc: X знает толк в Y-ax (Y-e) - X knows whatfs what in (when it comes to) Y X knows all there is to know about Y X knows all about Ys (in limited contexts) X is a connoisseur (a good judge) of thing Y.

Ты гурман. Ты знаешь толк в еде и в винах... (Аксёнов 2). You're an epicure. You know what's what in food, and in wines... (2a).

...(Арина Власьевна) в хозяйстве, сушенье и варенье знала толк... (Тургенев 2).... (Arina Vlas'evna) knew all there was to know about housekeeping and the drying and preserving of fruit... (2e).

У другого, помоложе, розоватое лицо человека, который понимает толк в винах (Булгаков 5). The other man, younger, has the rosy face of a connoisseur of wines (5a).

Эта Муся Борисовна никому ничего не жалела... ее считали святой, старухи, знавшие толк в людях, целовали ей платье (Гроссман 2). She (Musya Borisovna) never grudged anyone any thing.... She had been looked on as a saint, the old women, good judges of character, used to kiss her dress (2a).