Ч-96

ЧЁРТ (НЕЛЁГКАЯ) НОСИТ кого ЧЕРТИ НОСЯТ all highly coll , rude VPsubJ often used in questions)

1. Also: ЧЕРТИ ТАСКАЮТ

ЧЁРТ ТАСКАЕТ both highly coll , rude s.o. is not where he is needed or supposed to be, s.o. is wandering about somewhere and cannot be found: где X-a черт носит? - where the hell (the devil, the dickens, in blazes) is X?

X-a где-то черт носит = the devil knows where X is

X is off hell (the devil) knows where.

(Городничий:) Где вас черт таскает? (Держиморда:) Был по приказанию... (Гоголь 4). (Mayor:) Where the devil have you been? (D.) I was acting on your orders... (4d).

2. Also: ЛЕШИЙ (БЕС) НОСИТ highly coll , rude ( obj: often кого-то, кого) s.o. is outside and in the vicinity of the speaker(s) at an unusual and/or inappropriate time (used to express annoyance, displeasure etc)

X-a (кого-то) чёрт носит — for some damn reason X (somebody) is hanging around here (there etc)

why the hell (the devil, the dickens, in blazes) would X (anybody) want to be out at this hour (outside at this hour, out there at this time of night etc)?

кого чёрт носит? - who the hell (the devil etc) could that be (at that hour)?

who the hell (the devil etc) is that?