Ч-205

ЧУТЬ БЫЛО HE... ЧУТЬ-ЧУТЬ БЫЛО HE... (Particle these forms only usu. foil. by a pfv past verb, Part, or Verbal Adv ) s.o. was about to do sth. but did not, or began doing sth. but quickly stopped sth. was about to happen but did not, or began happening but was quickly interrupted: (very) nearly almost all but (be) on the verge of (doing sth. (happening)).

«Дура - чуть было не вышла замуж» (Грекова 3). "Fool...you nearly got married" (За).

«(Я) чуть было не прошёл мимо великого начинания». - «А что, если бы прошли?» -говорил я. «Не говори», - отвечал Платон Самсонович и снова вздрагивал (Искандер 6). То think that I almost let this great undertaking slip through my fingers!" "Well, and what if you had?" I would ask. "Don't even suggest such a thing," he (Platon Samsonovich) would answer, wincing once again (6a).

После чаю он уже приподнялся с своего ложа и чуть было не встал поглядывая на туфли, он даже начал спускать к ним одну ногу с постели, но тотчас же опять подобрал её (Гончаров 1). When he had drunk his tea, he sat up and all but got out of bed, glancing at his slippers, he even commenced lowering one foot toward them, but immediately drew it back again (1b).

«...Два-три раза он чуть-чуть было не сознался вполне, почти намекал и только разве не договаривал...» (Достоевский 2). "Two or three times he was on the verge of confessing outright, almost hinted at it, and stopped just short of telling all" (2a).