ни бе ни ме ни кукареку

• НИ БЕ НИ МЕ (НИ КУКАРЕКУ) highly coll

[these forms only; fixed WO]

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1. ни бе ни ме ни кукареку (в чём) [usu. predic with subj: human]

⇒ one knows, understands etc nothing (about sth.):

- X (в Y-e) ни бе ни ме{{}}≈ X doesn't know <understand> a thing (the first thing) about Y;

- X doesn't know beans (squat) about Y;

- [in refer, to one's command of a foreign language, technical jargon etc] X doesn't know (understand) a word of Y;

- [in refer, to a foreign language only] X can't say two words in (speak a word of) Y.

     ♦ "И как это таких людей за границу посылают, когда они ни бе ни ме ни по-каковски?" (Трифонов 4). "And how is it they send such [people] abroad when they can't say two words in any other language?" (4a).

2. [predic (with subj: human) or obj]

⇒ one says nothing, keeps silent:

- X (не говорит) ни бе ни ме{{}}≈ X doesn't say boo;

- X doesn't let out a peep;

- X doesn't utter a sound.