драть на себе волосы

• РВАТЬ <ДРАТЬ substand> НА СЕБЕ ВОЛОСЫ coll

[VP; subj: human; often fut or infin with готов, должен]

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⇒ to experience utter despair or become very angry with o.s. (often after having realized that undesirable consequences of sth. could have been avoided):

- X рвёт на себе волосы{{}}≈ X is tearing his hair (out);

- X is tearing out his hair;

- [in limited contexts] X could kick himself.

     ♦ [author's usage] Блудов велел, чтоб каждое губернское правление издавало свои "Ведомости" и чтоб каждая "Ведомость" имела свою неофициальную часть для статей исторических, литературных и проч. Сказано - сделано, и вот пятьдесят губернских правлений рвут себе волосы над неофициальной частью (Герцен 1). ...Bludov commanded every provincial government to publish its own newspaper, which was to have an unofficial part for articles on historical, literary, and other subjects. No sooner said than done, and the officials in fifty provinces were tearing their hair over this unofficial part (1a).

     ♦ Когда два-три часа назад ей сказали, что Митрий лежит у зарода на Марьиных лугах - отощал, идти не может, - Марфа готова была волосы рвать на себе. Господи! За что ей ещё такое наказание? (Абрамов 1). A few hours earlier, when they had told her that Mitry was lying by the hayrick in Mariny Luga, emaciated and unable to walk, Marfa had been ready to tear out her hair. God! Not another cross to bear! (1a).