у ворот

• У ВОРОТ; У ДВЕРЕЙ

[PrepP; these forms only; subj-compl with copula]

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1. [subj: abstr, often the name of a month, a noun denoting a season etc]

⇒ sth. is very close, sth. will come very soon, in the immediate future:

- X у ворот{{}}≈ X is just (right) around the corner;

- X is close (near) at hand;

- X is almost upon us;

- it's almost X.

2. [subj: human (usu. pl) or collect]

⇒ some people are in immediate proximity (to s.o.), nearby:

- X-ы у ворот{{}}≈ Xs are (right) at the doorstep;

- Xs are (knocking) at person Y's (the) door;

- Xs are at the gate(s);

- Xs are almost upon person Y.

     ♦ Обезумевшими глазами [люди] хватали с обрывков нового приказа на стенах бесстрашные слова: "ЗА ДЕЛО! ВСЕ В РЯДЫ! БЕЙТЕ ТРЕВОГУ, ВРАГ У ВОРОТ!" (Федин 1). Their [the people's] panic-stricken eyes grasped the fearless words from scraps of a new order on the walls: "TO WORK! EVERYONE TO THE RANKS! SOUND THE ALARM, ENEMY AT THE GATES!" (1a).