хлопать глазами

• ХЛОПАТЬ ГЛАЗАМИ coll; ЛУПАТЬ ГЛАЗАМИ substand, both often disapprov or iron

[VP; subj: human]

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1. to open one's eyes wide and blink them (in surprise, confusion, embarrassment etc):

- X хлопал глазами{{}}≈ X Oust) stood <sat> there blinking (dumbly <confusedly etc>);

- X stood <sat etc> there blinking in bewilderment <confusion, surprise, embarrassment etc>;

|| ты что глазами хлопаешь? ≈ why are you blinking (at me) like that?

     ♦ [Пепел:] Вчера, при свидетелях, я тебе продал часы за десять рублей... три - получил, семь - подай! Чего глазами хлопаешь? (Горький 3). [R:] Yesterday, before witnesses, I sold you a watch for ten rubles. I received three rubles, now hand over the other seven. Why are you blinking at me like that? (3b).

2. to be idle, not take action when immediate action is called for:

- X хлопает глазами{{}}≈ X sits on his hands;

- X doesn't lift a finger;

- X (sits back and) does nothing.

     ♦ "Из-под носа дочь уводят... а ты, старый хрыч, глазами хлопаешь!"(Максимов 3). "Your daughter's being carried off under your very nose, and you don't lift a finger, you silly old devil" (3a).