не по летам

• НЕ ПО ГОДАМ СЛЕТАМ, ВОЗРАСТУ)

[PrepP; these forms only]

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1. не по летам какой, каков etc [usu. modif or adv]

⇒ not in accordance with one's age:

- for one's age;

- beyond one's years;

- for someone his (her etc) age;

- for a man (woman etc) of his (her etc) age;

- [in refer, to an unusually mature young person](have) an old head on young shoulders;

|| X одевается не по возрасту{{}}≈ X doesn't dress in keeping with his years (age).

     ♦ Тендел вскочил со скамейки, костистый, не по годам проворный старик, и глянул издали на Кязыма... (Искандер 5). Tendel jumped up from the bench. A bony old man, agile for his age, he looked at Kyazym from afar... (5a).

     ♦ У меня есть приятель, ещё совсем молодой, но умный и мрачный не по возрасту (Мандельштам 1). I have a certain acquaintance who, though still quite young, is both wise and gloomy beyond his years (1a).

2. не по летам (кому) [subj-compl with быть (subj: abstr or infin)]

⇒ not befitting s.o.'s age, not within s.o.'s capacity because of his age:

- X (Y-y) не по годам{{}}≈ X is unbecoming at Y's age;

- X is inappropriate for someone Y's age;

- Y is too old for X;

- Y is past X (that sort of thing).

     ♦ Я вздохнул и отвернулся. Да, да, конечно, моя страсть не по возрасту (Искандер 3). I sighed and looked away. No, of course such passion was unbecoming at my age (3a).

     ♦ [Суходолов:]...Трудно мне переживать какую-то детскую, глупенькую встречу... Не по возрасту, не по положению!.. (Погодин 1). [S.:] ... I find it hard to go through a silly, childlike encounter. ...I'm too old for it; it doesn't go with my position!... (1a).