дать жизни

• ДАВАТЬ/ДАТЬ ЖИЗНИ highly coll

[VP; subj: human; most often pfv]

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1. кому ≈ to scold s.o. severely:

- X дал жизни Y-y ≈ X gave it to Y good;

- X gave Y hell (what for);

- X chewed (bawled) Y out;

- X lowered the boom on Y;

- X let Y have it (with both barrels);

- Y caught hell (from X).

     ♦ "...Ваше счастье, что не встретили нашего коменданта, не раздевшись, в пальто, он бы вам дал жизни..." (Гроссман 2). "You're lucky you didn't meet the commandant still in your outdoor coat. He really would have given you what for..." (2a).

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

⇒ to fight s.o. (usu. a hostile army, the enemy) vehemently, overwhelming or defeating him:

- X-ы дадут Y-ам жизни{{}}≈ Xs will crush (rout, clobber) Ys;

- Xs will run (drive) Ys into the ground.

3. дать жизни кому to beat, thrash s.o.:

- X дал жизни Y-y ≈ Xbeat Y up;

- X beat the (living) daylights out of Y;

- X beat Y within an inch of Y's life.

     ♦ ...Пантелей подумал, что, расправившись с Вадимом, вернётся и даст жизни грязному шакалу-антисемиту... (Аксёнов 6). ...Pantelei decided that, once he had dealt with Vadim, he would come back and beat up this filthy anti-Semite jackal...(6a).

4. to work, do sth. using all ones strength and energy: X даст жизни ≈ X will go all out; X will go at it <at his work etc> hammer and tongs; [usu. in refer, to a physical task]

⇒ X will (do sth.) with might and main; [in limited contexts] X will show them what he can do.