ни звука

• НИ ЗВУКА{{}}

[NPgen; Invar]

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1. [used as subj/ gen (with implied predic не слышно)]

⇒ (in some place) it is totally quiet:

- (there is) not a sound to be heard.

     ♦ Юра прошёл по дорожке, обсаженной цветами, и очутился перед двухэтажной дачей... Ни души, ни звука (Рыбаков 2). [context transl] Yuri walked along the path edged with flowers and found himself before a two-story dacha. ...There was no sign of life (2a).

2. ни звука (комуоком-чём), ни звука нет о ком-чём (где) [usu. predic (subj: human) or subjgen]

⇒ (may be used as a request or command to be silent, not to tell s.o. about sth.) one does not utter a word (about some person or thing) to s.o., not a word is written somewhere (about some person or thing):

- X ни звука (о Z-e) ни звука [past context] X didn't say anything (a word) (about Z);

- X didn't breathe a word (about Z);

|| Imper Y-y (o Z-e) ни звука{{}}≈ don't say anything (a word) (about Z) to Y;

- not (don't breathe) a word (about Z) to Y;

- not a peep to Y (about Z);

|| в книге (статье и т. п.) нет ни звука о Z-e ≈ the book (article etc) doesn't mention (say anything about) Z;

- there is nothing about Z in the book (the article etc).

     ♦ [Я] получил французскую премию "за лучшую книгу года" (дубль - и за "Раковый [корпус]", и за "Круг" ["В круге первом"]) - наши ни звука (Солженицын 2). I was awarded a French prize for "best book of the year" (for Cancer Ward and The First Circle jointly), and on our side not a word was said (2a).

     ♦ "Сергей Львович, - сказал он, войдя к хозяину, - у меня должен переночевать один товарищ. Это необходимо... Слышите? И - молчок. Никому ни звука" (Федин 1). "Sergei Lvovich," he said, going to the landlord's room, "a comrade has to spend the night with me. It's essential. ...Do you hear? And-mum's the word. Not a peep to anyone" (1a).