не по зубам

• НЕ ПО ЗУБАМ кому highly coll

[PrepP; Invar; subj-compl with copula]

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1. [subj: a noun denoting food]

⇒ sth. is very tough, difficult for s.o. to chew:

- X Y-y не по зубам{{}}≈ X is too hard (for Y to chew);

- Y can't chew X;

- X can't manage Y.

     ♦ "...Вот здесь хороший кусочек оленьего мяса. Правда, мне он не по зубам. Он немножко жилистый..." (Гинзбург 2). "Here's a nice bit of venison for you. The fact is I can't manage it. It's too stringy for me" (2a).

2. [subj: abstr]

⇒ sth. is too difficult, complicated for s.o. to cope with:

- X Y-y не по зубам{{}}≈ X is over Y's head;

- X is too much for Y (to handle);

- X is more than Y can handle (manage);

- Y doesn't have what it takes (to do X).

     ♦ Не давай детям эту задачу. Она слишком трудная, им не по зубам. Don't give the kids this problem. It's too hard, it will be over their heads.