как на ладони

• КАК <БУДТО, СЛОВНО, ТОЧНО> НА ЛАДОНИ <НА ЛАДОШКЕ, НА ЛАДОНКЕ obs> coll

[как etc + PrepP; these forms only]

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1. (видно, видеть кого-что и т.п.) - [adv or subj-compl with быть (subj: usu. concr, often всё)]

⇒ sth. is very clearly and distinctly visible, (to see s.o. or sth.) very clearly:

- (be) in full (plain) view;

- (be <stand>) open to view;

- (be as clearly visible) as if it were (spread out) on the palm of one's hand.

     ♦ Городок стоит открыто, как на ладони, кругом ни ветлы; где-то очень далеко, на самом краю неба, чернеется лесок (Достоевский 3). The town stands open to view; there is not a single willow tree around it; somewhere very far off, at the very edge of the sky, is the black line of a little forest (Зс).

     ♦ По стеклянным ступеням мы поднялись наверх. Всё - под нами внизу - как на ладони... (Замятин 1). We ascended the glass stairs. Everything below was as clearly visible as if it were spread out on the palm of my hand (1a).

2. [subj-compl with быть (subj: human or, less often, abstr)]

⇒ everything about (a person, his life etc) is clear, evident, there is nothing secretive, hidden from view:

- X как на ладони{{}}≈ person X is an open book;

- (you can read person X) like a book;

- thing X is so (absolutely) clear (transparent, plain).

     ♦ ...Ведь ты же знаешь все мои институтские штучки, ведь я у тебя весь как на ладони (Аксёнов 1). ... You know all my college-kid tricks, I'm an open book to you... (1a). ...Его безупречное притворство было как на ладони (Окуджава 2). ...His impeccable pretense was so transparent (2a).

3. как на ладони выложить (кому) что, показать кому что и т.п. [adv]

⇒ (to tell, reveal sth. to s.o.) straightforwardly, clearly, and completely:

- candidly;

- openly;

- concealing (withholding, suppressing) nothing.