ни с места

• НИ С МЕСТА coll

[PrepP; Invar]

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1. [indep. sent]

⇒ (used as a command) stand still, do not make the slightest movement:

- don't move!;

- stay where you are!;

- stay put!;

- freeze!

     ♦ "Отрезвел я, когда они закрыли дверь кассы и длинный, вытащив наган, сказал: "Руки вверх, ни с места!"" (Семенов 1). "I sobered up when they closcd the door of the bank and the tall one pulled out a revolver and said: 'Hands up! Don't move!'" (1a).

2. [predic (subj: human, animal, or a noun denoting a vehicle)]

⇒ to remain in the same position, not move from one's or its place:

- X - ни с места{{}}≈ X won't (can't) move an inch;

- X won't budge (an inch).

     ♦ "Ужасные бестии эти азиаты! Вы думаете, они помогают, что кричат? А черт их разберет, что они кричат? Быки-то их понимают; запрягите хоть двадцать, так коли они крикнут по-своему, быки всё ни с места..." (Лермонтов 1). "They're terrific rogues, these Asiatics! You don't think their yelling helps much, do you? You can't tell what the devil they're saying. But the oxen understand them all right; hitch up twenty of the beasts if you wish and they won't budge once those fellows begin yelling in their tongue..." (1b)

3. [predic (subj: abstr or human)]

⇒ (of work, matters etc) not to show any advancement, to be in the same state as previously:

- X ни с места{{}}≈ X is making no progress (headway);

- X is getting nowhere;

- there is (person Y is making) absolutely no progress with thing X;

- X is at a (complete) standstill.

     ♦ [Муромский:]...Пять месяцев я здесь живу... - а дело ни с места! (Сухово-Кобылин 1). [М.:] Here I am, five months already...and there's been absolutely no progress with the case! (1a).