не чувствовать ног под собой

• НЕ ЧУВСТВОВАТЬ <НЕ СЛЫШАТЬ coll, НЕ ЧУЯТЬ coll> НОГ ПОД СОБОЙ{{}}

[VP; subj: human; pres or past]

=====

1. [usu. Verbal Adv не слыша, не чуя etc]

⇒ to run very fast:

- X бежал, не чуя ног под собой ≈ X was running at full speed <at breakneck speed, (at) full tilt, as fast as his legs could carry him>;

|| X бегал, не чуя ног (под собой) ≈ X was flying about.

2. to be extremely tired, exhausted (from much walking, running, difficult labor etc):

- X ног под собой не слышал{{}}≈ X was ready to drop (collapse);

- X was dead on his feet;

- X was dropping in his tracks;

- X was dead tired;

- [in limited contexts] X was tuckered out.

     ♦ Весь день ей некогда было передохнуть, и к вечеру она ног под собой не чуяла. She didn't have a chance to take a break all day and by evening was ready to collapse.

3. to be very happy, be in ecstasy (over sth.):

- X ног под собой не чует{{}}≈ X is walking (treading) on air;

- X is beside himself (with joy etc).

     ♦ Прошло несколько окрыляющих мгновений, я шагал по дорожке сквера, не чувствуя под собой ног, и чем дольше я шёл, тем очевидней становилось моё спасение, и я двигался вперёд ликующими шагами (Искандер 4). Several encouraging instants went by. I strode down the garden path, treading on air. The longer I walked, the more obvious it became that I was safe, and I moved forward with exulting steps (4a).