печки-лавочки

• ПЕЧКИ-ЛАВОЧКИ substand

[NP; pl only]

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1. trifles, unimportant things:

- this and that;

- nothing in particular.

     ♦ "О чём вы с ней говорили?" - подозрительно спросил Паниковский. "Так, ни о чём, печки-лавочки", - ответил Остап (Ильф и Петров 2). "What were you talking about?" Panikovsky asked suspiciously. "Oh, this and that" Ostap replied (2a).

2. (to engage in) empty talk:

- (engage in) idle chatter;

- (be) chattering (gabbing, chitchatting, yakking etc);

- chatter away.

     ♦ Хватит печки-лавочки разводить, пора за дело приниматься. Quit your yakking, it's time to get down to work.

3. печки-лавочки у кого с кем a close acquaintanceship:

- buddy-buddy relationship;

- getting chummy (with s.o.).