на подбор

• (КАК <БУДТО, СЛОВНО, ТОЧНО> НА ПОДБОР coll, often approv

[(как etc) + PrepP; these forms only; usu. subj-compl with copula (subj: human, animal, or concr, pl), modif, or detached modif (variants with как etc), fixed WO]

=====

⇒ (usu. in refer, to positive physical qualities; when no particular quality is specified, implies generally positive features) (the people, animals, or things in question are) all equally exceptional, or all in possession of the specified quality to an equally high degree:

- they look as if they were handpicked (specially chosen);

- the pick of the crop (the lot etc);

- first-rate (first-class, topnotch etc) (, every single one of them);

- a choice (first-rate etc) selection;

- as pretty (good-looking etc) as they come;

- one prettier (better-looking etc) than the next;

- pretty (good-looking etc), every single one of them.

     ♦ Мать была из низовских, из-под Братска, где цокают и шипят... На Ангаре всего несколько деревень с таким выговором и с красивым, как на подбор, рослым и работящим народом, особенно женщинами... (Распутин 2). His mother came from near Bratsk where they all talked in that strange, lisping way. There were only a few villages along the Angara with pronunciation like hers and with such hardworking, handsome people, who looked as if they were handpicked, particularly the women... (2a).

     ♦ На баскетбол [в лагере] собирается множество болельщиков, играют классные команды литовцев, латышей, эстонцев, - ребята как на подбор, молодые, рослые, ловкие (Марченко 1). The basketball always used to attract large numbers of spectators: there were high class teams of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians, lads who were the pick of the camp, young, tall and agile (1a).

     ♦ [Агафья Тихоновна:] Что ж они, дворяне? [Фекла:] Все как на подбор. Уж такие дворяне, что еще и не было таких (Гоголь 1). [А.Т.:] But who are they-noblemen? [F.] Every one of them, a choice selection. And such noblemen, there's never been the like (1a).

     ♦ И вдруг все стало на свои места. "Так вот что он имел в виду! - подумал Виктор про Голема. - Умные и все на подбор талантливые... Тогда что же это выходит? Тогда выходит, что они уже не люди. Зурзмансор мне просто баки забивал" (Стругацкие 1). And suddenly everything fell into place. "So that's what he has in mind!" Viktor thought, remembering Golem. "Intelligent and talented, every single one of them. And what does it lead to? That they're not human anymore Zurzmansor was just pulling the wool over my eyes" (1a).