на пороге

• НА ПОРОГЕ lit

[PrepP; Invar]

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1. на пороге чего [the resulting PrepP is adv or subj-compl with copula (subj: human or collect)]

⇒ in the period or stage immediately preceding sth.:

- on the threshold (the verge, the brink) of;

|| на пороге смерти{{}}≈ at deathfc door.

     ♦ Абрам Менделевич стал ему рассказывать, что мы находимся "на пороге открытия новой науки"... (Копелев 1). Abram Mendelevich began telling him that we were uon the threshold of discovering a new science..." (1a).

     ♦ [Андрей:] Итак, Кавалеров, мы находимся на пороге великих событий (Олеша 6). [A.:] So, Kavalerov, we're on the verge of great things, eh? (6a).

2. [subj-compl with быть, стоять (subj: abstr)]

⇒ very near, very soon to come:

- X на пороге{{}}≈ X is very close (near) at hand;

- X is right on the doorstep;

- X is just (a)round the corner;

- X is (knocking) at s.o.'s (the) door.

     ♦ Потеплело, растаял снег - весна была на пороге. It got warmer and the snow melted-spring was just around the comer.