прибрать к рукам

• ПРИБИРАТЬ/ПРИБРАТЬ К РУКАМ

[VP; subj: human; usu. pfv]

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1. прибрать к рукам кого to make s.o. submit to o.s. (esp. when trying to make him change his behavior):

- X прибрал Y-а к рукам{{}}≈ X took Y in hand;

- X gained the upper hand (over Y).

     ♦ "На днях покровский пономарь сказал на крестинах у нашего старосты: полно вам гулять; вот ужо приберёт вас к рукам Кирила Петрович. Микита кузнец и сказал ему: и, полно, Савельич, не печаль кума, не мути гостей...; да ведь на чужой рот пуговицы не нашьешь" (Пушкин 1). "Just the other day the sacristan from Pokrovskoe said at a christening held at our elder's house: The good times are over: you'll see what it's like when Kirila Petrovich takes you in hand.' Mikita the blacksmith answered him. 'Enough of that, Savelich,' he says, 'don't sadden the godfather, don't upset the guests. ...' But people will talk" (1a).

     ♦ Была у него хозяйка, да вот он, видно, не сумел прибрать её к рукам... (Искандер 4). He had a wife, but he must have failed to gain the upper hand over her... (4a).

2. прибрать к рукам что disapprov (in refer, to sth. that one has no right to) to appropriate sth., take sth. into one's possession willfully:

- X прибрал Y к рукам{{}}≈ X got (laid) his hands on Y;

- X seized Y;

- [in refer, to power, a business etc] X took over Y (completely);

- X secured Y;

- [in refer, to power only] X took hold ofY;

- [in refer, to money, goods etc only] X helped himself to Y;

- [in limited contexts] X pocketed (swiped) Y.

     ♦ [author's usage] Взято было тут же тысяча пятьсот человек пленных, тридцать восемь орудий, знамена и, что важнее всего для казаков, лошади, сёдла, одеяла и различные предметы. Со всем этим надо было обойтись, прибрать к рукам пленных, пушки, поделить добычу... (Толстой 7). Fifteen hundred prisoners and thirty-eight guns were taken on the spot, besides standards and, most important to the Cossacks, horses, saddles, horsecloths, and the like. All this had to be dealt with, the prisoners and guns secured, the booty divided... (7a).