и то сказать

• (ДА) И ТО СКАЗАТЬ coll

[these forms only; sent adv (parenth); precedes the statement with which it is used; fixed WO]

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⇒ used for emphasis with a statement that corroborates, explains, justifies etc sth. previously stated:

- after all;

- [in limited contexts] and with good reason;

- (and) well one might.

     ♦ "Вам трудно, да все же вы дома; а они - видите, до чего они дошли, - сказал он [Кутузов], указывая на пленных. - Хуже нищих последних... А и то сказать, кто же их к нам звал? Поделом им..." (Толстой 7). "...It is hard for you, but still you are at home while they-you see what they have come to," he [Kutuzov] said, pointing to the prisoners. "Worse off than our poorest beggars. ...But after all, who asked them here? Serves them right..." (7b).

     ♦ Парк, молодая красавица, ресторан на воде, рубль нищему - такое злачное количество другой жизни ослепило и Леву, и он пошел домой, раздавленный. И то сказать, - время ещё было тяжелое... (Битов 2). A park, a beautiful young woman, a restaurant on the water, a ruble for a beggar-such a lush quantity of other life dazzled Lyova, too, and he went home overwhelmed. Well he might; times were still hard... (2a).