чего стоит

I

• (ОДИН...) ЧЕГО СТОИТ coll

[VP; subj: any noun; pres or past; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ the person, thing, circumstance etc in question (which is cited as one of the factors producing the overall effect, result etc described in the preceding context) would be sufficient by himself or itself to produce the described effect, result etc:

- один X чего стоит{{}}≈ X alone is enough to...;

- look at X alone!

     ♦ "Редко где найдётся столько мрачных, резких и странных влияний на душу человека, как в Петербурге. Чего стоят одни климатические влияния!" (Достоевский 3). "Rarely will you find so many gloomy, harsh and strange influences at work on a man's soul as you will in St. Petersburg. Look at the influence of climate alone!" (3a).

II

• ЧТО <ЧЕГО> кому СТОИТ coll

[VP; impers; pres or past; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ (used to emphasize, sometimes with irony, condescension etc, how very easy it would be for s.o. or o.s. to carry out some action or fulfill some request; also used to reproach s.o. or o.s. for not having done sth.) it would not require much effort (for s.o. to do sth.):

- что X-у стоит{{}}≈ that's not too much to ask;

- that's not asking (too) much;

- it would be easy enough (for X to do sth.);

- what would it cost X (to do sth.)?;

- it wouldn't cost X anything <would cost X nothing> (to do sth.);

- [in refer, to o.s.] no problem <sweat>.

     ♦ "Сходи к нему, чего тебе стоит, попроси его..." (Пастернак 1). "Go to see him, that's not too much to ask, speak to him..." (1a).

     ♦ "А может, ещё выпьем?" - "Эт-то можно", - сказал Готтих. "Только надо сбегать, а?" - "Сами бегайте". - "Ты же всё равно хотел уйти - всё равно выйдешь на улицу - так что тебе стоит?" (Битов 2). "Maybe we should have another [drink]?" "Can do," Gottich said. "Only you have to go out for it, okay?" "Go yourself." "You wanted to leave anyway - you're going out anyway - so what will it cost you?" (2a).

     ♦ "Что вам стоит сказать слово государю, и он [Борис] прямо будет переведён в гвардию", - просила она. "Поверьте, что я сделаю всё, что могу, княгиня", - отвечал князь Василий... (Толстой 4). "It would cost you nothing to say a word to the Emperor - and he [Boris] would be transferred to the Guards at once," she pleaded. "Believe me, Princess, I shall do all I can," replied Prince Vasily... (4a).