что стоит

• ЧТО <ЧЕГО> кому СТОИТ coll

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

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⇒ (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).