на счету

I

• НА СЧЕТУ{{}}

[PrepP; Invar]

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1. на счету (у кого) [subj-compl with быть (subj: any count noun); if subj: sing, it is usu. preceded by каждый]

⇒ every person (or thing) is taken into consideration, is important, valued, significant:

- (y Y-a) каждый X на счету{{}}≈ every X counts (for Y);

- every X is precious (to Y);

- every X means something (a lot, a great deal) (to Y).

     ♦ ...Кто-то выпустил Абдула, он, кажется, не покусал никого, но напугал сильно и одежду порвал. Лёвке-то что, а у Антона всякая тряпочка была на счету (Трифонов 2). One of them let Abdul off the leash, and although he didn't actually bite anyone, he gave the victims a bad fright and tore their clothes. This didn't bother Lev too much, but to Anton every scrap of clothing was precious (2a).

2. на счету (,у кого) [subj-compl with быть (subj: human, often pi, or collect)]

⇒ a person or group is kept under observation (often by s.o. in a position of authority who believes that that person or group has done sth. illegal, reprehensible etc):

- все Х-ы на счету (у Y-a) ≈ all Xs are monitored by Y;

- Y keeps tab(s) (an eye) on all Xs;

- Y keeps track of all Xs;

- all Xs live (fall) under the watchful eye of Y.

     ♦ Мать Лены хотела поскорее выдать дочь замуж, и все потенциальные женихи были у неё на счету. Lena's mother wanted to marry her off as soon as possible and kept track of all eligible young men.

     ♦ Городок у нас маленький, все наркоманы на счету у милиции. Our town is small, and all the drug addicts live under the watchful eye of the militia.

3. на счету чьём, (у) кого [subj-compl with быть (subj: count abstr or concr, usu. pl) or obj-compl with иметь (obj: count abstr or concr, usu. pl)]

⇒ (s.o. has the specified achievements or, occas., undesirable actions) as part of his past experience:

- у X-a на счету много Y-ов{{}}≈ X has many Ys under his belt;

- X has many Ys to his name (his credit);

- X has racked up (accumulated etc) alot of Ys.

     ♦ У Дмитрия на счету больше ста изобретений. Dmitry has more than one hundred inventions under his belt.

II

• НА СЧЕТУ каком (у кого)

[PrepP; Invar; the resulting PrepP is subj-compl with copula (subj: human)]

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⇒ one is looked upon, perceived in the way specified:

- X на хорошем <плохом и т.п.> счету (у Y-a) - X is in good <bad etc> standing (with Y);

- X is in Y's good <bad> books;

- X is well <ill> thought of (by Y);

- X has a good <bad etc> reputation.

     ♦ В активистках в университете она не состояла, но была на хорошем счету (Мандельштам 2). Though not an activist at the university, she was nevertheless in good standing (2a).

     ♦ "А ты спроси у отрядного, что надо делать, чтобы быть на хорошем счету" (Марченко 1). "And you ask the company commander what one has to do in order to be in his good books" (1a).

     ♦ Во всё время пребывания в училище был он на отличном счету... (Гоголь 3). All the time he was at school he was well thought of... (3a).