на то

• НА ТО И; НА ТО

[PrepP; these forms only; usu. adv; often foll. by a чтобы-clause]

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⇒ used when emphasizing that the given statement expresses the main function (job, role) or characteristic feature of s.o. or sth.:

- (after all,) that's what a [NP] is for <does>;

- (after all,) that's what [NPs] are for <do>;

- that <it> is what is to be expected (of a [NP] <in some place etc>);

- [in limited contexts] the job of a [NP] is to...;

- (asa [NP],) that'syour (his etc) job (department);

- that's what [NP] is about;

- the [NP], being the [NP],...

     ♦ Правда, пожары в Гаграх, как в турецкой бане, случались крайне редко, но на то и санитарные меры (Искандер 3). Admittedly, fires were as rare in Gagra as in a Turkish bath, but that's what public safety measures are for (3a).

     ♦ Комиссар почувствовал свою вину за то, что в госпитале умирают люди. До приезда [Людмилы] Шапошниковой его это не тревожило, на то и госпиталь во время войны (Гроссман 2). The commissar felt guilty because men were dying in his hospital. Until Lyudmila's visit this had never disturbed him: it was what was to be expected in a military hospital (2a).

     ♦ "Душегуб ты..." - "Это какой же я душегуб?" - "Истинный! Кто Петра убил? Не ты?" - "Я... А ежели б Петро меня поймал, что бы он сделал?.. Он бы тоже меня убил... На то она и война" (Шолохов 5). "You're a murderer..." "Me? A murderer?" "Indeed, you are! Who killed Petro? Wasn't it you?" "Yes. ...Suppose Petro had caught me, what would he have done?...He'd have killed me the same... That's what war's about" (5a). + ...Царь на то и царь, чтобы, не останавливаясь, ехать к своему почётному месту (Искандер 5). The czar, being the czar, rides to his place of honor without stopping (5a).