да что...!

• ДА ЧТО...! coll

[Particle; Invar; foll. by NP]

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⇒ used in exclamations to show that the commentary in the preceding context, which refers to the person(s), thing(s) etc reintroduced by the idiom, is in some way an understatement or does not reflect the entirety of the situation, and that what is to follow is both more extreme and closer to the truth:

- what am I saying, [+ the word or phrase in question from the preceding context];

- s.o. < sth.> isn't the half of it!;

- and not just <only>...!

     ♦ "Вы, может быть, думаете, что наука - это лёгкое дело? Это, сударыня, годы труда, самоотверженного и незаметного! Да что там годы - вся жизнь!" (Каверин 1). "Perhaps you think that scientific research is an easy thing? Madam, it means years of labour, selfless and unregarded! What am I saying: years-one's whole life!" (1a).

     ♦ И тут не только дети, но и все друзья Джамхуха завизжали от восторга! Да что друзья Джамхуха, даже куры радостно закудахтали... (Искандер 5). Not just the children but all Jamkhoukh's friends, too, now squealed with delight! And not just Jamkhoukh's friends, even the chickens set up a glad cackle... (5a).