на языке

• НА ЯЗЫКЕу кого{{}}

[PrepP; Invar; the resulting phrase is usu. subj-compl with быть]

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1. [subj: вопрос, слово etc]

⇒ some question (word etc) is about to be asked, said by s.o. (who is eager to ask or say it):

- X у Y-а на языке{{}}≈ X is on the tip of Y's tongue;

- Y has X on the tip of his tongue.

     ♦ На языке у него было множество вопросов, но задать их так и не удалось. He had many questions on the tip of his tongue, but didn't get to ask them.

2. [subj: abstr]

⇒ sth. is continually mentioned, discussed, repeated:

- X у Y-ов на языке{{}}≈ X keeps popping (cropping) up (in conversation);

- Ys keep <are always, are constantly> talking about X;

- Ys talk about X all the time;

|| X у всех на языке{{}}≈ X is on everyone's lips;

- X is the talk of the town.

     ♦ Его злоключения у всех на языке - мне уже трое сегодня говорили об этом. His misadventures are the talk of the town-I've heard about them from three people already today.