В-278

У ВОРОТ У ДВЕРЕЙ PrepP these forms only subj-compl with copula)

1. ( subj: abstr , often the name of a month, a noun denoting a season etc) sth. is very close, sth. will come very soon, in the immediate future

X у ворот — X is just (right) around the corner

X is close (near) at hand X is almost upon us itfs almost X.

2. (subj: human ( usu. pi) or collect ) some people are in immediate proximity (to s.o. ), nearby: Х-ы у ворот = Xs are (right) at the doorstep

Xs are (knocking) at person Yb (the) door Xs are at the gate(s) Xs are almost upon person Y.

Обезумевшими глазами (люди) хватали с обрывков нового приказа на стенах бесстрашные слова: «ЗА ДЕЛО! ВСЕ В РЯДЫ! БЕЙТЕ ТРЕВОГУ, ВРАГ У ВОРОТ!» (Федин 1). Their (the people's) panic-stricken eyes grasped the fearless words from scraps of a new order on the walls: "TO WORK! EVERYONE TO THE RANKS! SOUND THE ALARM, ENEMY AT THE GATES!" (1a).