Akademik

еле можаху

• ЕЛЕ МОЖАХУ (-ом) obs, humor

[orig. VP; these forms only; fixed WO]

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1. [subj-compl with copula (subj: human) or adv]

⇒ in a very drunken state:

- staggering drunk;

- feeling no pain;

- three sheets to the wind.

2. [adv]

⇒ (to do sth.) with difficulty, almost not (be able to do sth.):

- barely;

- only just.

     ♦ Зимнюю сессию он одолел "еле можахом", с хвостами, затевал разговор об академическом отпуске, даже пошёл без моего ведома в поликлинику, надеясь получить у врачей справку для отпуска, но там ему намылили шею (Трифонов 5). He had barely made it through the fall semester (as it was, he had a couple of incompletes) and was starting to talk about taking a leave of absence. Without my knowledge he had even gone to the policlinic, hoping to get a leave of absence on medical grounds; instead he had gotten a good scolding (5a).

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← "Можаху" and "можахом" are the old forms of the 3rd and 1st person plural, respectively, of the imperfect tense.

Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.