• БЕЗ НОЖА РЕЗ АТЬ/ЗАРЕЗАТЬ кого highly coll
[VP; subj: human; usu. 2nd or 3rd pers; fixed WO]
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⇒ to put s.o. in an extremely difficult position:
- X Y-a без ножа зарезал{{}}≈ X put Y in a tight spot (on the spot);
- X got (left, landed) Y in a fix (in a jam).
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.