ЕДВА ДЫШАТЬ

•ЕЛЕ <ЕДВА, ЧУТЬ> ДЫШАТЬcoll

[VP; fixedWO]

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1.[subj: human]

⇒to be very weak, decrepit, or incurably ill:

-X еле дышит••≈X is on his last legs;

-X is on his way out;

-X is declining (failing, sinking fast).

2.[subj:concr]

⇒to become dilapidated, useless, unable to carry out its function:

-X еле дышит••≈X is on its last legs;

-X is on its way out;

-X is about to fall apart;

-X has just about had it;

-X is dying;

- [of a campfireetc]X is dying down (going out).