Ш41
КАК ШВЕД (ПОД ПОЛТАВОЙ) пропал, погиб, горит и т. п.
coll, often
humor (как +
NPnom only
advfixed WO (one was or is about to be) destroyed, ruined
(one finds
o.s. ) in a hopeless, disastrous situation: (perish (be destroyed
etc)) like a Swede at Poltavago up in smoke(when the verb is in
fut or subjunctive) (perish (be destroyed
etc)) as surely as a Swede at Poltava.
Refers to the 1709 battle at Poltava, in which Russian troops won a decisive victory over the Swedes.