• У ВОРОТ; У ДВЕРЕЙ
[PrepP; these forms only; subj-compl with copula]
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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;
- it's almost X.
2. [subj: human (usu. pl) or collect]
⇒ some people are in immediate proximity (to s.o.), nearby:
- X-ы у ворот••≈ Xs are (right) at the doorstep;
- Xs are (knocking) at person Y's (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).