• ОТВОДИТЬ/ОТВЕСТИ ДУШУ <СЕРДЦЕ obs> (с кем, на ком) coll
[VP; subj: human]
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1. (с кем, в чём) to relieve o.s. of emotional stress, find a sense of calm, soothe o.s. by having a frank conversation with s.o. or doing sth. relaxing: X отвёл душу (с Y-ом <в Z-e>) - X unburdened himself (his heart, his soul) (to Y); X eased his mind (by talking to Y <doing Z>); X relieved tension (by doing Z); X calmed himself (by talking to Y <doing Z>); [in limited contexts]
⇒ X got it off his chest; X blew off steam.
♦ ...Впервые за их недолгую, но богатую событиями совместную жизнь Пётр Васильевич постеснялся перебить жену за этим её занятием [молитвой]: "Каждому своё, пускай отведёт душу" (Максимов 3).For the first time in their brief but eventful life together, Pyotr Vasilievich hadn't the heart to interrupt his wife at this occupation of hers [praying]. "To each his own, let her unburden herself" (3a).
♦ Мне захотелось отвести с ним душу, и я, взяв его под руку, отделил от компании (Искандер 4). I had an urge to unburden my heart to him. Ikking him by the arm, I drew him apart from the company (4a).
2. (на к ом-чём) to relieve o.s. of intense anger, frustration etc by directing it at some innocent person or thing: || X отвёл душу (на Y-e) - X vented (let out) his feelings (frustration etc) on Y; X took it out on Y.
♦ ...Полицейские отводили душу на жёнах забастовщиков, которые пытались пробраться к воротам... (Эренбург 4). The gendarmes vented their feelings on the wives of the strikers who tried to get through to the gates... (4a).
♦ Снова в директоре взыграла жёлчь. Старший сын Роман год тому назад ушёл из семьи. Отец отводил душу на младших (Олеша 2). The father's bile rose. Roman, his eldest son, had left home a year earlier. The father was taking it out on his younger sons (2a).