In the beginning...

[Alina Israeli]

>I think the dinner guest had it confused with "prikazal dolgo zhit',"
>which is, indeed, a euphemism for "died."

Let's not attack the dinner guest who has a point. Here is a quote from an
unrelated text:

Годунову досталось еще то наследие. В 1584 году уважать себя заставил (то
есть, говоря прозой, дал дуба)
(http://old.russ.ru/columns/war/20040301.html)

if you need a native speaker confirmation of the meaning of the phrase.

Evgeniy Onegin is not a kind soul to take care of his sick uncle, he is
going to collect the inheritance which is announced from the beginning, but
he has to wait till his uncle dies, and that's why he has to sit with the
uncle day and night.

I wonder why his uncle didn't have any direct descendants and his nephew
got the estate? Interesting.

__________________________
 Alina Israeli
 LFS, American University
 4400 Mass. Ave., NW
 Washington, DC 20016

 phone:    (202) 885-2387
 fax:      (202) 885-1076 

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