• ТЯНУТЬ КОТА ЗА ХВОСТ coll, disapprov
[VP; subj: human; often neg imper; fixed WO]
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⇒ to talk tediously, too slowly, not to the point, or be slow to answer a question:
- X тянет кота за хвост{{}}≈ X hems and haws;
- X beats around (about) the bush;
- X drags it out;
|| Neg Imper не тяни кота за хвост{{}}≈ spit it out;
- get to the point.
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.