БЫЛО


Русско-английский перевод БЫЛО

1. 3 л. ед. прош. вр. см. быть

2. частица разг.

nearly; ( вот-вот ) on the point of (+ ger. )

он было стал засыпать — he had nearly fallen asleep, he was on the point of falling asleep, he was just going to fall asleep

он было вовсе не хотел приезжать — he was on the point of not coming at all; he very nearly didn't come at all

чуть было не — (very) nearly; on the point of

он чуть было не забыл — he very nearly forgot

его чуть было не убило — he was nearly killed

он чуть было не ушёл — he was just about to leave, he was on the point of going

Смирнитский. Русско-английский словарь сокращений Смирнитского.      Russian-English Smirnitsky abbreviations dictionary.