an unknown quantity

an unknown quantity
неизвестная величина, "тёмная лошадка" (особ. о человеке, про которого ничего не известно или действия которого невозможно предугадать) [первонач. математический термин (алгебра)]

Dr. Barsiny was a new man, an unknown quantity... (S. Heym, ‘The Eyes of Reason’, book I, ch. X) — Доктор Барсини был новый человек, пока еще полная для всех загадка...

The two newcomers are unknown quantities. (G. Vidal, ‘Rocking the Boat’, ‘Politics As Sport’) — Два новых кандидата на президентских выборах - фигуры доселе никому не известные.

It was the dead time of the afternoon. Donald and Felicity, who were familiar with the habits of the Demoyte household, knew that they could count on Demoyte and Miss Handforth being laid out in their bedrooms, with drawn curtains, taking their siesta. To enter the house should not be difficult. The only unknown quantity was Miss Carter herself. (I. Murdoch, ‘The Sandcastle’, ch. VIII) — В доме царила послеполуденная тишина. Шторы везде спущены. Дональд и Фелисити хорошо знали распорядок дня в доме Демойта и могли рассчитывать на то, что Демойт и мисс Хандфорт отдыхают сейчас в своих спальнях. Войти в дом нетрудно. Но в этой задаче есть одно неизвестное - сама мисс Картер.


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "an unknown quantity" в других словарях:

  • unknown quantity — noun singular someone or something that you have no knowledge or experience of but is likely to affect a situation you are involved in …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • unknown quantity — ► NOUN ▪ a person or thing whose nature, value, or significance is not known …   English terms dictionary

  • unknown quantity — {n.} Someone or something whose value and importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or place; a new and untested person or thing. * /What we would find if we could fly to the moon is an unknown quantity./ * /The new player …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • unknown quantity — {n.} Someone or something whose value and importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or place; a new and untested person or thing. * /What we would find if we could fly to the moon is an unknown quantity./ * /The new player …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • unknown quantity — noun 1. a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent (Freq. 1) I don t know what the new man will do; he s still an unknown quantity • Hypernyms: ↑factor 2. a variable whose values are solutions of an equation • Syn …   Useful english dictionary

  • unknown\ quantity — noun Someone or something whose value and importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or place; a new and untested person or thing. What we would find if we could fly to the moon is an unknown quantity. The new player is… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • unknown quantity — noun A person or thing whose nature or value is a mystery. ...the Evening Post of this city to refer to him recently as the young Belgian painter, and to the general public he is an unknown quantity …   Wiktionary

  • unknown quantity — nežinomasis dydis statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Dydis, kurio vertė nežinoma. atitikmenys: angl. unknown quantity vok. Unbekannte, f; unbekannte Größe, f rus. неизвестная величина, f pranc. grandeur inconnue, f …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • unknown quantity — nežinomasis dydis statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. unknown quantity vok. unbekannte Größe, f rus. неизвестная величина, f pranc. grandeur inconnue, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • an unknown quantity — if someone or something is an unknown quantity, you do not know much about them or what effect they will have in the future. Turner may do well in the election, though he is an unknown quantity as a campaigner. The new computer system is still an …   New idioms dictionary

  • (an) unknown quantity — an ˌunknown ˈquantity idiom a person or thing whose qualities or abilities are not yet known Main entry: ↑unknownidiom …   Useful english dictionary


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