Без пяти минут
Bez pyati minut
Word-for-word
"Without five minutes"
English equivalent
"Just about to be / On the verge of"
What does it mean?
Almost someone or something; someone on the verge of becoming something.
Example in use
Russian
Она без пяти минут врач.
Translation
She is just about to be a doctor.
When to use
Use this to describe a state just before a milestone. If someone is about to graduate or finish a project, they are "without five minutes" (the goal).
Origin & cultural note
It comes from the clock face. If it is 4:55, it is "five minutes to five". This idiom applies this temporal metaphor to achievements and career titles.
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