• КАК <БУДТО, СЛОВНО, ТОЧНО> НАРОЧНО coll
[как etc + AdvP; these forms only; adv; often parenth; fixed WO]
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⇒ (used to express annoyance, chagrin) unfortunately, as if intentionally to disrupt s.o.'s plans:
- as (ill <bad>) luck would have it;
- as if (though) on purpose;
- as if in spite;
- as if to spite s.o.
♦ Как нарочно, это случилось в ту самую пору, когда страсть к законодательству приняла в нашем отечестве размеры чуть-чуть не опасные... (Салтыков-Щедрин 1). As luck would have it, this happened at the time when the passion for lawmaking had assumed almost dangerous proportions in our fatherland (I a)
♦ Пробравшись в жилые покои, он, в темноте, прошел в её спальню, в которой горела лампада. И, как нарочно, обе горничные ее девушки ушли потихоньку без спросу, по соседству, на именинную пирушку... (Достоевский 1). Stealing into her apartments, he made his way through the darkness to her bedroom, where an icon lamp was burning. Her two maids, as if on purpose, had gone secretly, without asking permission, to a birthday party at a neighbor's house... (1a).
♦ [Анна Андреевна:] Экая досада! как нарочно, ни души! (Гоголь 4). [А.А .] Oh, it's so annoying! Not a soul about-as if to spite me (4f).
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.