как корова жевала

как (словно, будто) корова жевала

прост., неодобр.

lit. as though a cow had been chewing it, i.e. crumpled, creased

[Пленные] немцы были поджарые, с испитыми лицами; одни почище, другие погрязнее, но в общем у всех вид не блестящий. Шинели - словно корова их жевала; на ногах худые ботинки и обмотки... (В. Панова, Кружилиха) — The Germans were scraggy, with bloated faces, some cleaner, some dirtier, but none of them of prepossessing appearance. Their coats looked as though a cow had been chewing them; their shoes and puttees were worn out.