Полный русско-английский словарь
было
1. гл.; 3-е лицо ед. прош. вр. от быть 2. частица (почти, вот-вот) nearly, on the point of он было стал засыпать he had nearly fallen asleep, he was on the point of falling asleep, he was just going to fall asleep я чуть было не сказал I was on the point of saying, I nearly said чуть было не (very) nearly was just going to, was just on the point of; прекратившийся ~ дождь вдруг снова полил the rain, which had been about to stop, suddenly came on even harder; он чуть ~ не ушёл he was just on the point of leaving; чуть ~ не very nearly; я чуть ~ не забыл I almost forgot.