и было за что

[roselyndoll.livejournal.com]

A sentence from an article I am reading:
финны любили русского императора - и было за что.

I didn't understand the "и было за что" part. Could somebody explain it? Thank you!

Comments

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

The Finns loved the Russian emperor - and not without reason (lit. "and there were things [they could love him for]").

[oryx_and_crake]

Literally: There was really something to love him for. I.e. they had a reason for loving him.

[zveriozha.livejournal.com]

Eh, you were faster in posting^^

[zveriozha.livejournal.com]

"And not without reasons"
"and he earned it"

Something like that..

Literal translation is - "and there was something to love him for"

[pzrk.livejournal.com]

"... and there were reasons for that"

[roselyndoll.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!