Use of "впору" when it doesn't mean "to fit just right"

Question

It seems that впору has another idiomatic meaning, aside from "fitting just right," as seen in this example:

“Речь профессора Стебль была едва слышна — дождь барабанил по крыше теплицы так, что граду впору позавидовать.”

And in this one:

“Невилл, брось обертку в урну, она тебе их столько надавала, что впору уже комнату обклеивать.”

Could someone please explain this usage and perhaps give me a few more examples in plain language? Also, is this literary or colloquial?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Means something like "might just as well". I would describe it as "flowery language": not exactly "colloquial" in the usual sense (often spoken in the streets) but not official too. More expected of literature or some mildly informal speech/article/interview etc.

• "Тут впору сделать заметку на полях." ~ "And now one could very well make a marginal note"
• "Теперь лицо ее просияло так, что впору было зажмуриться." ~ "Now her face was lit up to such an extent you might as well close your eyes"

Used to express the idea that something happened/happens so intensively or pronounced that you have only one thing left to do or it is the most obvious thing to do.