Английские идиомы

[take part] {v. phr.} To have a part or share; join. Jim saw thenew boy watching the game and asked him to take part. The Swissdid not take part in the two World Wars.

[short of ] {adj. phr.} 1. Less or worse than. Don’t doanything short of your best. 2. Not having enough. We did not buyanything because we were short of money. The girls were asked towait on tables because the kitchen was short of help.

[play possum] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To pretend to be asleep. Johnny seemed to be fully asleep, but his mother knew that he wasplaying possum. 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escapeattention by inactivity. The rabbit played possum under the bushes, hoping the hunter would not see him. Bob played possum when theteacher … Читать далее

[out of breath] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Not breathing easily orregularly; gasping; panting. The fat man was out of breath afterclimbing the stairs. The mile run left Bill out of breath.

Идиома: stretch one’s legs Перевод: размять ноги; пройтись после того, как сидеть или лежать долгое время Пример: We stopped to stretch our legs after driving for several hours. Мы остановились, чтобы размять ноги, после того, как мы ехали несколько часов подряд.

[vote a straight ticket] {v. phr.} To not differentiate one’sballot according to individual names and posts, but to vote for allcandidates for all positions of the same party. «I never havetime. to study the ballot in detail,» Marie said, «and so I tend tovote a straight Republican ticket.»

[all right ] {adv. phr.} 1. Well enough. The new machine is running all right. 2. {informal} I am willing; yes. «Shall we watch television?» «All right.» Compare: VERY WELL. 3. {informal} Beyond question, certainly. — Used for emphasis and placed after the word it modifies. It’s time to leave, all right, but the bus … Читать далее

[sit up and take notice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be surprised intonoticing something. Grace had never impressed her teachers. Hearingthat she had won the essay contest made them sit up and take notice. George’s sudden success made the town sit up and take notice.

Идиома: beat one’s brains out Перевод: ломать голову над чем-либо; сильно трудиться, чтобы добиться чего-либо Пример: We beat our brains out in order to think of a name for the new magazine. Мы себе голову ломали, чтобы придумать название нового журнала.

[of late] {adv. phr.}, {formal} In the recent past; not long ago; ashort time ago; lately; recently. There have been too many highschool dropouts of late.

[ground rule] {n.} 1. A rule in sports that is made especially forthe grounds or place where a game is played. — Usually used in theplural. There was such a big crowd at the baseball game, that theground rules of the field were changed in case a ball went into thecrowd. 2. A rule, usually … Читать далее

[take a hand in] {v. phr.} To assist in the direction of;participate. The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand inhelping the recent refugees.

Идиома: follow someone’s lead Перевод: делать, поступать, как кто-либо другой; следовать чьему-либо примеру Пример: Everybody followed my lead and came to work early. Все последовали моему примеру, и рано пришли на работу.

Идиома: turn the tables (on someone) Перевод: поменяться ролями с кем-либо Пример: The opposing team was able to turn the tables and win the game. Противоположная команда смогла поменяться с нами ролями и выиграть игру.

[Upsadaisy!] or [Upsee-daisy!] or [Upsy-daisy!] {adv. phr.} — Apopular exclamation used when just about anything is lifted, particularly a small child raised to his or her highchair or bed. «Upsee-daisy!» the nurse said with a smile on her face, as she liftedthe baby from its bed.

[tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain orangry words; scold. When John complained about the hard work, hisfather told him a thing or two. If Bert thinks he would like tojoin the army, I’ll tell him a thing or two that will make him changehis mind. Compare: BAWL OUT, GIVE … Читать далее

[on guard] {adj. phr.} Watchful; watching. The police warnedpeople to he on guard for pickpockets during the Christmas rush. Two men are on guard at the door. Contrast: OFF GUARD.

Идиома: a clean bill of health Перевод: 1. свидетельство, удостоверяющее, что данный человек здоров; подтверждение того, что кто-либо здоров 2. гарантия качества, доказательство отсутствия неисправностей, правильной, хорошей работы чего-либо (какого-либо устройства, организации, и т. п.) Пример: The astronaut was given a clean bill of health before he began training. Космонавт прошел медицинскую проверку, и получил … Читать далее

Идиома: on duty Перевод: на службе, на работе Пример: There was nobody on duty when we arrived at the swimming pool. Когда мы пришли в бассейн, там никто не работал.

[shudder to think] {v. phr.} To be afraid; hate to think aboutsomething. The professor is so strict I shudder to think what hisfinal exam questions will be like.

Идиома: take a nap Перевод: вздремнуть Пример: I stopped to take a nap before I continued driving to see my parents. Я остановился, чтобы немного вздремнуть, перед тем, как продолжать ехать к родителям.

Идиома: a one-night stand Перевод: что-либо, что длится одну ночь Пример: The band played many one-night stands in the small towns close to the city. Эта группа исполнила много ночных концертов в небольших городках рядом с их городом.

[within an ace of] {informal} or [within an inch of] {adv. phr.}Almost but not quite; very close to; nearly. Tim came within an aceof losing the election. John was within an inch of drowning beforehe was pulled out of the water. Compare: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH.

[feel low] {v. phr.} To be depressed; be in low spirits. I don’tknow what’s the matter with Mary, but she says she has been feelingvery low all afternoon.

[flare-up] {n.} The reoccurrence of an infection or an armedconflict. He had a flare-up of his arthritis. There was a badflare-up of hostilities in some countries.

Идиома: act one’s age Перевод: вести себя по-взрослому; поступать согласно своему возрасту Пример: My friend never acts her age in public. В обществе моя подруга всегда ведет себя по-детски.

[go at it hammer and tongs] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To attack orfight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. Billslapped George’s face and now they’re going at it hammer and tongs inback of the house. Helen and Mary have been arguing all day, andnow they are going at it hammer and tongs … Читать далее

[pop the question] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask someone to marry you. After the dance he popped the question. A man is often toobashful to pop the question.

[knock the living daylights out of] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}To render unconscious. The newsalmost knocked the living daylights out of me.

[ground floor] {n.} 1. First floor of a house or building. Mrs. Turner has an apartment on the ground floor. 2. {informal} The firstor best chance, especially in a business. That man got rich becausehe got in on the ground floor of the television business.

[go to pot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be ruined; become bad; bedestroyed. Mr. Jones’ health has gone to pot. The motelbusiness went to pot when the new highway was built. Compare: GO TOWRACK AND RUIN, GO TO THE DOGS.

Идиома: out of hand Перевод: сразу же, без лишних раздумий Пример: The police dismissed my complaint about my neighbors out of hand. Полиция сразу же отклонила мою жалобу на моих соседей.

[put that in your pipe and smoke it] {v. phr.}, {informal} Tounderstand something told you; accept something as fact or reality;not try to change it. — Usually used as a command, normally only inspeech, and often considered rude. People don’t vote against SantaClaus, and you might as well put that in your pipe and smoke … Читать далее

[have been around] {v. phr.}, {informal} Have been to many placesand done many things; know people; have experience and be able to takecare of yourself. Uncle Willie is an old sailor and has really beenaround. Betty likes to go out with Jerry, because he has beenaround. It’s not easy to fool him; he’s been around. … Читать далее

[let the grass grow under one’s feet] {v. phr.}, {informal} Towaste time; be slow or idle. Grandpa spends so much time sittingand thinking that Grandma accuses him of letting the grass grow underhis feet.

[change one’s mind] {v. phr.} To alter one’s opinion or judgment on a given issue. I used to hate Chicago, but as the years passed I gradually changed my mind and now I actually love living here.

Идиома: give someone one’s word Перевод: дать кому-либо свое слово, пообещать что-либо кому-либо Пример: My friend gave me his word that he would meet me at the library. Мой друг дал мне слово, что встретит меня в библиотеке.

[in good time] or [in good season] {adv. phr.} 1. A little early;sooner than necessary. The school bus arrived in good time. Thestudents finished their school work in good time. We reached thestation in good season to catch the 9:15 bus for New York. 2. or [indue course] or [in due season] or [in due … Читать далее

[go to waste] {v. phr.} To be wasted or lost; not used. Thestrawberries went to waste because there was nobody to pick them. Joe’s work on the model automobile went to waste when he dropped it. Compare: IN VAIN.

[read between the lines] {v. phr.} To understand all of a writer’smeaning by guessing at what he has left unsaid. Some kinds ofpoetry make you read between the lines. A clever foreigncorrespondent can often avoid censorship by careful wording, leavinghis audience to read between the lines.

[turn on one’s heel] {v. phr.} To turn around suddenly. WhenJohn saw Fred approaching him, he turned on his heel. When littleTommy’s big brother showed up, the bully turned on his heel.

Идиома: take responsibility for someone or something Перевод: принять, взять на себя ответственность за кого-либо или что-либо Пример: My friend refuses to take responsibility for his problems. Мой друг не хочет принимать ответственность за свои проблемы.

[children should be seen and not heard] A command issued by adults to children ordering them to be quiet and not to interrupt. — A proverb. Your children should not argue so loudly. Haven’t you taught them that children should be seen and not heard?

[within an inch of one’s life] {adv. phr.} Until you are almostdead; near to dying. The bear clawed the hunter within an inch ofhis life. Often used after «to». The prize fighter was beaten towithin an inch of his life.

Идиома: break a record Перевод: побить рекорд, установить рекорд Пример: The team tried hard to break a record during the last week of the season. Команда очень старалась установить рекорд во время последней недели сезона.

[do justice to] {v. phr.} 1. To do as well as you should; do properly. Barbara had so many things to do that she could not do justice to her lessons. The newspaper man did not do justice to the story. 2. To eat or drink with enthusiasm or enjoyment. The boy did justice to … Читать далее

[have one’s cake and eat it too] {v. phr.} To enjoy two oppositeadvantages. You can either spend your money going to Europe or saveit for a down payment on a house, but you can’t do both. That would behaving your cake and eating it, too.

[jump on the bandwagon] or [get on the bandwagon] {v. phr.},{informal} To join a popular cause or movement. At the lastpossible moment, the senator jumped on the winning candidate’sbandwagon.

[tie in knots] {v. phr.} To make very nervous or worried. The thought of having her tooth pulled tied Joan in knots. Thelittle boy’s experience with the kidnapper tied him in knots and itwas hard for him to sleep well for a long time.

[walk of life] {n. phr.} Way of living; manner in which peoplelive. Many rich people have yachts; people in their walk of lifecan afford them. The banker did not want his son to marry a girlin a different walk of life. People from every walk of life enjoytelevision. Compare: THE TRACKS.