Английские идиомы

[bird] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, EAT LIKE A BIRD, FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS, FOR THE BIRDS, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

[pen pal] {n.} A friend who is known to someone through an exchangeof letters. John’s pen pal writes him letters about school inAlaska.

[press box] {n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that isfor newspaper men and radio and television announcers. In baseballthe official scorer sits in the press box.

[silence gives consent] If you say nothing or do not say no tosomething, it means that you agree. — A proverb. Don’t be afraid tosay, if you don’t like something. Silence gives consent.

[bear with] {v.}, {formal} To have patience with; not get angry with. Your little sister is sick. Try to bear with her when she cries. It is hard to bear with criticism. Syn.: PUT UP WITH. Compare: CARRY ONE’S CROSS.

[get in on] {v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become privyto; be included. This is your chance to get in on a wonderful dealwith the new company if you’re willing to make an investment.

[put their heads together] or [lay their heads together] {v. phr.},{informal} To plan or consider things together; discuss something as agroup; talk it over. They put their heads together and decided on agift. We laid our heads together and decided to have a picnic.

Идиома: the moment of truth Перевод: момент истины; момент, который кто-либо долго ждал Пример: The moment of truth for the sprinter came when the final qualifying race for the Olympics began. Для бегуна настал момент истины, когда начался финальный квалификационный забег для олимпийских игр.

[sooner or later] {adv. phr.} At some unknown time in the future;sometime. John will come back sooner or later. Grandpa is veryslow about fixing things around the house, but he always does itsooner or later. Compare: OR OTHER.

[put ideas into one’s head] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to dosomething negative; put one up to something. Billy would never havepoured glue into his father’s shoes if the neighbor’s son hadn’t beenputting ideas into his head.

[to the bitter end] {adv. phr.} To the point of completion orconclusion. — Used especially of a very painful or unpleasant task orexperience. Although Mrs. Smith was bored by the lecture, shestayed to the bitter end. They knew the war would be lost, but themen fought to the bitter end.

[take a spill] {v. phr.} To fall down; tip over. During theharsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people takea spill.

Идиома: tar and feather Перевод: 1. вымазать дегтем и вывалять в перьях (способ самосуда в Великобритании и США); 2. жестоко раскритиковать, наказать; смешать с грязью, облить грязью Пример: The people of the village tarred and feathered the bank robber and chased him out of town. Жители деревни вымазали дегтем грабителя банка, вываляли его в перьях, … Читать далее

[go-getter] {n.} A person who works hard to become successful; anactive, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. Thegovernor of the state has always been a go-getter. The bestsalesmen are the go-getters.

[hit the nail on the head] {v. phr.} To get something exactlyright; speak or act in the most fitting or effective way. Themayor’s talk on race relations hit the nail on the head.

Идиома: short end (of the stick) Перевод: нечестная, несправедливая доля, отношение, положение, и т. п. Пример: The man always gets the short end of the stick when he is at work. На работе к этому мужчине всегда относятся несправедливо. When I work with Ken, I always get the short end of the stick. He gives … Читать далее

Идиома: against one’s will Перевод: против чьей-либо воли Пример: The police took the man to jail against his will. Полиция забрала человека в тюрьму без его согласия.

[each other] or [one another] {pron.} Each one the other; one theother. That man and his wife love each other. Bill and Marygave one another Christmas presents last year. All the children atthe party were looking at one another trying to recognize one anotherin their masks and costumes. The birds fought each other over thebread.

[trading stamp] {n.} One of the stamps that you get because you buy something there; a stamp you getwith a purchase and save in special books until you have enough totake to a special store and trade for something you want. Motheralways buys things in stores where they give trading stamps.

[stop street] {n.} A street where cars must come to a full stopbefore crossing another street. Johnny was late because he traveledon a stop street. Contrast: THROUGH STREET.

Идиома: the man in the street / the woman in the street / the person in the street Перевод: обычный человек, обыватель, рядовой гражданин Пример: According to the man in the street the city government is not very popular. Согласно рядовому гражданину, городское правительство не очень-то популярно.

[hang in the balance] {v. phr.} To have two equally possibleresults; to be in doubt; be uncertain. Until Jim scored the winningtouchdown, the outcome of the game hung in the balance. She wasvery sick and her life hung in the balance for several days. Compare:HANG BY A THREAD.

[in touch] {adj. phr.} Talking or writing to each other; giving andgetting news. John kept in touch with his school friends during thesummer. Police anywhere in the U. S. can get in touch instantlywith any other police department by teletype. The man claimed tobe in touch with people on another planet. Compare: KEEP TRACK. Contrast: … Читать далее

[gun] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG GUN, GIVE IT THE GUN or GIVE HER THEGUN, GREAT GODFREY or GREAT GUNS, JUMP THE GUN, SON OF A GUN, STICK TOONE’S GUNS or STAND BY ONE’S GUNS, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTILTHE LAST GUN IS FIRED.

[birds and the bees ] {n. phr.}, {informal} The facts we should know about our birth. At various ages, in response to questions, a child can be told about the birds and the bees.

[grow up] {v.} 1. To increase in size or height; become taller orolder; reach full height. Johnny is growing up; his shoes are toosmall for him. I grew up on a farm. The city has grown upsince I was young. 2. To become adult in mind or judgment; become oldenough to think or decide in … Читать далее

[lay down one’s arms] {v. phr.} To cease fighting; surrender. The Civil War ended when the Confederate army finally laid down itsarms.

[at sixes and sevens] {adj. phr.} Not in order; in confusion; in a mess. He apologized because his wife was away and the house was at sixes and sevens. Our teacher had just moved to a new classroom, and she was still at sixes and sevens. After the captain of the team broke his leg, … Читать далее

[warm-up] {n.} A period of exercise or practice in preparation fora game or other event. During the warm-up the baseball players werethrowing the ball around and running up and down the side of thefield. Before the television quiz program, there was a warm-up toprepare the contestants.

[out of the question] {adj. phr.} Not worth considering;unthinkable; impossible. It sometimes snows as late as June in themountains, but the summer campers thought that snow was out of thequestion. The boys had no money, so it was out of the question forthem to go to the movies.

Идиома: in the right place at the right time Перевод: в нужное время в нужном месте Пример: I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time when I found my job. Мне повезло, и я нашел работу потому, что оказался в нужном месте в нужное время.

[heart and soul ] {n.} Eager love; strong feeling; greatenthusiasm. Often used with a singular verb. When Mr. Pitt playsthe piano, his heart and soul is in it. John plays tennis badly, but with heart and soul. Mary wanted a puppy with all her heartand soul.

[nobody’s fool] {n. phr.} A smart person; a person who knows whathe is doing; a person who can take care of himself. In theclassroom and on the football field, Henry was nobody’s fool. Contrast: BORN YESTERDAY.

[world is one’s oyster] Everything is possible for you; the worldbelongs to you; you can get anything you want. When John won thescholarship, he felt as though the world was his oyster. The richgirl acts as though the world is her oyster.

[not all there] {adj. phr.} Not completely alert mentally;absentminded; not together. Bill is a wonderful guy but he is justnot all there.

[ten gallon hat] {n.}, {informal} A tall felt hat with a wide, rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U. S. Men fromthe southwest usually wear ten gallon hats.

Идиома: get something off one’s chest Перевод: гора с плеч; поговорить о чем-либо, что беспокоит говорящего Пример: I told my father about my problem at work so that I could get it off my chest. Я рассказал отцу о своих проблемах на работе, и у меня словно гора с плеч упала.

[sort out] {v. phr.} 1. To alphabetize; arrange in numerical order. The secretary helped Professor Brown sort out his numerous indexcards. 2. To clarify. «Help me sort out these bills,» she beggedher husband.

[out of sorts] {adj. phr.} In an angry or unhappy mood; in a badtemper; grouchy. Mary was out of sorts and wouldn’t say goodmorning. Bob was out of sorts because he didn’t get a bicycle forhis birthday.

[of one’s life] {adj. phr.} The best or worst; greatest. — Usuallydescribing a time or effort. At Disneyland, Tommy had the time ofhis life. His race for the presidency was the political fight ofhis life.

Идиома: pack a punch / a wallop Идиома: pack a punch / a wallop разг. Перевод: 1. «врезать», здорово отделать; 2. оказать сильное воздействие; производить сильное впечателине; быть эффективным Пример: He’s a big guy — I should imagine he can pack a fair punch. Он большой парень, я полагаю, он может неплохо «врезать». The storm … Читать далее

[come alive] or [come to life] {v.} 1. {informal} To become alert or attentive; wake up and look alive; become active. When Mr. Simmons mentioned money, the boys came alive. Bob pushed the starter button, and the engine came alive with a roar. 2. To look real; take on a bright, natural look. Under skillful … Читать далее

Идиома: at the bottom of the ladder / on the bottom of the ladder Перевод: с самой низкой оплатой и должностью в компании или организации Пример: I will start at the bottom of the ladder at my new job. На новой работе я начну с самой низшей должности и оплаты.

Идиома: able to do (something) blindfolded Перевод: суметь сделать что-либо с закрытыми глазами; суметь сделать что-либо легко и быстро Пример: The car was easy to fix and we were able to do it blindfolded. Машину было нетрудно починить, и мы сделали это легко и быстро.

Идиома: doggy bag / doggie bag Идиома: doggy bag / doggie bag Перевод: пакет, коробка, или контейнер с остатками еды, заказанной посетителем, который посетитель ресторана может забрать с собой Пример: If we can’t eat all the lobster, ask for a doggy bag and we’ll take it home. We can have it for lunch tomorrow. Если … Читать далее

[catch at] {v.} 1. To try to catch suddenly; grab for. The boy on the merry-go-round caught at the brass ring, but did not get it. 2. To seize quickly; accept mentally or physically. The hungry man caught at the sandwich and began to eat. Joe caught at Bill’s offer to help.

[good faith] {n.} 1. Belief in another person’s honesty; trust. Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his goodfaith. — Often used in the phrase «in good faith». The teacheraccepted Bob’s excuse for being late in good faith. 2. Honesty ofpurpose; trustworthiness. John agreed to buy Ted’s bicycle for … Читать далее

[get the lowdown on] {v. phr.} To receive the full insideinformation on a person or thing. We need to get the lowdown onPeter before we can decide whether or not to hire him.

[in the red] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In an unprofitableway; so as to lose money. A large number of American radio stationsoperate in the red. A rich man who has a farm or ranch often runsit in the red, but makes his money with his factory or business. Contrast: IN THE BLACK.

[cut the ground from under] {v. phr.} {informal} To make fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for in advance. Paul wanted to be captain but we cut the ground from under him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team. Several workers applied for the retiring foreman’s job, but the … Читать далее