Английские идиомы

[take someone for a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To cheat orswindle someone. Poor Joe Catwallender was taken for a ride. 2. Tokill someone after kidnapping. The criminals took the man for aride.

[fair play] {n.} Equal and right action ;justice. The visiting team did not get fair play in the game. The judges decided against Bob, but he said that he had gotten fairplay. Sally’s sense of fair play made her a favorite with herclassmates.

Идиома: scandal sheet Перевод: бульварная газета, желтая пресса Пример: All scandal sheets reported the story. Все бульварные газеты сообщили об этой истории.

[corn belt] {n.} 1. The Midwest; the agricultural section of the United States where much corn is grown. Kansas is one of the slates that lies within the corn belt.

[let’s don’t] also [don’t let’s] {substandard} Let’s not; let usnot; I suggest that we don’t. «‘Let’s go out and play,» said Fred.»Let’s don’t until the rain stops,» said Mary. Don’t let’s go now. Let’s go tomorrow instead.

[sell down the river] {v. phr.} To give harmful information aboutsomeone or something to one’s enemies; betray. The traitor sold hiscountry down the river to the enemy army. The criminal told thehiding place of his companions and sold them down the river. Compare:SELL OUT.

[set back] {v.} 1. To cause to put off or get behind schedule; slowup; check. The cold weather set back the planting by two weeks. 2.{informal} To cause to pay out or to lose ; cost. His new car set him back over $3000.

[stab in the dark] {n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at somethingwithout previous experience or knowledge of the subject. «You’reasking me who could have hidden grandpa’s will,» Fred said. «I reallyhave no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark — I think my sisterHermione has it.»

Идиома: in one’s heart of hearts Перевод: в глубине души Пример: In his heart of hearts, I don’t think he wants to win this election. В глубине души, мне кажется, он не хочет победить в этих выборах.

Идиома: more than meets the eye Перевод: что-либо, что сложнее, интереснее, любопытнее, чем кажется поначалу Пример: There must be more to him than meets the eye, or else why would she be interested in him? В нем должно быть что-то еще, чего мы не видим, почему еще она бы заинтересовалась им?

Идиома: all in all / all-in-all Перевод: в общем, в целом Пример: We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful. У нас были некоторые проблемы, но в целом собранием было успешным.

[fall short] {v.} To fail to reach ; not succeed. Hisjump fell three inches short of the world record. The movie fellshort of expectations. Contrast: MEASURE UP.

Идиома: take office Перевод: вступать в должность Пример: The new mayor of the city is expected to take office next week. Ожидается, что новый мэр города вступит в должность на следующей неделе.

[bury the hatchet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a quarrel or end a war; make peace. The two men had been enemies a long time, but after the flood they buried the hatchet. Compare: MAKE UP.

[run its course] {v. phr.} To fulfill a normal development;terminate a normal period. Your flu will run its course; in a fewdays you’ll be back on your feet.

[sound effects] {n.} The noises made to imitate real sounds in aplay, movie, or program. Greg agreed to plan the sound effects forthe class play. The movie was good but the sound effects were notvery true to life.

Идиома: think little of someone or something Перевод: быть не высокого мнения о ком-либо или чем-либо Пример: The woman is not very happy and she seems to think little of the people she works with. Эта женщина не очень счастлива, и она, кажется, не очень высокого мнения о людях, с которыми работает.

[to be on the safe side] {adv. phr.} To take extra precautions;reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or evendanger. Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank’s safe depositbox, just to be on the safe side. Compare: JUST IN CASE.

[between life and death] {adv. phr.} In danger of dying or being killed; with life or death possible. He held on to the mountain side between life and death while his friends went to get help. The little sick girl lay all night between life and death until her fever was gone.

[on one’s toes] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Alert; ready to act. Thesuccessful ball player is always on his toes. Compare: HEADS-UP, ONTHE BALL.

[get a load of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look at; see — Often used to show surprise oradmiration. Get a load of that pretty girl! Get a load ofDick’s new car! Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or withinterest, especially exciting news. — Often used as a command: Get … Читать далее

[leg work] {n.}, {informal} The physical end of a project, such asthe typing of research reports; the physical investigating of acriminal affair; the carrying of books to and from libraries; etc. Joe, my research assistant, does a lot of leg work for me.

[tread water] {v. phr.} To keep the head above water with the bodyin an upright position by moving the feet as if walking. He keptafloat by treading water.

[on the lookout] {adj. phr.} Watching closely. The little boywas on the lookout for his father. Forest rangers are always onthe lookout for forest fires. The doctor is on the lookout for anew secretary.

[have one’s ass in a sling] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar},{avoidable} To be in an uncomfortable predicament; to be in thedog-house; to be at a disadvantage. Al sure had his ass in a slingwhen the boss found out about his juggling the account.

Идиома: be / get out from under (someone or something) Перевод: выпутаться из сложного положения, выкарабкаться, освободиться Пример: I would like to get out from under my boss who is always watching my work. Хотел бы я освободиться от своего начальника, который всегда наблюдает за моей работой.

[make love] {v. phr.} 1. To be warm, loving, and tender towardsomeone of the opposite sex; try to get him or her to love you too. There was moonlight on the roses and he made love to her in the porchswing. 2. To have sexual relations with. It is rumoredthat Alfred makes love to every … Читать далее

Идиома: canned laughter / fake laughter / laughter track / laugh track Перевод: закадровый смех, записанный на пленку смех (обычно вставляемый в разные телевизионные передачи) Пример: It was obviously a canned laughter and not a real one. Очевидно, это был записанный заранее смех, а не настоящий.

Идиома: foam at the mouth Перевод: стать очень злым, крайне раздраженным, прийти в бешенство, кипеть от злости Пример: My father was foaming at the mouth when I told him that I had damaged his car. Мой отец пришел в бешенство, когда я сказал ему, что повредил его машину.

[on cloud nine] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Too happy to think of anythingelse; very happy. Ada has been on cloud nine since the magazineprinted the story she wrote. We were on cloud nine when our teamwon the state championship. Compare: ON TOP OF THE WORLD, WALK ONAIR.

[to the fore] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Into leadership; out intonotice or view; forward. The hidden skill of the lawyer came to thefore during the trial. In the progress of the war some new leaderscame to the fore.

[open up] {v.} 1. To show for the first time; make clear; reveal. The story of Helen Keller’s life opened up a whole new world toMary. Einstein’s theories opened up a whole new area for study. 2. To make available; present an opportunity; offer. The buildingof the railroad opened up new lands to the pioneers. … Читать далее

[make a hit] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be successful; be well-liked;get along well. Mary’s new red dress made a hit at the party. Alice was so happy that her boyfriend made a hit with her parents. Compare: GO OVER.

[boiling point] {n.} 1. The temperature at which a liquid boils. The boiling point of water is 272 Fahrenheit. 2. The time when you become very angry. He has a low boiling point. After being teased for a long time, John reached the boiling point. When John made the same mistake for the fourth time, … Читать далее

[on the tip of one’s tongue] {adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember itfor the moment. «His name is on the tip of my tongue,» Tom said.»It will come to me in a minute.»

[for a song] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At a low price; for a bargainprice; cheaply. He sold the invention for a song and its buyerswere the ones who got rich. They bought the house for a song andsold it a few years later at a good profit.

[in the — place] {adv. phr.} As the thing in order or importance; first, second, or third, etc. — Used with «first», «second», «third», and other ordinal numbers. No, you cannot go swimming. In the first place, the water is toocold; and, in the second place, there is not time enough beforedinner. Stealing is wrong, … Читать далее

[clear the air] {v. phr.} To remove angry feelings, misunderstanding, or confusion. The President’s statement that he would run for office again cleared the air of rumors and guessing. When Bill was angry at Bob, Bob made a joke, and it cleared the air between them.

[load the bases] or [fill the bases] {v. phr.} To get men on allthree bases in baseball. The Mets loaded the bases with two singlesand a base on balls. Don hit a home run with the bases loaded.

[go in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do; take part in; takepleasure in. Most girls do not go in for rough games. Mrs. Henry goes in for simple meals. Compare: GO INTO, TAKE UP.

[straight face] {n.} A face that is not laughing or smiling. Mary told all the funny stories she knew to try to make Joan laugh, but Joan kept a straight face. It is hard to tell when Jim isteasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face. When Bob fellinto the water, he … Читать далее

Идиома: just in case (something happens) Перевод: на тот случай, если что-либо случится; на всякий случай Пример: I plan to take my umbrella just in case it rains today. Я собираюсь взять с собой зонт на тот случай, если пойдет дождь.

[work out] {v. phr.} 1. To find an answer to. John worked outhis math problems all by himself. Mary had trouble getting alongwith her roommate, but they worked it out. Compare: FIGURE OUT. 2. Toplan; develop. Mary worked out a beautiful design for a sweater. Alice worked out a new hair-do. 3. To accomplish; arrange. … Читать далее

[hand in glove] or [hand and glove] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Veryclose or friendly; working together; in very close agreement orcooperation, especially for bad purposes. The Navy and the CoastGuard work hand and glove, especially in war time. Judges andothers in high office sometimes are hand in glove with gangsters tocheat and steal.

[last] See: AT LAST, EVERY LAST MAN, EVERY SINGLE or EVERY LAST, FIRST AND LAST, HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST, HAVE THE LAST LAUGH, ON ONE’S LAST LEGS, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUNIS FIRED.

Идиома: in vain Перевод: тщетно, напрасно Пример: I tried in vain to find a good job but it was impossible. Я тщетно пытался найти хорошую работу, но это было невозможно.

Идиома: every so often Перевод: время от времени, иногда Пример: You should stand up every so often when you are on a long plane trip. Время от времени следует встать и пройтись, когда вы долго летите самолетом.

[behind the eight-ball] {adj. phr.}, {slang} In a difficult position; in trouble. Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he lost his job, he found he was behind the eight-ball. Bill can’t dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight-ball with the girls. Compare: HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE, IN A … Читать далее

Идиома: live for the moment Перевод: жить без планов на будущее; жить текущим моментом, не планировать на будущее Пример: The young man lives for the moment and has no money saved for the future. Молодой человек живет одним днем и нисколько не скопил на будущее.

Идиома: before you can say Jack Robinson / quicker than you can say Jack Robinson Перевод: очень быстро, почти моментально; не успеть и глазом моргнуть Пример: And before you could say Jack Robinson, the bird flew away. И не успел ты и глазом моргнуть, как птица улетела.