[knock off one’s feet] {v. phr.} To surprise so much thathe does not know what to do. Her husband’s death knocked Mrs. Jonesoff her feet. When Charlie was given the prize, it knocked him offhis feet for a few minutes. Compare: BOWL OVER, SWEEP OFF ONE’SFEET.
[side by side] {adv.} 1. One beside the other in a row. Alice’sdolls were lined up side by side on the window seat. Charles andJohn are neighbors; they live side by side on Elm Street. Compare:SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. 2. Close together. The two boys played sideby side all afternoon.
[cast the first stone] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be the first to blame someone, lead accusers against a wrongdoer. Jesus said that a person who was without sin could cast the first stone. Although Ben saw the girl cheating, he did not want to cast the first stone.
Идиома: on the outs Идиома: on the outs разг. Перевод: в натянутых, плохих отношениях, в ссоре Пример: Jerry and Nick are on the outs again. Джерри и Ник опять в ссоре.
[wear the trousers] or [wear the pants] {v. phr.}, {informal} Tohave a man’s authority; be the boss of a family or household. Mr. Wilson is henpecked by his wife; she wears the trousers in thatfamily. Mrs. Jones talks a lot but Mr. Jones wears the pants intheir house. Compare: RULE THE ROOST.
[tripped out] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Incoherent, confused, faulty of speech, illogical; as if under the influence of drugs oralcohol. It was hard to make sense of anything Fred said yesterday, he sounded so tripped out. See: SPACED OUT.
[boil over] {v. phr.} 1. To rise due to boiling and overflow down the sides of a pan or a pot. «Watch out!» Jane cried. «The milk is boiling over on the stove!» 2. To become enraged to the point of being unable to contain oneself. John took a lot of abuse from his boss, … Читать далее
[right along] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1a. On your waysatisfactorily or without trouble. They fixed the engine and thetrain ran right along. 1b. On your way without delay. Don’t waitfor me. Go right along. 2. See: ALL ALONG.
[cheapskate] {n.}, {informal} A selfish or stingy person; a person who will not spend much. — An insulting term. None of the girls like to go out on a date with him because he is a cheapskate.
[just about] {adv.}, {informal} Nearly; almost; practically. Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak. Thedress came down to just about the middle of her knee. Has Maryfinished peeling the potatoes? Just about.
[for the best] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} good or best; not bad asthought; lucky; well, happily. Maybe it’s for the best that yourteam lost; now you know how the other boys felt. John’s parentsthought it would be for the best if he stayed out of school for therest of the year. Often used in the … Читать далее
Идиома: close up shop / shut up shop Перевод: закрывать лавочку, свернуть дело (временно или навсегда) Пример: I can’t make any money in this town. The time has come to close up shop and move to another town. У меня не получается ничего заработать в этом городке. Пришло время закрываться и переезжать в другой городок.
[dish out] {v.} 1. To serve from a large bowl or plate. Ann’s mother asked her to dish out the beans. 2. {informal} To give in large quantities. That teacher dished out so much homework that her pupils complained to their parents. 3. {slang} To scold; treat or criticize roughly. Jim likes to dish it … Читать далее
[dirty trick] {n. phr.} A treacherous action; an unfair act. That was a dirty trick John played on Mary when he ran away with her younger sister.
[come to nothing] also {formal} [come to naught] {v. phr.} To end in failure; fail; be in vain. The dog’s attempts to climb the tree after the cat came to nothing.
Идиома: tight spot Перевод: трудная ситуация, положение Пример: We are in a very tight spot since the top salesman quit. Мы находимся в очень трудном положении, потому что ведущий продавец уволился.
[sign one’s own death warrant] {v. phr.} To cause your own death orthe loss of something you want very much. Mr. Carter had lungtrouble, and the doctor told him he would sign his own death warrantif he didn’t stop smoking. When Jim’s fiancee saw him on a datewith another girl, he signed his own death … Читать далее
Идиома: pink slip Идиома: pink slip разг. Перевод: уведомление об увольнении Пример: The man received his pink slip yesterday and no longer has a job. Мужчина вчера получил уведомление об увольнении, и теперь у него нет работы.
[cozy up] {v.}, {slang} To try to be close or friendly; try to be liked. — Usually used with «to». John is cozying up to Henry so he can join the club.
[keep one’s nose to the grindstone] or [have one’s nose to thegrindstone] or [hold one’s nose to the grindstone] {v. phr.},{informal} To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring ortiresome work. Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves asmuch as possible to start her own business.
[beat time] {v. phr.} To follow the rhythm of a piece of music by moving one’s fingers or feet. Jack was beating time with his foot during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor.
Идиома: butterflies in one’s stomach Перевод: волноваться; душа замирает; мурашки по спине бегают (часто используется с глаголами Get, Have, Give) Пример: Whenever I have to speak in public, I get butterflies in my stomach. Когда мне нужно выступать перед публикой, у меня душа замирает от волнения. She always has butterflies in her stomach before a … Читать далее
[tough it out] {v. phr.} To live through and endure a tryingsituation. The tourists got lost in the desert without a compass, and they had to tough it out for three days on a single bottle ofwater.
[is that so] {informal} 1. Oh, indeed? That’s interesting. — Usedin simple acceptance or reply. «The Republicans have pulled a trickat city hall.» «Is that so?» 2. Surely not? — Used in disbelief orsarcasm. «The moon is made of green cheese.» «Is that so?» «I’mgoing to take your girlfriend to the dance,» said Bob. «Oh, … Читать далее
[like a hole in the head] {adv. phr.} Not at all; scarcely;grudgingly; in an unwelcome manner. Joan needs her mother-in-law tostay with her for a week like a hole in the head.
[let the chips fall where they may] {v. phr.} To pay no attentionto the displeasure caused others by your actions. The senatordecided to vote against the bill and let the chips fall where theymay. The police chief told his men to give tickets to all speedersand let the chips fall where they may. Compare: COME … Читать далее
Идиома: at the end of the day Перевод: с учетом всего; когда все остальное было принято во внимание Пример: At the end of the day, it was impossible to get the money to build the house. В конечном итоге было невозможно достать денег на строительство дома.
[out for] {prep.} Joining, or planning to join; taking part in;competing for a place in. John is out for the basketball team. Mary is going out for the school newspaper. Compare: TRY OUT.
[find fault] {v. phr.} To find something wrong; complain;criticize. She tries to please him, but he always finds fault. They found fault with every box I made. Compare: JUMP ON, PICKAT.
[well-heeled] {adj.}, {slang} Wealthy; having plenty of money. Bob’s father, who is well-heeled, gave him a sports car. Compare: INCLOVER, ON EASY STREET.
[get his or hers] {v. phr.} To receive one’s proper reward orpunishment. Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he’s beenseeing other women.
[be the making of] {v. phr.} To account for the success of someone or something. The strict discipline that we had to undergo in graduate school was the making of many a successful professor. The relatively low cost and high gas mileage are the making of Chevrolet’s Geo Metro cars.
[repeat oneself] {v. phr.} To say the same thing over again, oftenin the same words; repeat ideas because you forget what you said orbecause you want to stress their importance. Grandfather isforgetful and often repeats himself when he tells a story. Ateacher often has to repeat herself several times before her pupilsremember what she tells … Читать далее
Идиома: rocket science Идиома: rocket science разг. Перевод: что-либо, для чего требуются специальные умения или знания (обычно употребляется во фразах It’s not exactly rocket science, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, и др.) Пример: Changing the oil may be messy, but it’s not rocket science. Смена масла — это довольно грязная работа, но для этого … Читать далее
[narrow-minded] {adj. phr.} Limited in outlook; resistant to newideas; bigoted. He is generally very open about everything, butwhen it comes to politics, he is terribly narrow-minded.
Идиома: make no difference to someone Перевод: не иметь разницы, значения для кого-либо Пример: It makes no difference to me if we go to the movie on Friday or on Saturday. Мне без разницы, пойдем мы в кино в пятницу или субботу.
Идиома: divide something fifty-fifty / split something fifty-fifty Перевод: разделить что-либо на две равные части Пример: We divided the money that we won fifty-fifty. Мы разделил деньги, которые выиграли, поровну.
[third sex] {n.}, {euphemism}, {slang}, {informal} Homosexualindividuals who are either men or women. Billy is rumored to belongto the third sex.
[I. O. U.] {adj. phr.} I owe you, abbreviated; a promissory note. I had to borrow some money from John and, in order to remind both ofus, I wrote him an I. O. U. note for $250.
[rub the wrong way] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make alittle angry; do something not liked by ; annoy; bother. John’s bragging rubbed the other boys the wrong way. Mother’sfriend called Harold a little boy, and that rubbed Harold the wrongway. Compare: AGAINST THE GRAIN.
[come a long way] {v. phr.} To show much improvement; make great progress. The school has come a long way since its beginnings. Little Jane has come a long way since she broke her leg.
Идиома: head over heels Перевод: верх ногами, кувырком Пример: The boy fell head over heels when his bicycle hit the wall. Мальчик упал верх ногами, когда его велосипед ударился в стену.
[give oneself up] {v.} To stop hiding or running away; surrender. The thief gave himself up to the police. Mr. Thompson hit anothercar, and his wife told him to give himself up. Compare: TURN IN.
[as it were] {adv. phr.} As it might be said to be; as if it really were; seemingly. — Used with a statement that might seem silly or unreasonable, to show that it is just a way of saying it. In many ways children live, as it were, in a different world from adults. The … Читать далее
[if worst comes to worst] If the worst thing happens that beimagined; if the worst possible thing happens; if troubles grow worse. If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will sendhis family to his mother’s farm. If worst comes to worst, we shallclose the school for a few days.
Идиома: leave someone or something behind Перевод: оставить кого-либо где-либо; бросить кого-либо где-либо Пример: I left my coat behind in the restaurant. Я оставил свое пальто в ресторане.
[a little bird told me] To have learned something from a mysterious, unknown, or secret source. «Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?» Peter asked. «A little bird told me,» Jim answered.
[wait up] {v. phr.} To not go to bed until a person one is worriedabout comes home. My motheralways waited up for me when I went out as a young student. Shealways waits up for her husband when he’s out late.
Идиома: a rain check Перевод: обещание выполнить, сделать что-либо позже, потом Пример: I did not have time to go to the restaurant with my friend so I decided to take a rain check. У меня не было времени идти с моим другом в ресторан, поэтому я пообещал ему, что мы сходим как-нибудь в другой раз.
Идиома: the other way round / the other way around Перевод: наоборот; противоположное, обратное Пример: It was the other way round. It was my friend who wanted to go swimming — not me. Все было наоборот. Это мой друг хотел пойти поплавать, а не я.