Английские идиомы

[hard-and-fast] {adj.} Not to be broken or changed; fixed; strict. The teacher said that there was a hard-and-fast rule againstsmoking in the school.

[house of ill fame] or [of ill repute] {n. phr.} A bordello; abrothel. At the edge of town there is a house of ill repute run bya Madame who used to be a singer in a bar.

[few and far between] {adj. phr.} Not many; few and scattered; notoften met or found; rare. — Used in the predicate. People who willwork as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between. Placeswhere you can get water are few and far between in the desert. Really exciting games are few and far … Читать далее

[stepped up] {adj.} Carried on at a faster or more active rate;increased. To fill the increase in orders, the factory had tooperate at a stepped-up rate.

[pull through] {v.} 1. To help through; bring safely through adifficulty or sudden trouble; save. A generous loan showed thebank’s faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble. 2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster;escape death or failure. By a near-miracle, he pulled through afterthe smashup.

Идиома: a nervous Nellie Перевод: робкий человек, лишенный мужества, решительности Пример: He is a nervous Nellie and is afraid of the other students in the school. Он очень робкий и пугливый, и он боится других учеников в школе.

[string up] {v.}, {slang} To put a rope around the neck of a personand choke him to death; hang. The posse strung up the rustlerwithout a trial. Compare: NECKTIE PARTY.

[little] See: A LITTLE, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, MAKELITTLE OF, NOT A LITTLE, QUITE A LITTLE or QUITE A LITTLE BIT, THINKLITTLE OF, TWIST AROUND ONE’S LITTLE FINGER.

[out on parole] {adv. phr.} Released from prison but still underthe supervision of the police. Although Henry is out on parole hemust watch his step very carefully. If he commits another burglary hemay have to go to jail for a very long time.

[wrong] See: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE, BET ON THE WRONG HORSE, GETOFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, IN THEWRONG, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH, RUB THE WRONG WAY.

[lay an egg] {v. phr.}, {slang} To fail to win the interest orfavor of an audience. His joke laid an egg. Sometimes he is asuccessful speaker, but sometimes he lays an egg.

Идиома: call the shots / call the tune Перевод: быть главным, быть во главе; отдавать поручения, задания, приказы, и т. п. Пример: The vice-president is now calling the shots and is in control of the company. Сейчас во главе находится вице-президент, и он управляет компанией.

[flanker back] {n.} A football back who can play far to the outsideof his regular place. The coach is still looking for a speedy boyto play flanker back.

Идиома: put someone or something out of one’s mind / head Перевод: перестать думать о ком-либо или чем-либо; выбросить кого-либо или что-либо из головы Пример: My friend has been trying to put his girlfriend out of his mind since they stopped seeing each other. Мой друг пытается забыть о своей девушке с тех пор, как … Читать далее

Идиома: be up on someone or something Перевод: быть в курсе чего-либо, разбираться; быть хорошо информированным Пример: Ask Jim about the author of this book. He’s up on stuff like that. Спроси Джима об авторе этой книги. Он разбирается в таких вещах.

[pinup girl] {v. phr.} An attractive girl whose picture is pinnedor tacked to the wall by an admirer. Some Hollywood actresses areunderstandably very popular pinup girls among male soldiers.

[crystal ball] {n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal that is used by fortune-tellers. The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year. 2. Any means of predicting the future. My crystal ball tells me you’ll be making the honor roll.

Идиома: turn over a new leaf Перевод: начать с чистого листа Пример: I am going to turn over a new leaf and begin to practice the piano every day. Я собираюсь начать с чистого листа и начать упражняться на пианино каждый день.

[in mind] {adv. phr.} 1. In the center of your thought; in yourclose attention. You have to be home by 11 o’clock. Keep that inmind, Bob. Mary is studying hard with a good grade in mind. Bear in mind the rules of safety when you swim. Compare: ON ONE’SMIND. 2. See: PUT IN MIND OF.

Идиома: designated driver Перевод: кто-либо в компании, кто воздерживается от алкоголя с тем, чтобы вести автомобиль Пример: He is a designated driver tonight, so you guys can drink. Он сегодня за рулем, так что можете выпить.

Идиома: lower one’s voice Перевод: говорить потише, негромко Пример: The usher in the movie theater asked me to lower my voice. Билетер в театре попросил меня говорить потише.

[give the slip] {v.} To escape from ; run away fromunexpectedly; sneak away from. An Indian was following, but Boonegave him the slip by running down a hill. Some boys were waitingoutside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip.

Идиома: ask for it / ask for trouble Перевод: напрашиваться на неприятности Пример: The guard asked me to leave unless I was asking for trouble. Охранник сказал, что если я не ищу проблем, то мне лучше уйти.

[settle a score] also [wipe out an old score] To hurt inreturn for a wrong or loss. John settled an old score with Bob bybeating him. Compare: GET BACK AT, GET EVEN.

Идиома: acquire a taste for (something) Перевод: полюбить что-либо; начать проявлять вкус, пристрастие к чему-либо Пример: We acquired a taste for classical music during our trip to Europe. Мы пристрастились к классической музыке во время нашего путешествия в Европу.

[draw blood] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make someone feel hurt or angry. If you want to draw blood, ask Jim about his last money-making scheme. Her sarcastic comments drew blood.

[quite the thing] {n. phr.} The socially proper thing to do. Inpolite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you noteto one’s host or hostess after a dinner party.

[bring to a close] {v. phr.} To terminate; cause to end. The meeting was brought to an abrupt close when the speaker collapsed with a heart attack.

[make a stand] {v. phr.} 1. To take a firm position on an issue. He keeps talking about politics hut he never makes a stand for whathe believes in. 2. To take up a defensive position against the enemy. The retreating troops decided to make a stand by the river. Contrast: LAST DITCH, LAST STAND.

[warm out] {v. phr.} To learn through persistent questioning; drawout from. I finally wormed out of her the reason she broke off herengagement to Larry.

[second sight] {n. phr.} Intuition; prescience; clairvoyance. Some police departments employ psychics to find missing persons orobjects as they are said to have second sight.

[move heaven and earth] {v. phr.} To try every way; do everythingyou can. Joe moved heaven and earth to be sent to Washington. Compare: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

[drive one round the bend] {v. phr.}, {informal} To upset someone so much that they think they are going crazy. «Slow down, please,» Miss Jones cried. «You are driving me around the bend!» Contrast: DRIVE ONE APE, BANANAS, ETC.

[in addition] {adv. phr.} As something extra; besides. We saw aMickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie. Aunt Marygave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition. He has two cars and in addition a motorboat.

[at all hazards] {adv. phr.} With no regard for danger; at any risk; regardless of the chances you must take. The racer meant to win the 500-mile race at all hazards.

[on the whole] {adv. phr.} 1. In the most important things; in mostways. On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year. Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show. Syn.: INALL, FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. On the whole, men are stronger than women. On … Читать далее

[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] {v. phr.} To make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that are unlikely. He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded in anything. To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and they may work hard enough to … Читать далее

[lone wolf] {n.} A man who likes to work or live alone. The manwho paints a picture or establishes a business is often a lone wolf;so is the criminal outlaw. Jones is a good pitcher, but he is alone wolf.

[hands up] {informal} Hold up your hands! Put your hands up highand keep them there! — Used as a command. The sheriff pointed hisgun at the outlaws and called out, «Hands up!» Syn.: REACH FOR THESKY.

Идиома: a case in point Перевод: пример, который доказывает что-либо в текущей ситуации, или который помогает прояснить что-либо Пример: What the man said is a case in point about what I have been saying all year. То, что сказал этот человек, как раз доказывает то, о чем я говорю весь год.

[light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT, DASH LIGHT, HIDE ONE’SLIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL, IN THE LIGHT OF, MAKE LIGHT OF, MANY HANDS MAKELIGHT WORK, OUT LIKE A LIGHT, SEE THE LIGHT, TRAVEL LIGHT.

[all the time] {adv. phr.} 1. or [all the while] During the whole period; through the whole time. Mary went to college in her home town and lived at home all the while. Most of us were surprised to hear that Mary and Tom had been engaged all year, but Sue said she knew it … Читать далее

Идиома: save face Перевод: сохранить лицо; спасти репутацию, сохранить уважение, статус Пример: Our boss is responsible for many problems in our company. He wants to quit before he is fired so that he can save face. Наш начальник виноват во многих проблемах нашей компании. Он хочет уйти сам до того, как его уволят, чтобы сохранить … Читать далее

[five o’clock shadow] {n. phr.} A very short growth of beard on aman’s face who did shave in the morning but whose beard is so strongthat it is again visible in the afternoon. «You have a five o’clockshadow, honey,» Irene said, «and we’re going to the opera. Why don’tyou shave again quickly?»

[push over] {v. phr.} To upset; overthrow. She is standing onher feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won’tpush her over. The wind in Chicago can be so strong that sometimesI’m afraid I’ll get pushed over.

[daylight saving time] also [daylight saving] or [daylight time] or [fast time] {n.} A way of keeping time in summer that is one or two hours ahead of standard time. — Abbreviation DST. Many places in the United States keep their clocks on daylight saving time in the summer; in this way people get up … Читать далее

[on one’s part] or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.} 1. Of or byyou; of someone’s. When Miss Brown said I was a good student, thatwas pure kindness on her part. The other team blamed their defeaton unfairness on the part of the referee. 2. See: FOR ONE’S PART.

[go halves] {v. phr.}, {informal} To share half or equally becomepartners. The boys went halves in raising pigs. The men aregoing halves in a new business. The girl bought a box of candy andwent halves with her roommate.

[dole out] {v. phr.} To measure out sparingly. Since the waterration was running low in the desert, the camp commandant doled out small cups of water to each soldier.

Идиома: throw out the baby with the bath water Перевод: вместе с водой выплеснуть и ребенка; отказываясь от ненужного, лишиться также чего-то полезного, ценного Пример: Keep the good subjects when you revise the course. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Когда будете пересматривать курс, не отказывайтесь от того хорошего, что есть. Не … Читать далее