Идиома: cutting edge Перевод: новейший, передовой; в тренде Пример: This set is the cutting edge — the best on the market. Этот телевизор — самый передовой, он лучший, что есть в продаже.
[steal the spotlight] {v. phr.} To attract attention away from aperson or thing that people should be watching. When the maidwalked on the stage and tripped over a rug, she stole the spotlightfrom the leading players. Just as the speaker began, a little dogran up the aisle, and stole the spotlight from him.
Идиома: get off one’s high horse Перевод: вести себя поскромнее, попроще; перестать быть высокомерным или надменным Пример: «Sometimes you are so annyoing! Get off your high horse and stop thinking that you’re better than me!» Иногда ты такой назойливый! Хватит быть таким надменным и думать, чтоы ты лучше меня! We should all get off our … Читать далее
Идиома: get / catch wind of something Перевод: получить информацию, прослышать о чем-либо Пример: I got wind of the changes in our company from my friend. Я прослышал об изменениях в нашей компании от своего друга.
[sweep off one’s feet] {v. phr.} To make have feelings too strong to control; overcome with strongfeeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by through thefeelings. The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feetwhen he said so many things to her at the dance. Joan was sweptoff her feet when the football captain started flirting … Читать далее
[make allowance] {v. phr.} To judge results by the circumstances. — Often used in plural. When a small boy is helping you, you mustmake allowances for his age.
[flesh and blood] {n.} 1. A close relative ; close relatives. Used in the phrase «one’s own flesh andblood». Such an answer from her — and she’s my own flesh and blood, too! 2. The appearance of being real or alive. The author doesn’tgive his characters any flesh and blood. 3. The human body. Beforechild … Читать далее
Идиома: cut corners Перевод: 1. делать что-либо самым легким, быстрым способом 2. экономить, не тратить лишних денег Пример: He’s always finding ways to cut corners, that’s why his work leaves a lot to be desired. Он всегда находит способ выполнить работу очень быстро и легко, поэтому качество его работы оставляет желать лучшего. We will have … Читать далее
[have one’s ears on] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radiojargon} To have one’s CB radio in receiving condition. Good buddyin the eighteen wheeler southbound, got your ears on?
Идиома: do the honors Перевод: исполнять обязанности хозяина или хозяйки (например, подавать в доме еду, напитки, и т. п.) Пример: Would you like to do the honors and pour everybody a drink? Хочешь быть в роли хозяина и разливать всем напитки?
[John Doe] {n.} A name used for an unknown person, especially inpolice and law business. The alarm went out for a John Doe whostole the diamonds from the store.
[pay one’s way] {v. phr.} 1. To pay in cash or labor for yourexpenses. He paid his way by acting as a guide. 2. To beprofitable; earn as much as you cost someone; be valuable to anemployer; to yield a return above expenses. The bigger truck paidits way from the start. We had to offer … Читать далее
Идиома: dying to (do something or go somewhere) Перевод: сильно желать, хотеть сделать что-либо или пойти куда-либо Пример: I am dying to go and visit my friend in the country. Я очень хочу навестить своего друга в деревне.
[take in stride] {v. phr.} To meet happenings without too muchsurprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. He learned to takedisappointments in stride.
[write home about] {v. phr.} To become especially enthusiastic orexcited about; boast about. — Often used after «to». Mary’s trip tothe World’s Fair was something to write home about. Joe did a goodenough job of painting but it was nothing to write home about. «That was a dinner worth writing home about!» said Bill coming … Читать далее
Идиома: begin to see the light Перевод: начать понимать что-либо Пример: My sister began to see the light and decided to leave her boyfriend. Моя сестра начала все понимать, и она решила уйти от своего молодого человека.
[live down] {v.} To remove by good conduct; cause to be forgiven orforgotten by not repeating it. John’s business failure hurt him fora long time, but in the end he lived it down. Frank was rather abad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up. Sandra called herprincipal the wrong name at the … Читать далее
[tough act to follow] {n. phr.} A speech, performance, or activityof such superior quality that the person next in line feels and thinksthat it would be very difficult to match it in quality. SirLawrence Olivier’s performance of Hamlet was a tough act to follow inevery sense.
Идиома: ride high Перевод: пользоваться большой популярностью, быть успешным Пример: The new government has been riding high in the opinion polls for several months now. Новое правительство, по опросам, пользуется большой популярностью вот уже несколько месяцев.
[level best] {adj. phr.} One’s utmost; one’s very best. Ericrefused to stay in school although his parents did their level best tomake him finish.
[keep one’s mouth shut] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be or stay silent.- A rude expression when used as a command. When the crooks werecaptured by the police, their leader warned them to keep their mouthsshut. Charles began to tell Barry how to kick the ball, and Barrysaid angrily, «Keep your mouth shut!» Syn.: SHUT UP.
[take-out order] {n. phr.} An order in a restaurant that one doesnot eat on the premises, but takes home. The new Chinese restauranton the corner sells nice take-out orders.
[lose heart] {v. phr.} To feel discouraged because of failure; tolose hope of success. The team had won no games and it lost heart. Contrast: TAKE HEART.
[up the creek] or [up the creek without a paddle] {adj. phr.},{informal} In trouble or difficulty and unable to do anything aboutit; stuck. Father said that if the car ran out of gas in the middleof the desert, we would be up the creek without a paddle. I’ll beup the creek if I don’t pass … Читать далее
[old world] {n. phr.} Europe, the continent; a continental manner. Tom had an old world manner that thoroughly charmed all theladies. Compare: OLD COUNTRY.
[kneeling bus] {n.}, {informal} A bus equipped with a hydraulicdevice to enable it to drop almost to curb level for greater ease ofboarding and leaving vehicle, as a convenience for elderly orhandicapped passengers. The man on crutches was pleased to see thekneeling bus.
Идиома: at bay Перевод: на расстоянии (обычно используется в выражениях Be at bay, Keep someone or something at bay, Remain at bay) Пример: We tried to keep the dog at bay when we entered the building. Мы пытались держать собаку на расстоянии, когда вошли в здание.
Идиома: no-win situation Перевод: ситуация, в которой нет правильного или хорошего ответа, в которой нет победителей Пример: He couldn’t say no because he didn’t want to offend them, but he couldn’t say yes because he had no idea how to help them. It was a no-win situation. Он не могут сказать «нет», потому что не … Читать далее
[figure in] {v.} 1. {informal} To add to a total; remember to putdown in figures. We figured in the travel expenses but forgot thecost of meals. 2. To have a part in; be partly responsible for. Joe figured in all our touchdowns. Mary’s good grades figured inher choice as class president.
[big lie, the] {n.}, {informal} A major, deliberate misrepresentation of some important issue made on the assumption that a bold, gross lie is psychologically more believable than a timid, minor one. We all heard the big lie during the Watergate months. The pretense of democracy by a totalitarian regime is part of the big lie … Читать далее
[freeze out] {v.}, {informal} To force out or keep from a share orpart in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. The otherboys froze John out of the club.
[know one is alive] {v. phr.} Not to notice a person. — Used withnegative or limiting words and in questions. She was a good-lookinggirl but she didn’t know I was alive. Compare: GIVE A HANG.
[gee whiz] {interj.}, {informal} Used as an exclamation to showsurprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English. Geewhiz! I am late again.
[sworn enemies] {n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have along-standing dislike for each other. The Israelis and the Arabsused to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peaceaccord.
[ham-handed] {adj.}, {slang} 1. Having very large hands. Pete isa big, ham-handed man who used to be a football player. 2. See:HEAVY-HANDED.
Идиома: all right Перевод: нормальный, приемлемый Пример: I think that it will be all right for me to bring my friend to the party. Думаю, ничего не будет, если я приведу на вечеринку своих друзей.
Идиома: hold water Перевод: выдерживать проверку, выдерживать критику, быть обоснованным (обычно используется в отрицательных или условных предложениях) Пример: The proposal for a new work scheduling system does not hold water. Предложение для новой системы планирования работы не выдерживает критики.
[rest on one’s oars] {v. phr.} To stop trying; stop working for awhile; rest. The man who wants to become a millionaire can neverrest on his oars. A high school student who wants to go to collegecannot rest on his oars.
[you tell ’em] {interj.}, {slang} — Used to agree with or encouragesomeone in what he is saying. The drunk was arguing with thebartenders and a man cried, «You tell ’em!»
[push around] {v.}, {informal} To be bossy with; bully. Don’ttry to push me around! Paul is always pushing the smaller childrenaround.
[pull one’s leg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept aridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account ofsomething; trick. For a moment, I actually believed that his wifehad royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg. Westerncowboys loved to pull a stranger’s leg. Compare: STRING ALONG. -[leg-pulling] {n.} Strangers … Читать далее
[tongues wag] {informal} People speak in an excited or gossipymanner; people spread rumors. If married women go out with othermen, tongues will wag. When the bank clerk showed up in anexpensive new car, tongues wagged.
[skate on thin ice] {v. phr.} To take a chance; risk danger, disapproval or anger. You’ll be skating on thin ice if you ask Dadto increase your allowance again. John knew he was skating on thinice, but he could not resist teasing his sister about her boyfriend.
[lay the blame at one’s door] {v. phr.} To say that another personor group is responsible for one’s own failure. The angry coach laidthe blame at the door of the players when our college lost thebasketball game.
[inside track] {n. phr.} 1. The inside, shortest distance around acurved racetrack; the place that is closest to the inside fence. Abig white horse had the inside track at the start of the race. 2.{informal} An advantage due to special connections or information. I would probably get that job if I could get the inside … Читать далее
Идиома: food for thought Перевод: пища для раздумий, для размышления Пример: I do not agree with his proposal but at least it is food for thought. Я не согласен с его предложением, но, по крайней мере, тут есть над чем подумать.
[one and the same] {adj. phr.} The same; identical. Erle StanleyGardner and A. A. Fair are one and the same person. The spider lilyand the Peruvian Daffodil are one and the same.
[play fast and loose] {v. phr.} To do as you please without caringwhat will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly thatpeople cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. He played fast andloose with the girl’s affections. He played fast and loose withthe company’s good name.
[lay bare] {v. phr.} To expose; reveal; divulge. During histestimony the witness laid bare the whole story of his involvementwith the accused.
[crack up] {v.} 1. To wreck or be wrecked; smash up. The airplane cracked up in landing. He cracked up his car. 2. {informal} To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or worry. He had kept too busy for years, and when failures came, he cracked up. It seemed to be family problems … Читать далее