Идиома: rack one’s brains Перевод: ломать голову, сильно стараться что-нибудь придумать или что-нибудь вспомнить Пример: I have been racking my brains all day trying to remember the man’s name. Я весь день ломаю себе голову, пытаясь вспомнить имя этого человека.
[bring down] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To deflate. John brought Ted down very cleverly with his remarks. 2. To depress. The funeral brought me down completely.
[hunt up] {v.} To find or locate by search. When John was inChicago, he hunted up some old friends. The first thing Fred hadto do was to hunt up a hotel room.
[nothing if not] {adv. phr.} Without doubt; certainly. With itsbright furnishings, flowers, and sunny windows, the new hospitaldayroom is nothing if not cheerful.
Идиома: John Doe / Jane Doe Идиома: John Doe / Jane Doe Перевод: имя, употребляющееся по отношению к неизвестному или среднестатистическому человеку; при этом John Doe употребляется по отношению к лицу мужского пола, Jane Doe — по отношению к лицу женского пола Пример: The application forms use the name «John Doe» as the name of … Читать далее
[get credit for] {v. phr.} To be given points of merit, recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. Ourfirm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle. Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR.
[look after] also [see after] {v.} To watch over; attend to. John’s mother told him to look after his younger brother. When hewent to Europe, Mr. Jenkins left his son to see after the business. Syn.: TAKE CARE OF. Compare: LOOK OUT.
[look oneself] {v. phr.} To appear self-possessed and well; look orseem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; toappear all right or normal. Mary had had a long illness, but nowshe looked quite herself again. It had been a big night, and UncleJohn had been drinking freely, but he looked entirely himself … Читать далее
[close down] or [shut down] {v.} To stop all working, as in a factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in. The factory closed down for Christmas. The company shut down the condom plant for Easter.
[sleeve] See: CARD UP ONE’S SLEEVE, LAUGH UP ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGHIN ONE’S SLEEVE, ROLL UP ONE’S SLEEVES, UP ONE’S SLEEVE or IN ONE’SSLEEVE, WEAR ONE’S HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE also PIN ONE’S HEART ON ONE’SSLEEVE.
[come-on] {n.}, {slang} An attractive offer made to a naive person under false pretenses in order to gain monetary or other advantage. Joe uses a highly successful come-on when he sells vacant lots on Grand Bahama Island.
[explain oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To make your meaning plainer; makeyour first statement clear. When we didn’t understand Fritz, hewent on to explain himself. 2. To give a good reason for somethingyou did or failed to do which seems wrong. When Jack brought Maryhome at three o’clock in the morning, her father asked him to … Читать далее
[talking book] {n.} A book recorded by voice on phonograph recordsfor blind people. Billy, who was blind, learned history from atalking book.
Идиома: keep quiet Перевод: молчать, не издавать ни звука Пример: Could you please keep quiet and listen to the instructions. Помолчите, пожалуйста, и послушайте указания.
[as the crow flies] {adv. clause} By the most direct way; along a straight line between two places. It is seven miles to the next town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain.
Идиома: in bloom / in blossom Перевод: цвести, быть в цвету (о растениях) Пример: All of the flowers are in bloom in our garden now. В нашем саду сейчас расцветают все цветы.
Идиома: have a nerve / have a lot of nerve Перевод: иметь наглость, нахальство Пример: You have a lot of nerve! You took my parking place! Какая наглость с твоей стороны! Ты занял мое парковочное место!
[cross one’s fingers] {v. phr.} 1a. To cross two fingers of one hand for good luck. Mary crossed her fingers during the race so that Tom would win. 1b. or [keep one’s fingers crossed] {informal} To wish for good luck. Keep your fingers crossed while I take the test. 2. To cross two fingers of … Читать далее
Идиома: just about Перевод: почти что Пример: I waited just about one hour before the concert started. Я ждал почти час, пока не начался концерт.
Идиома: read someone’s mind Перевод: читать мысли кого-либо; догадаться, о чем кто-либо думает Пример: It is very difficult to read the mind of my boss and know what she wants me to do. Очень сложно догадаться, о чем думает мой начальник и понять, что она хочет, чтобы я сделал.
[catch it in the neck] or [get it in the neck] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be blamed or punished. Tom got it in the neck because he forgot to close the windows when it rained. Students get it in the neck when they lose library books. Compare: CATCH IT, GET WHAT’S COMING TO ONE.
[plague on both your houses] or [plague o’ both your houses] Badluck to both of you! — Used to show disgust at those who wont stopquarreling. The bus drivers went on strike because the bus companywould not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who neededto ride the bus to work said, «A plague … Читать далее
[touch off] {v.} 1. To cause to fire or explode by lighting thepriming or the fuse. The boy touched off a firecracker. Compare:SET OFF. 2. To start something as if by lighting a fuse. Thecoach’s resignation touched off a quarrel. Compare: SET OFF.
Идиома: straw poll / straw vote Перевод: предварительный неофициальный опрос общественного мнения или неофициальное голосование Пример: According to all straw polls he will win this election. Согласно всем неофициальным опросам он победит в этих выборах.
[on one’s own] {adj. phr.} With no help from others. It is ahappy day when you’re allowed to drive a car on your own. Being onyour own may be a frightening experience. Compare: GO IT.
[firing squad] {n.} A group of soldiers chosen to shoot a prisonerto death or to fire shots over a grave as a tribute. A dictatoroften sends his enemies before a firing squad. The dead generalwas honored by a firing squad.
[rise to] {v.} To succeed in doing what is expected by tryingespecially hard in or on; show that you are able to do or say what isneeded or proper in or on. Jane was surprised when the principalhanded her the prize, but she rose to the occasion with a speech ofthanks. When Michael became sick … Читать далее
[do one’s best] {v. phr.} To perform at one’s optimum capacity; spare no effort in fulfilling one’s duties. «I’ve really done my best teaching you people,» the tired professor said on the last day of classes. «I hope you got something out of this course.»
[over one’s head] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not understandable;beyond your ability to understand; too hard or strange for you tounderstand. Mary laughed just to be polite, but the joke was reallyover her head. The lesson today was hard; it went over my head. Compare: BEYOND ONE’S DEPTH. 2. To a more important person in … Читать далее
[second-best] {adj.} Next to best; second in rank. Mary wore hersecond-best dress. Bob was the second-best player on the team. «I am the second-best student in this school because I was secondbest in the Milwaukee competition.»
Идиома: work one’s way up / to the top Перевод: продвигаться по службе, продвигаться (по служебной лестнице) Пример: He started as an office junior and worked his way up through the company to become a director. Он начал работу в офисе как начинающий, и продвинулся в компании до директора.
[throw oneself at someone’s feet] {v. phr.} To make a publicdisplay of serving, loving, or worshipping someone. When Arthurbecame king, almost all of the nobles threw themselves at his feet andpromised to obey and serve him. When the new girl entered school, several boys threw themselves at her feet.
Идиома: go to extremes Перевод: идти на крайние меры Пример: Let’s not go to extremes! We’ve already spent enough on gifts for the kids. Давай не будем заходить слишком далеко! Мы уже и так достаточно потратили на подарки детям.
Идиома: against the clock / against time Перевод: торопиться сделать что-либо до определенного времени Пример: We worked against the clock to finish the project. Мы сильно торопились, чтобы успеть закончить проект.
[same] See: AT THE SAME TIME, ALL THE SAME, or JUST THE SAME, INTHE SAME BREATH, LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, ONEAND THE SAME.
[face the music] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go through trouble ordanger, especially because of something you did; accept yourpunishment. The boy was caught cheating in an examination and hadto face the music. The official who had been taking bribes wasexposed by a newspaper, and had to face the music. George knew hismother would cry when … Читать далее
[lickety-split] also [lickety-cut] {adv.}, {informal} At fullspeed; with a rush. As soon as school was out the boys ranlickety-split to the swimming pool.
[by all means] also [by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly, without fail. He felt that he should by all means warn Jones. Contrast: BY NO MEANS.
[roughly speaking] {adv. phr.} Approximately; in general terms. Roughly speaking, about 250 people attended the annual convention ofthe Dictionary Society of America.
[clear out] {v.} 1. To take everything out of; empty. When Bill was moved to another class he cleared out his desk. 2. {informal} To leave suddenly; go away; depart. The cop told the boys to clear out. Bob cleared out without paying his room rent. Clear out of here! You’re bothering me. Compare: BEAT … Читать далее
[the ticket] {n.} Exactly what is needed. — Often used with «just». This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winterclothes.
[cast out] {v.}, {formal} To force to go out or away; banish; expel. After the scandal, he was cast out of the best society. Compare: CAST OFF.
[bang up] {adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. The football coach has done a bang-up job this season. John did a bang-up job painting the house. Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.
[on the contrary] {adv. phr.} Exactly the opposite; rather;instead. The principal thought that the children went to the zoo;on the contrary, they went to the bakery. «You don’t likefootball, do you?» «On the contrary, I like it very much.» Compare:TO THE CONTRARY.
[tough cat] {n.}, {slang} A man who is very individualistic and, asa result, highly successful with women. Joe is a real tough cat, man.
[first come, first served] {truncated sent.}, {informal} If youarrive first, you will be served first; people will be waited on inthe order they come; the person who comes first will have his turnfirst. Get in line for your ice cream, boys. First come, firstserved. The rule in the restaurant is first come, first served. The … Читать далее
[straight off] {adv. phr.} At once; immediately. After school isover, you come home straight off, and don’t waste time. He askedhis father for the car, but his father said straight off that hecouldn’t have it.
[curb service] {n.} Waiting on customers while they sit in their cars. Families with small children often look for hamburger stands that offer curb service.
[go into orbit] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become very happy orsuccessful. Our team has gone into orbit. Compare: FLY HIGH. 2. Tolose one’s temper or control completely; become very angry. Johnwas afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about thecar accident. Compare: HIT THE CEILING.
[method in one’s madness] {n. phr.} A plan or organization ofideas hard to perceive at first, but that becomes noticeable afterlonger and closer examination. We thought he was crazy to threatento resign from the university but, when he was offered a tenured fullprofessorship, we realized that there had been method in his madness.