[go without saying] {v. phr.} To be too plain to need talkingabout; not be necessary to say or mention. It goes without sayingthat children should not be given knives to play with. A personwith weak eyes should wear glasses. That goes without saying.
[out in the cold] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Alone; not included. All the other children were chosen for parts in the play, but Johnnywas left out in the cold. Everybody made plans for Christmas Dayand Mary found herself out in the cold. Compare: HIGH AND DRY.
[take off one’s hat to] {v. phr.} To give honor, praise, andrespect to. He is my enemy, but I take off my hat to him for hiscourage. Compare: HAND IT TO.
[mixed blessing] {n.} Something good that has bad features. John’s new bicycle was a mixed blessing. The other boys were alwaysasking John to ride it.
[hire out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To accept a job; take employment. Frank hired out as a saxophonist with a dance band. 2. To rent. John used to hire out his tractor sometimes when he didn’tneed it himself.
[queer fish] {n.} A strange or unusual person who does odd things. Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer andshort-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him aqueer fish.
Идиома: on a fool’s errand Перевод: бессмысленное поручение, задача Пример: I was on a fool’s errand as I looked for a store that sold international road maps. Я бессмысленно пытался найти магазин, где бы продавались международные карты дорог.
[hue and cry] {n.} 1. An alarm and chase after a supposedwrongdoer; a pursuit usually by shouting men. «Stop, thief,» criedJohn as he ran. Others joined him, and soon there was a hue and cry. 2. An excited mass protest, alarm, or outcry of any kind. Theexplosion was so terrible that people at a distance … Читать далее
[strikebreaker] {n.} One who takes the place of workers on strikeor one who recruits such people. The striking workers threw rotteneggs at the strikebreakers.
[back to the salt mines] {informal} Back to the job; back to work; back to work that is as hard or as unpleasant as working in a salt mine would be. — An overworked phrase, used humorously. The lunch hour is over, boys. Back to the salt mines! «Vacation is over,» said Billy. «Back to … Читать далее
[once upon a time] {adv. phr.} Sometime before now, long ago. Once upon a time she was thought to be the most talented actress inthe country. — Often used at the beginning of fairy stories. Onceupon a time there lived a king who had an ugly daughter.
[hit on all cylinders] {v. phr.} 1. To run smoothly or at fullpower without any missing or skipping. — Said of a motor. Themechanic tuned the car engine until it was hitting on all cylinders. 2. {informal} To think or work well; to use all your ability. Thefootball team was hitting on all cylinders and … Читать далее
[make fun of] or [poke fun at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To joke about;laugh at; tease; mock. Men like to make fun of the trimmings onwomen’s hats. James poked fun at the new pupil because her speechwas not like the other pupils.
[in front of] prep. Ahead of; before. The rabbit was running infront of the dog. A big oak tree stood in front of the building. Contrast: IN BACK OF.
[so what] {informal} Used as an impolite reply showing that youdon’t care about what another has said. Roy boasted that he was inthe sixth grade, but Ted said, «So what? I am in Junior High.» Syn.:WHAT OF IT.
Идиома: or else Перевод: иначе будут какие-либо последствия Пример: The teacher told the students to be quiet or else. Учитель сказал ученикам, чтобы они замолчали, или у них будут неприятности.
[blue in the face] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very angry or upset; excited and very emotional. Tom argued with Bill until he was blue in the face. Mary scolded Jane until she was blue in the face, but Jane kept on using Mary’s paints.
Идиома: pinch-hit (for someone) Идиома: pinch-hit (for someone) Перевод: заменить (временно или при необходимости), подменить Пример: He was pinch-hitting for one of the regular TV sportscasters, and was a great success. Он подменял одного из постоянных ТВ спорт-обозревателей, и у него это очень хорошо получалось.
Идиома: lend color to (something) Перевод: сделать что-либо более интересным, приукрасить что-либо Пример: The music of the orchestra helped to lend color to the dance performance. Оркестровая музыка помогла приукрасить танцевальное представление.
[clear] See: COAST IS CLEAR, IN THE CLEAR, OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY, SEE ONE’S WAY CLEAR, STEER CLEAR OF.
Идиома: swallow something hook, line, and sinker Перевод: принять наживку, попасться на удочку; полностью поверить в какую-либо ложь Пример: I swallowed the story hook, line, and sinker about how my friend lost his car keys. Я клюнул на историю моего друга о том, как он потерял свои ключи от машины.
[walk on air] {v. phr.}, {informal} To feel happy and excited. Sue has been walking on air since she won the prize. His father’scompliment left Jed walking on air. Compare: ON CLOUD NINE, ON TOP OFTHE WORLD.
[every now and then] or [every now and again] or [every so often]or [every once in a while] {adv. phr.} At fairly regular intervals;fairly often; repeatedly. John comes to visit me every now andthen. It was hot work, but every so often Susan would bring ussomething cold to drink. Compare: NOW AND THEN.
[Ivy League] {n.} A small group of the older and more famouseastern U. S. colleges and universities. Several Ivy League teamsplay each other regularly each year. Harvard, Yale, and Princetonwere the original Ivy League.
Идиома: pick a fight (with someone) / pick fights (with someone) / pick a quarrel (with someone) Перевод: начать ссору, драку с кем-либо (обычно преднамеренно) Пример: The man tried to pick a fight with his old friend. Мужчина пытался поссориться со своим старым другом.
[give the go-by] {v. phr.} To pay no attention to a person; avoid. John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by. Theboy raised his hand to answer the question, but the teacher gave himthe go-by. Compare: THE RUNAROUND.
Идиома: out of the question Перевод: быть невозможным; что-либо, о чем не может быть и речи Пример: You have no money so going to Brazil for a holiday is out of the question. У тебя нет денег, поэтому об отпуске в Бразилии не может быть и речи.
[add up] {v.} 1. To come to the correct amount. The numbers wouldn’t add up. 2. {informal} To make sense; be understandable. His story didn’t add up.
Идиома: at death’s door Перевод: при смерти, на краю гибели Пример: The young woman was at death’s door after the accident. После несчастного случая молодая женщина находилась на краю от гибели.
[so — that] — Used with an adjective or adverb before a clause ofresult. The bus was so full that I could hardly turn around. Billy pitched so well that everyone cheered him at the end of thegame.
[for one’s part] also [on one’s part] {adv. phr.} As far as you areconcerned; the way you feel or think. I don’t know about you, butfor my part I don’t want to go to that place. Compare: AS FOR.
[let one in on] {v. phr.} To reveal a secret to; permit someone toshare in. If I let you in on something big we’re planning, will youpromise not to mention it to anyone?
[handle with gloves] or [handle with kid gloves] {v. phr.},{informal} 1. To treat very gently and carefully. An atomic bomb ishandled with kid gloves. 2. To treat with great tact and diplomacy. Aunt Jane is so irritable that we have to treat her with kid gloves.
[before long] {adv. phr.} In a short time; without much delay; in a little while, soon. Class will be over before long. We were tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long.
[get in on the ground floor] {v. phr.} To be one of the firstmembers or employees to participate in the growth of a firm, educational institution, etc. Elliott got in on the ground floorand made a fortune at the company. Mr. Smith who joined the newcollege as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, … Читать далее
Идиома: one and the same Перевод: одно и то же, то же самое Пример: It is one and the same if we finish the job today or continue until tomorrow. Будет одно и то же, закончим ли мы работу сегодня или завтра.
[on the alert] {adj. phr.} Alert; watchful; careful. Campersmust be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak. Drivers mustbe on the alert for traffic signals. Compare: ON ONE’S TOES.
Идиома: stick together Перевод: держаться вместе Пример: The children like to stick together when they go to the beach. Детям нравится держаться вместе, когда они ходят на пляж.
[voiceprint] {n.}, {technological}, {colloquial} The graphicpattern derived from converting an individual’s voice into a visiblegraph used by the police for identification purposes, much asfingerprints. They have succeeded in identifying the murderer byusing a voiceprint.
Идиома: babe in the woods Перевод: сущий младенец; неопытный, простодушный, или наивный человек Пример: As a painter Bill is fine, but he was a babe in the woods when it comes to writing songs or poetry. Художник из Билла отличный, но что касается написания песен или стихов, здесь он сущий младенец.
[words of one syllable] {n. phr.} Language that makes the meaningvery clear; simple, or frank language. — Usually used after «in». Mary explained the job to Ann in words of one syllable so that shewould be sure to understand. Some people say that John is cute andmischievous, but in words of one syllable, he’s just … Читать далее
Идиома: from start to finish Перевод: от начала до конца Пример: The welcoming dinner was a great success from start to finish. Приветственный ужин был успешен от начала до конца.
[jump to a conclusion] {v. phr.} To decide too quickly or withoutthinking or finding the facts. Jerry saw his dog limping on abloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot. Contrast: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
Идиома: on a first-name basis (with someone) Перевод: быть в хороших отношениях с кем-либо, и обращаться друг к другу по имени Пример: I am not on a first-name basis with my neighbor. Я не в очень хороших отношениях со своим соседом.
[around the clock] also [the clock around] {adv. phr.} For 24 hours a day continuously all day and all night. The factory operated around the clock until the order was filled. He studied around the clock for his history exam. — [round-the-clock] {adj.} That filling station has round-the-clock service.
[ask for] {v.}, {informal} To make likely to happen to you; bring upon yourself. Charles drives fast on worn-out tires; he is asking for trouble. The workman lost his job, but he asked for it by coming to work drunk several times. Compare: HAVE IT COMING, SERVE RIGHT, SIGN ONE’S OWN DEATH WARRANT.
Идиома: be the case Перевод: являться правдой относительно описываемой ситуации, соответствовать описываемой ситуации Пример: I do not care if it was the case last year, this year we will do things differently. Мне все равно, даже если в прошлом году так все и было, в этом году мы все сделаем по-другому.
Идиома: be up and about / be up and around Перевод: снова стать подвижным, активным (особенно после болезни, отпуска, отдыха, и т. п.) Пример: I’m so glad you’re up and around, there is so much work to do. Я так рад, что ты снова в строю, нужно много чего сделать.
[go out for] or [come out for] {v. phr.} To try for a place on Ten boys went out for track that spring. Thecoach asked Tom why he didn’t come out for basketball.
[split end] {n.} An end in football who plays five to ten yards outfrom the tackle in the line. The split end is one of thequarterback’s most important targets for passes. Contrast: TIGHT END.