[in fact] also [in point of fact] {adv. phr.} Really truthfully. — Often used for emphasis. No one believed it but, in fact, Mary didget an A on her book report. It was a very hot day; in fact, itwas 100 degrees. Compare: MATTER OF FACT.
Идиома: That’s about the size of it. Идиома: That’s about the size of it. разг. Перевод: Да, примерно так. Наверное, это так. Скорее всего, ты прав. Пример: «I guess maybe you’re as nervous about talking to me as I am talking to you.» «That’s about the size of it.» Наверное, ты так же нервничаешь, когда … Читать далее
[next to ] {adv.} Almost; nearly. It was next to impossible tobelieve that in a month the grass would be green and flowers would beblooming. It was next to unthinkable that the boy would steal.
[turn the tide] {v. phr.} To change what looks like defeat intovictory. We were losing the game until Jack got there. His comingturned the tide for us, and we won. Compare: TIP THE SCALES.
[ride the gravy train] {v. phr.} To live a life of plenty andluxury. Those who have a wealthy executive or heir to a fortune fora spouse can ride the gravy train without doing any work.
[holy cats] or [holy cow] or [holy mackerel] or [holy Moses]{interj.}, {informal} — Used to express strong feeling ; used in speech or when writingconversation. «Holy cats! That’s good pie!» said Dick. «Holycow! They can’t do that!» Mary said when she saw the boys hurting amuch smaller boy.
[all out] {adv. phr.}, {informal} With all your strength, power, or determination; to the best of your ability; without holding back. -Usually used in the phrase «go all out». We went all out to win the game. John went all out to finish the job and was very tired afterwards. Compare: ALL THE WAY 2, … Читать далее
[stand on ceremony] {v. phr.} To follow strict rules of politeness;be very formal with other people. — Usually used with a helping verbin the negative. Grandmother does not stand on ceremony when hergrandchildren call.
Идиома: off one’s rocker / nut / trolley / head Перевод: сумасшедший, не в своем уме, рехнувшийся Пример: The man must be off his rocker if he thinks that he can spend much money and not have financial problems. Этот человек наверное не в себе, если он думает, что можно потратить много денег, и не … Читать далее
[know if one is coming or going] or [know whether one is coming orgoing] {v. phr.} To feel able to think clearly; know what to do. — Usually used in the negative or with limiters. On Monday, the carbroke down; on Tuesday, Mother broke her arm; on Wednesday, thechildren all became ill with the mumps; … Читать далее
[mend one’s fences] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something to makepeople like or follow you again; strengthen your friendships orinfluence. The senator went home from Washington to mend hisfences. John saw that his friends did not like him, so he decidedto mend his fences.
Идиома: at once Перевод: немедленно, тотчас, сразу же Пример: The police came at once after we called them. Полиция прибыла сразу же после того, как мы им позвонили.
[be in someone else’s shoes] {v. phr.} To be in someone else’s situation. Fred has had so much trouble recently that we ought to be grateful we’re not in his shoes.
[beat one to it] {v. phr.} To arrive or get ahead of another person. I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it! Thanks for calling me.
[take French leave] {v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. Theparty was so boring that we decided to take French leave. Whilethe Smith family was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all thesilver and took French leave. See: SLIP AWAY.
[after the dust clears] or [when the dust settles] {adv. phr.} When a troubling, confusing, or disastrous event is finally over. John invited Tim for dinner, but since Tim’s father had just died, he replied, «Thanks. I’d like to come after the dust settles.»
[high seas] {n. phr.} The open ocean, not the waters near thecoast. It was a big powerful liner built to sail on the high seas. The ships of every country have the right to sail on the highseas.
[rope off] {v. phr.} To divide into sections by use of a rope. The police roped off the section of the street where the presidentwas expected to jog.
Идиома: make fun of someone or something Перевод: высмеивать кого-либо или что-либо Пример: The students were making fun of the girl with the short hair. Ученики высмеивали девочку с короткими волосами.
Идиома: Your guess is as good as mine. Перевод: не имею ни малейшего представления; а ты что думаешь, а каково твое предположение, и т. д. Пример: «Your guess is as good as mine,» I answered when my friend asked me how to use the video player. «Я не имею ни малейшего представления,» сказал я, когда … Читать далее
[pin down] {v.} 1a. To keep from moving; make stay in aplace or position; trap. Mr. Jones’ leg was pinned down under thecar after the accident. The soldier was pinned down in the holebecause rifle bullets were flying over his head. 1b. To keep from changing what says or means; make admitthe truth; make agree … Читать далее
[baby kisser] {n.}, {slang} A person campaigning for votes in his quest for elected political office; such persons often kiss little children in public. Nixon was a baby kisser when he ran for Vice President with Eisenhower.
Идиома: night on the town Перевод: вечер, проведенный в развлечениях, праздновании (в городе) Пример: We went out for a night on the town when we finished the project. Вечером мы отправились развлекаться, когда закончили проект.
[pass around] {v. phr.} To circulate from one to another;distribute something among a group of people. Why doesn’t he passaround the appetizers to the guests?
Идиома: on cloud nine Перевод: на седьмом небе от счастья; бесконечно счастливый Пример: She has been on cloud nine since she decided to get married last month. С тех пор, как она решила выйти замуж в прошлом месяце, она просто сияет от счастья.
[make a name for oneself] {v. phr.} To become recognized in a fieldof endeavor; become a celebrity. Joe has worked so hard at soybeantrading that he made quite a name for himself as a trader. Billhas made a name for himself both as a pianist and as a composer.
[like mad] or [like crazy] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} With greatenthusiasm and vigor; very fast. We had to drive like mad to get there on time. See: LIKE HELL.
[according to one’s own lights] {adv. phr.} In accordance with one’s conscience or inclinations. Citizens should vote according to their own lights.
[throw for a loss] {v. phr.} 1. To tackle a member of the opposingfootball team behind the place where his team had the ball at thebeginning of the play; push the other team back so that they loseyardage in football. The Blues’ quarterback ran back and tried topass, but before he could, the Reds’ end … Читать далее
Идиома: deep water Перевод: серьезные проблемы или сложности Пример: The boy will be in deep water if he does not tell us where he spent the money. У мальчика будут серьезные проблемы, если он не скажет нам, куда потратил деньги.
[time and a half] {n. phr.} Pay given to a worker at a rate halfagain as much as he usually gets. John got time and a half when heworked beyond his usual quitting time. Tom gets one dollar forregular pay and a dollar and a half for time and a half.
[make a splash] {v. phr.} To cause a sensation. The brilliantyoung pianist, barely 14 years old, made quite a splash on the concertcircuit.
[the idea] or [the very idea] {n. phr.} — Used in exclamations toshow that you do not like something. The idea! Thinking Mother wasmy sister! The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty dog into myclean house!
Идиома: without fail Перевод: обязательно, несомненно Пример: The postman came at noon everyday without fail. Почтальон каждый день, без задержек, приходил в полдень.
[high-sounding] {adj.} Sounding important; said for showing off;too fancy. The politician’s speech was full of high-soundingwords. Mr. Brown filled his son with many high-sounding ideasabout life.
[hold true] or [hold good] {v. phr.} To remain true. It hasalways held true that man cannot live without laws. Bob is a goodboy and that holds true of Jim.
[writing] or [handwriting on the wall] {n. phr.}, {literary} Awarning; a message of some urgency. «This nuclear plant is about toexplode, I think,» the chief engineer said. «We’d better get out ofhere in a hurry, the handwriting is on the wall.»
[man of letters] {n. phr.} A writer; an author; a scholar. Chekhov was not only a practicing physician but also a first-rate manof letters.
[figure out] {v.} 1. To find an answer by thinking about ; solve. Tom couldn’t figure out the lastproblem on the arithmetic test. Sam couldn’t figure out how toprint a program until the teacher showed him how. Mary couldn’tfigure out why her cake tasted so funny until she found salt mixed inthe sugar bag. Compare: … Читать далее
[take the edge off] also [take off the edge] {v. phr.} To lessen, weaken, soften or make dull. Eating a candy bar before dinner hastaken the edge off Becky’s appetite. Bob was sorry for hurting Tomand that took the edge off Tom’s anger. A headache took the edgeoff Dick’s pleasure in the movie.
[on the beam] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In theradio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying inthe right direction. A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplanewhen he is flying on the beam. 2. {slang} Doing well; just right;good or correct. Kenneth’s answer was right on the beam. Contrast:OFF THE … Читать далее
[door] See: AT DEATH’S DOOR, AT ONE’S DOOR, CLOSED-DOOR, CLOSE ITS DOORS, CLOSE THE DOOR or BAR THE DOOR or SHUT THE DOOR, DARKEN ONE’S DOOR, or DARKEN THE DOOR, FOOT IN THE DOOR, KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR, LAY AT ONE’S DOOR, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN, NEXT DOOR, … Читать далее
[beat a retreat] {v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. The Red coats’ drums were beating a retreat. 2. To run away. They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few. The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming. Compare: … Читать далее
[for laughs] {adv. phr.} For pleasure; for fun; as a joke. Thecollege boys climbed up into the girls’ dorms and stole some of theirdresses just for laughs, but they were punished all the same.
[run into the ground] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do or use more than is wanted or needed. It’s all right to borrowmy hammer once in a while, but don’t run it into the ground. 2. Towin over or defeat completely. We lost the game today, but tomorrow we’ll run them into the ground.
Идиома: sly as a fox Перевод: хитрый, как лиса; быть умным и хитрым Пример: The storeowner is as sly as a fox and you can never make a good deal with him. Владелец магазина хитрый, как лиса, и с ним невозможно заключить хорошей сделки.
[day in court] {n. phr.} A chance to be heard; an impartial hearing; a chance to explain what one has done. The letters from the faculty members to the dean gave Professor Smith his day in court.
Идиома: in exchange for someone or something Перевод: в обмен на кого-либо или что-либо Пример: I received the camera in exchange for several discount coupons. Я получил фотоаппарат в обмен на несколько талонов со скидками.
Идиома: have an ax to grind / have an axe to grind Перевод: 1. иметь претензии, испытывать недовольство по поводу чего-либо или кого-либо 2. иметь корыстные интересы, преследовать свои интересы Пример: The student had an axe to grind with his teacher, because he received a low mark on his presentation. У студента есть претензии к … Читать далее
[to the tune of] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the amount or extentof; in the amount of. He had to pay to the tune of fifty dollarsfor seeing how fast the car would go. When she left the race trackshe had profited to the tune of ten dollars.