Английские идиомы

[nasty-nice] {adj.} Unkind in a polite way; disagreeable whilepretending to be gracious. The bus driver has a nasty-nice way ofshowing his dislike.

[bite one’s lips] {v. phr.} To force oneself to remain silent and not to reveal one’s feelings. I had to bite my lips when I heard my boss give the wrong orders.

[hit the sauce] {v. phr.}, {slang} To drink alcoholic beverages — especially heavily and habitually. When Sue left him, Joe began tohit the sauce.

[see the light] {v. phr.}, {informal} To understand or agree, oftensuddenly; accept another’s explanation or decision. I did notapprove of his action, but he explained his reason and then I saw thelight. Bill wanted Harry to help him, but Harry wasn’t in the mooduntil Bill offered to pay him. Then Harry saw the light. Marythought … Читать далее

[make a difference] or [make the difference] {v. phr.} To changethe nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. John’s good score on the test made the difference between his passingor failing the course. It doesn’t make a bit of difference if youare late to my party. I just want you to come.

[get in with] {v. phr.} To join up with; begin to associate with;be accepted by. He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound upin jail. She got in with her father’s firm and made a successfulcareer of it.

[put to the sword] {v. phr.}, {literary} To kill in war, especially with a sword. The Romans put their enemies to thesword. In some wars captives have been put to the sword.

[optional origin] {n.} Stipulation in international commoditiescontract whereby the seller may ship from either his foreign or hisdomestic resources. Be sure to enter that in the books as anoptional origin order.

[out of the picture] {adv. phr.} No longer a possibility or in therunning; rejected. Mark assured Carol that his ex-wife wascompletely out of the picture.

[take amiss] or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due toa misunderstanding. «I hope you won’t take it amiss,» the boss saidto Jane, «that I find you irresistibly attractive.»

[switched on] {adj.}, {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. I dig Sarah, she is really switched on. 2.Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. How comeyou’re talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?

[go out of business] {v. phr.} To cease functioning as a commercialenterprise. The windows of the store are all boarded up becausethey went out of business.

[judgment seat] {n.} A place where you are judged; a place wherejustice and punishment are given out. Mrs. Smith is so bossy, shealways acts as though she is in the judgment seat.

[at the point of] {prep.} Very near to; almost at or in. When Mary broke her favorite bracelet, she was at the point of tears. The boy hurt in the accident lay at the point of death for a week, then he got well. Compare: ABOUT TO, ON THE POINT OF.

[rack one’s brain] {v. phr.} To try your best to think; make agreat mental effort; especially: to try to remember something you haveknown. Bob racked his brain trying to remember where he left thebook. Susan racked her brain trying to guess whom the valentinecame from. John racked his brain during the test trying to solvethe … Читать далее

[throw a curve] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To mislead ordeceive someone; to lie. John threw me a curve about the hiring. 2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. Mr. Weiner’sannouncement threw the whole company a curve.

[end for end] {adv. phr.} In a reversed or opposite position ; the other way around; over. The boxturned end for end as it fell, and everything spilled out. Thewind caught the canoe and turned it end for end.

[feel like a new man] {v. phr.} To feel healthy, vigorous, and wellagain after a major physical illness or emotional upheaval. Tedfelt like a new man after his successful heart bypass operation.

[curiosity killed the cat] {informal} Getting too nosy may lead a person into trouble. — A proverb. «Curiosity killed the cat,» Fred’s father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just before Christmas.

[packed like sardines] {adj. phr.} So tightly crowded thatthere is hardly room to turn. The trains are so full during rushhour that we must go to work packed in like sardines.

[lady-killer] {n.}, {informal} 1. Any man who has strong sex appealtoward women. Joe is a regular lady-killer. 2. A man whorelentlessly pursues amorous conquests, is successful at it, and thenabandons his heartbroken victims. The legendary Don Juan of Spainis the most famous lady-killer of recorded history. Compare: LADY’SMAN.

[in honor of] {prep.} As an honor to; for showing respect or thanksto. We celebrate Mother’s Day in honor of our mothers. The citydedicated a monument in honor of the general.

[carry off the palm] or [bear off the palm] {v. phr.}, {literary} To gain the victory; win. John carried off the palm in the tennis championship match. Our army bore off the palm in the battle. .

[stew in one’s own juice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To suffer fromsomething that you have caused to happen yourself. John lied toTom, but Tom found out. Now Tom is making John stew in his own juice. I warned you not to steal those apples. You got caught, and you canstew in your own juice.

[dead on one’s feet] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Very tired but still standing or walking; too tired to do more; exhausted. Jimmy never leaves a job unfinished. He continues to work even when he’s dead on his feet. After the soldiers march all night, they are dead on their feet. Compare: DEAD TIRED, WEAR OUT.

[burst into] {v. phr.} 1. To enter suddenly. Stuart burst into the room, screaming angrily. 2. To break out. The crowd burst out cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue.

[win one’s spurs] {v. phr.} 1. In old times, to be named a knightwith the right to wear little sharp spikes on your heels. A youngsquire won his spurs in battle. 2. To win fame or honor. The younglieutenant won his spurs by leading an attack on enemy machine guns. Edison won his spurs as … Читать далее

[make a big deal about] {v. phr.}, {informal} To exaggerate aninsignificant event. Jeff said, «I’m sorry I banged into you in thedark. Don’t make a big deal out of it.»

[hot one] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} Something out of the ordinary;something exceptional, such as a joke, a person whether in terms oflooks or intelligence. Joe’s joke sure was a hot one. Sue is ahot one, isn’t she?

[be off] {v. phr.} 1. {v.} To be in error; miscalculate. The estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house. 2. {v.} To leave. Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying goodbye. 3. {adj.} Cancelled; terminated. The weather was so bad that we were told … Читать далее

[make believe] {v.} To act as if something is true while one knowsit is not; pretend. Let’s make believe we have a million dollars. Danny made believe he didn’t hear his mother calling.

[hit parade] {n.} 1. A list of songs or tunes arranged in order ofpopularity. Tom was overjoyed when his new song was named on thehit parade on the local radio station. 2. {slang} A list of favoritesin order of popularity. Jack is no longer number one on Elsie’s hitparade.

[sitting pretty] {adj.}, {slang} To be in a lucky position. Thenew library is sitting pretty because a wealthy woman gave it $10,000worth of reference books. Mr. Jones was sitting pretty until his$25,000-a-year job was dropped by the company.

[force play] or [force-out] {n.} A play in baseball in which arunner is out because he does not run to the next base before thefielder with the ball touches the base. Bob was out at second basewhen Joe hit into a force play.

[fish in muddy] or [troubled waters] {v. phr.} To take advantage ofa troubled or confusing situation; seek personal advantage. Withthe police disorganized after the collapse of communism in Europe, many criminals started to fish in troubled waters.

[get away with] {v.}, {informal} To do without being caught or punished. Some students get away withoutdoing their homework. See: GET BY.

[foam at the mouth] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be very angry, like a maddog. By the time Uncle Henry had the third flat tire he was reallyfoaming at the mouth.

[along for the ride] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Being in a group for the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. He wants no members in his political party who are just along for the ride.

[shortchange] {v. phr.} To return less money to a customer in astore than is coming to him or her; cheat. I was shortchanged bythe cashier when I got seven dollars back instead of eight.

[keep house ] {v. phr.} To do the necessary things in ahousehold; do the cooking and cleaning. Since their mother died, Mary and her brother keep house for their father.

[globe-trotter] {n.} One who has travelled far and wide. Tim andNancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven’tbeen to.

[hash house] {n.}, {slang} An eating place where cheap meals areserved. Joe and his friends went to a hash house around the cornerafter the game.

[go under] {v.} 1. To be sunk. The ship hit an iceberg and wentunder. 2. To fail; be defeated. The filling station went underbecause there were too many others on the street.

[hit the spot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To refresh fully or satisfyyou; bring back your spirits or strength. — Used especially of food ordrink. A cup of tea always hits the spot when you are tired. Mother’s apple pie always hits the spot with the boys.

[hold one’s head up] {v. phr.} To show self-respect; not beashamed; be proud. When Mr. Murray had paid off his debts, he feltthat he could hold his head up again.

[at one’s service] {adv. phr.} 1. Ready to serve or help you; prepared to obey your wish or command; subject to your orders. He placed himself completely at the President’s service. «Now I am at your service,» the dentist told the next patient. 2. Available for your use; at your disposal. He put a car … Читать далее

[pay as one goes] {v. phr.} To pay cash; to pay at once; to avoidcharging anything bought; to avoid debt entirely by paying cash. — Usually used with «you». It is best to pay as you go; then you willnot have to worry about paying debts later.

[used to be] or [did use to be] {v. phr.} Formerly or once was. Mary used to be small; but she has grown up. Dick used to be thebest pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are betterthan he is.

[first base] {n. phr.} 1. The base that must be touched first by abaseball player after batting. He got to first base on four balls. 2. See: GET TO FIRST BASE.

[death on] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very successful in meeting or dealing with. Joe is death on fast balls. He usually knocks them out of the park. 2. Disliking or strongly against; very strict about. The new teacher is death on students who come late to class. The twins’ grandmother is death on smoking.