Английские идиомы

[oddball] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} An eccentric person; one whodoesn’t act like everyone else. John is an oddball — he neverinvites anyone.

[look on] or [look upon] {v.} 1. To regard; consider; think of. The stuff had always been looked on as a worthless factory waste. Until the day Bob made the touchdown, the other boys had looked uponhim as rather a sissy. 2. To be an observer; watch without takingpart. Fred had never been able to … Читать далее

[force one’s hand] {v. phr.} To make you do something or tell whatyou will do sooner than planned. Ben did not want to tell where hewas going, but his friend forced his hand. Mr. Smith planned tokeep his land until prices went up, but he had so many doctor billsthat it forced his hand.

Идиома: a slip of the tongue Перевод: оговорка, обмолвка Пример: The clerk’s comment to the customer was a slip of the tongue. Замечание служащего посетителю было оговоркой.

Идиома: in short Перевод: в короткой форме, вкратце Пример: In short, I have just explained how we are going to do the next project. Я только что объяснил вкратце, как мы будем делать наш следующий проект.

[in one’s element] {adv. phr.} 1. In one’s natural surroundings. The deep-sea fish is in his element in deep ocean water. 2. Whereyou can do your best. John is in his element working on the farm. Compare: AT HOME 2. Contrast: OUT OF ONE’S ELEMENT.

[through train] {n. phr.} A direct train that doesn’t necessitateany changes. We’ll take the through train from Chicago to New Yorkbecause it’s the most convenient.

[now that] {conj.} Since; because; now. Now that dinner isready, wash your hands. You came early, but now that you’re here, take off your coat. Syn.: INASMUCH AS.

Идиома: at this stage of the game Идиома: at this stage of the game разг. Перевод: на данном этапе во время какого-либо события, в течение чего-либо Пример: At this stage of the game we cannot change the plans for the class trip. На данном этапе мы не можем поменять планы на поездку класса.

[quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal} [not a few] {n.} or{adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. Quite a fewwent to the game. The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it. — The phrase «quite a number» is used like an adjective only before»less», «more». Few people … Читать далее

Идиома: let one’s hair down / let down one’s hair Перевод: расслабиться, делать то, что хочется; не обращать внимания на мнение других, перестать стесняться Пример: Everybody at the party let down their hair and had a good time. На вечеринке все расслаблялись, веселились, и хорошо проводили время.

[let George do it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To expect someone else todo the work or take the responsibility. Many people expect to letGeorge do it when they are on a committee. Compare: PASS THE BUCK.

[boot] See: DIE IN ONE’S BOOTS, IN ONE’S SHOES also IN ONE’S BOOTS, LICK ONE’S BOOTS, SHAKE IN ONE’S SHOES or SHAKE IN ONE’S BOOTS, TO BOOT, TOO BIG FOR ONE’S BREECHES or TOO BIG FOR ONE’S BOOTS, YOU BET or YOU BET YOUR BOOTS.

[go to any length] {v. phr.} To do everything you can. Bill willgo to any length to keep Dick from getting a date with Mary. Compare:ALL-OUT.

Идиома: to say nothing of someone or something Перевод: не говоря уже о ком-либо или о чем-либо Пример: The hotel itself was very expensive to say nothing of the cost of the restaurants in the hotel. Сама гостиница была очень дорогой, не говоря уже о ценах в ресторане в гостинице.

[cop a plea] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To plead guilty during a trial in the hope of getting a lighter sentence as a result. The murderer of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., copped a plea of guilty, and got away with a life sentence instead of the death penalty.

[collector’s item] {n.} Something rare or valuable enough to collect or save. Jimmy’s mother found an old wooden doll in the attic that turned out to be a collector’s item.

[hold the line] {v. phr.} To keep a situation or trouble fromgetting worse; hold steady; prevent a setback or loss. The mayorheld the line on taxes. The company held the line on employment.

[pour money down the drain] {v. phr.} To spend one’s moneyunwisely; to waste one’s funds. «Stop supporting Harry’s drughabit,» Ralph said. «You’re just pouring money down the drain.».

[keep step with] {v. phr.} To maintain the same degree of progressas someone else. The United States has no choice but to keep stepwith potential enemies in terms of modern defense systems.

[it figures] {informal sentence} It checks out; it makes sense; itadds up. It figures that Bob got the highest raise at our firm; heis the most productive salesman.

[look at the world through rose-colored glasses] or [see withrose-colored glasses] {v. phr.} To see everything as good andpleasant; not see anything hard or bad. When Jean graduated fromhigh school, she looked at the world through rose-colored glasses. If you see everything through rose-colored glasses, you will often bedisappointed.

[get a head start on] {v. phr.} To receive preliminary help orinstruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in afavorable position compared to his or her peers. At our school, children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a specialprogram.

[come what may] {adv. phr.} Even if troubles come; no matter what happens; in spite of opposition or mischance. Charles has decided to get a college education, come what may. The editor says we will publish the school paper this week, come what may.

Идиома: blue Monday Перевод: понедельник — день тяжелый (когда приходится работать после активно проведенного уик-энда) Пример: It was a blue Monday and I had to go to work, back to the salt mines. Это был понедельник — день тяжелый, и я должен был идти на работу, снова тянуть свою лямку.

[get down to brass tacks] also [get down to cases] {v. phr.},{informal} To begin the most important work or business; get startedon the most important things to talk about or know. The men talkedabout little things and then got down to brass tacks. A busydoctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks.

[go out] {v. phr.} 1. To pass out of date or style. Short skirtsare gradually going out. 2. To stop giving off light or burning. Put more wood on the fire or it will go out. 3. To leave. When Icalled Sue, her mother said that she had just gone out.

Идиома: place an order Перевод: разместить заказ Пример: I recently placed an order for a new and smaller refrigerator. Недавно я разместил заказ на новый холодильник меньших размеров.

[keep one’s nose clean] {v. phr.}, {slang} To stay out of trouble;do only what you should do. The boss said Jim could have the job aslong as he kept his nose clean and worked hard. The policemanwarned the boys to keep their noses clean unless they wanted to go tojail. Compare: STEER CLEAR OF.

[for fear of] {adv. phr.} Because of being afraid of something; onaccount of being scared. Dave refuses to go to Europe for fear ofan airplane crash and for fear of a shipwreck.

[stand in awe of] {v. phr.} To look upon with wonder; feel veryrespectful to. Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent. The soldier stood in awe to his officers.

[on the wagon] {adv. phr.} Participating in an alcohol addictionprogram; not touching any alcoholic beverage. Jim’s doctor and hisfamily finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic andshould go on the wagon. Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.

[half an eye] {n. phr.} A slight glance; a quick look. Thesubstitute teacher could see with half an eye that she was going tohave trouble with the class. While Mary was cooking she kept halfan eye on the baby to see that he didn’t get into mischief.

[weed out] {v.} 1. To remove what is unwanted, harmful, or not goodenough from. Mother weeded out the library because there were toomany books. Many colleges and universities weed out their freshmanclasses to make room for better students. 2. To take from a collection or group; remove for the purpose ofimproving a collection or group; … Читать далее

[play by ear] {v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument byremembering the tune, not by reading music. Mary does not know howto read music. She plays the piano by ear. Joe doesn’t need anymusic sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well andcan play them by ear. 2. {informal} To decide … Читать далее

[bark worse than one’s bite] {informal} Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite. The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite. She was always scolding her children, but … Читать далее

[stick out like a sore thumb] {v. phr.} To be conspicuous; bedifferent from the rest. When the foreign student was placed in anadvanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no wonder that hestuck out like a sore thumb.

[have a heart-to-heart talk] {v. phr.} To confide in someone withgreat intimacy. Jill and her mother had a heart-to-heart talkbefore she decided to move in with Andrew.

[round up] {v.} 1. To bring together. Cowboysround up their cattle in the springtime to brand the new calves. 2.{informal} To collect; gather. Dave rounded up many names for hispetition.

Идиома: crazy like a fox Перевод: хитрый и расчетливый, но прикидывающийся глупым, неумным; строить из себя дурака Пример: In the debate, he was crazy like a fox. He praised his opponent for being clever and ruthless. Во время дебатов он прикидывался глуповатым, но был очень расчетливым. Он хвалил своего оппонента за ум и неумолимость.

[proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actualexperience can the value of something be tested. — A proverb. Hewas intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars.»Drive one, sir,» the salesman said. «The proof of the pudding is inthe eating.»

[take it away] {v. phr.}, {informal}, {Theatrical expression}You’re on; it’s your turn; you’re next. And here comes thatwonderful comedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, «Take it away. Bob.»

Идиома: on tiptoe Перевод: на цыпочках Пример: I walked around the house on tiptoe so that I would not wake up my family. Я ходил по дому на цыпочках, чтобы не разбудить семью.

Идиома: take something or someone for granted Перевод: принимать, как само собой разумеющееся; принимать как должное Пример: Everybody takes the office clerk for granted and nobody ever thanks her. Все принимают секретаря в офисе как нечто, само собой разумеющееся, и никто никогда не благодарит ее.

Идиома: have a hand in something Перевод: принимать участие в чем-либо; приложить руку к чему-либо Пример: I think Julia had a hand in getting her friend fired from the job. Мне кажется, Джулия приложила руку к тому, чтобы ее подругу уволили с работы.

[hot dog] {interj.}, {informal} Hurrah! — A cry used to showpleasure or enthusiasm. «Hot dog!» Frank exclaimed when heunwrapped a birthday gift of a small record player.

Идиома: face to face Перевод: лицом к лицу; лично Пример: I had a face-to-face meeting with my supervisor to talk about my job performance. Я поговорил со своим менеджером лицом к лицу по поводу качества моей работы.

[fox and geese] {n. phr.} A tag game in which the playerrepresenting the fox tries to catch one of the players representinggeese as they run around the outside of a circle.

[hold one’s horses] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop; wait; bepatient. — Usually used as a command. May be considered rude. «Holdyour horses!» Mr. Jones said to David when David wanted to call thepolice.

Идиома: right off the bat / straight off the bat Перевод: незамедлительно, сразу же, первым делом Пример: I told my boss right off the bat that we did not need a new computer for the office. Я сразу же сказал начальнику, что нам в офис не нужен новый компьютер.