Идиома: in two shakes / in two shakes of a lamb’s tail / in a couple of shakes Перевод: очень скоро, в один миг Пример: We’ll get there in two shakes. Мы очень скоро туда придем. She’ll get her job done in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Она закончит свою работу в один миг.
[cast about] also [cast around] {v.}, {literary} 1. To look everywhere; search. The committee was casting about for an experienced teacher to take the retiring principal’s place. 2. To search your mind; try to remember something; try to think of something. The teacher cast about for an easy way to explain the lesson. Jane cast … Читать далее
[American plan] {n.} A system of hotel management in which meals are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not include meals. American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals will be included, because they are used to the American plan.
[in the running] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Having a chance to win; notto be counted out; among those who might win. At the beginning ofthe last lap of the race, only two horses were still in the running. A month before Joyce married Hal, three of Joyce’s boyfriendsseemed to be still in the running. Al … Читать далее
[toss off] {v. phr.} 1. To drink rapidly; drain. He tossed offtwo drinks and left. 2. To make or say easily without trying orthinking hard. She tossed off smart remarks all during dinner. He thinks a reporter should be able to toss off an article every fewhours.
[born yesterday] {adj. phr.} Inexperienced and easily fooled; not alert to trickery; easily deceived or cheated. — Usually used in negative sentences. When Bill started the new job, the other workers teased him a little, but he soon proved to everyone that he wasn’t born yesterday. I won’t give you the money till I see … Читать далее
Идиома: learn something by heart Перевод: учить что-либо наизусть Пример: I quickly learned my library card number by heart. Я быстро выучил наизусть номер своей карточки в библиотеке.
[bad blood] {n.}, {informal} Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. There’s a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they’ll never talk to each other again. Compare: BAD SHIT.
[first of all] {adv. phr.} Chiefly; primarily; as the first thing. After we get to Chicago, we will, first of all, try to find areliable used car.
[have a fit] or [have fits] or [throw a fit] {v. phr.} 1. To have asudden illness with stiffness or jerking of the body. Our dog had afit yesterday. 2. {informal} To become angry or upset. Father willthrow a fit when he sees the dent in the car. Howard will have afit when he learns … Читать далее
[sweet talk] 1. {n.}, {informal} Too much praise; flattery. Sometimes a girl’s better judgment is overcome by sweet talk. 2.{v.}, {informal} To get what you want by great praise; flatter. Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything.
Идиома: weigh one’s words Перевод: быть осторожным в выборе слов Пример: You should weigh your words carefully before you tell your boss what you want. Тебе следует внимательно подумать о том, что ты хочешь сказать своему начальнику, перед тем, как говорить с ним.
[by far] {adv. phr.} By a large difference; much. His work was better by far than that of any other printer in the city. The old road is prettier, but it is by far the longer way. Compare: FAR AND AWAY.
[jump ball] {n.} The starting of play in basketball by tossing theball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps andtries to hit the ball to a member of his own team. Two players heldonto the ball at the same time and the referee called a jump ball.
[rear end] {n.} 1. The back part The rearend of our car was smashed when we stopped suddenly and the car behindus hit us. — Often used like an adjective, with a hyphen. Ahead-on crash is more likely to kill the passengers than a rear-endcrash. Contrast: HEAD-ON. 2. Rump; backside. Bobby’s mother was soannoyed with … Читать далее
Идиома: right and left Перевод: направо и налево, в обе стороны, всюду Пример: The child looked right and left before he crossed the road. Ребенок посмотрел в обе стороны, прежде, чем переходить дорогу.
[hold on] {v.} 1. To keep holding tightly; continue to holdstrongly. As Ted was pulling on the rope, it began to slip and Earlcried, «Hold on, Ted!» Syn.: HANG ON. 2. To wait and not hang up atelephone; keep a phone for later use. Mr. Jones asked me to holdon while he spoke to his … Читать далее
[shout down] {v.} To object loudly to; defeat by shouting. Gracesuggested that we give our club money to charity, but she was shouteddown. The crowd shouted down the Mayor’s suggestions.
Идиома: sell someone a bill of goods Перевод: обмануть кого-либо, заставить кого-либо поверить в неправду Пример: I believe that the salesman sold me a bill of goods and the product does not have much value. Я считаю, что продавец меня обманул, и эта вещь не имеет большой ценности.
Идиома: separate the wheat from the chaff Перевод: отделять пшеницу от плевел; отделять что-либо ценное от чего-либо бесполезного, ненужного Пример: The managers hoped that the new procedure for evaluating employees would separate the wheat from the chaff. Менеджер надеялся, что новая процедура по оценке работников поможет отделить пшеницу от плевел.
[what if] What would, or will, happen if; what is the differenceif; suppose that. What if you go instead of me? What if wepaint it red. How will it look? «You can’t go now» said mother.»What if I do?» Dick asked. What if Jack scores a touchdown?
[master of ceremonies] or [M. C.] or [emcee] {n.} The person incharge of introducing the various participants in a show orentertainment. Bob Hope was the M. C. of many memorable shows.
[taken aback] also [taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised;suddenly puzzled or shocked. When he came to pay for his dinner hewas taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home.
Идиома: take care of someone or something Перевод: позаботиться о ком-либо или чем-либо, присмотреть за кем-либо или чем-либо Пример: You should take care of your health or you will become sick. Тебе следует заботиться о своем здоровье, или ты заболеешь.
Идиома: for one’s (own) sake Перевод: ради кого-либо Пример: I told my aunt that for her own sake she must stop smoking. Я сказал тете, что ради нее же самой она должна бросить курить.
[take a turn for the better] {v. phr.} To start improving; start toget better. Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but lastweek she suddenly took a turn for the better.
[put to bed] {v. phr.} 1. To put to rest for the night. Fatherput the three children to bed. The boy seemed ill, so the nurseput him to bed. 2. {informal} To complete preparations and print. The newspaper was put to bed at 1:15 A. M. The pressroom was latein putting the sports section to … Читать далее
[credibility gap] {n.}, {hackneyed phrase}, {politics} An apparent discrepancy between what the government says and what one can observe for oneself. There was a tremendous credibility gap in the USA during the Watergate years.
[it is an ill wind that blows nobody good] No matter how bad ahappening is, someone can usually gain something from it. — A proverb. When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play. It’s anill wind that blows nobody good.
[go it] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go fast; run hard; not to spareyourself. — Often used as a command. The coach yelled to the runnerto go it. At the party the girls cheered for their partners to goit. The boys called, «Go it!» to the dog chasing the cat. 2. Tolive; continue to do … Читать далее
[hither and thither] or [hither and yon] {adv. phr.}, {literary} Inone direction and then in another. Bob wandered hither and thitherlooking for a playmate. Compare: HERE AND THERE.
[turn on] {v.} 1. To start by turning a knob or handle or working aswitch; cause to be on. Jack turned on the water. Who turnedthe lights on? 2. {informal} To put forth or succeed with as easilyas turning on water. She really turns on the charm when that newboy is around. 3. To attack. … Читать далее
[after all] {adv. phr.} 1. As a change in plans; anyway. — Used with emphasis on «after». Bob thought he couldn’t go to the party because he had too much homework, but he went after all. 2. For a good reason that you should remember. — Used with emphasis on «all». Why shouldn’t Betsy eat … Читать далее
[of service] {adj. phr.} Valuable as a source of aid; helpful;useful. When a visitor seems lost or confused, the courteousstudent will ask «May I be of service?» A good jackknife is oftenof service to a camper.
Идиома: dog tired Перевод: усталый, как собака; очень усталый, вымотанный Пример: Janis was dog tired after the series. She played every game. После соревнований Дженис была усталой, как собака. Она сыграла в каждой игре.
Идиома: sit tight Перевод: терпеливо ждать чего-либо Пример: Please sit tight for a few minutes while I go and get a police officer. Пожалуйста, посидите спокойно несколько минут, пока я схожу за офицером полиции.
Идиома: get someone or something out of one’s mind / get someone or something out of one’s head Перевод: выбросить кого-либо или что-либо из головы; суметь позабыть кого-либо или что-либо Пример: It took me several months to get my old girlfriend out of my mind. У меня ушло несколько месяцев, чтобы забыть о своей старой … Читать далее
Идиома: lead someone down / up the garden path Перевод: обманывать кого-либо, вводить кого-либо в заблуждение, водить кого-либо за нос Пример: The young woman was leading her boyfriend down the garden path when she promised to marry him. Молодая женщина водила за нос своего парня, когда пообещала ему выйти за него замуж.
Идиома: throw someone a curve / throw someone a curve Перевод: удивить кого-либо чем-либо неожиданным Пример: Dad threw a curve at me when he asked if he could borrow $1000. Папа очень меня удивил, когда попросил дать ему взаймы 1000 долларов.
[reach for the sky] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To put your hands highabove your head or be shot. — Usually used as a command. A holdupman walked into a gas station last night and told the attendant «Reachfor the sky!» Syn.: HANDS UP. 2. To set one’s aims high. «Whymedical technician?» asked her father. «Reach … Читать далее
[house] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH, BRING DOWN THE HOUSE, PUN HOUSE, HASH HOUSE, KEEP HOUSE, ON THE HOUSE, PARISH HOUSE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE INGLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES orPLAGUE O’ BOTH YOUR HOUSES, PUT ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE’SHOUSE TN ORDER.
[sexual harassment] {n. phr.} The act of constantly making unwantedadvances of a sexual nature for which the offended party may seeklegal redress. The court fined Wilbur Catwallender $750,000 forsexual harassment of two of his female employees.
[take a break] {v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during thecourse of one’s work. «You’ve worked hard. It’s time to take abreak,» the boss said.
Идиома: lame duck Перевод: кто-либо, занимающий выбираемую должность, чей срок полномочий еще не истек, но о ком известно, что он не будет переизбран, или что он не может быть переизбран (в силу устава, закона, и т. п.) Пример: The mayor is a lame-duck leader so it is difficult for him to accomplish some things. Мэр … Читать далее
[have a time] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To have trouble; have a hardtime. Poor Susan had a time trying to get the children to go tobed. John had a time passing his math course. 2. To have a goodtime; to have fun. — Used with a reflexive pronoun. Bob had himselfa time going to every … Читать далее
[show] See: GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD, GO TO SHOW or GO TO PROVE, ROAD SHOW, STEAL THE SHOW, TALENT SHOW, VARIETY SHOW, WHOLE CHEESE orWHOLE SHOW.
[take it out on] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be unpleasant or unkindto because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelingsby being mean to. — Often used with the name of the feeling instead of»it.» The teacher was angry and took it out on the class. Bobwas angry because Father would not let … Читать далее
[come down hard on] {v.}, {informal} 1. To scold or punish strongly. The principal came down hard on the boys for breaking the window. 2. To oppose strongly. The minister in his sermon came down hard on drinking.
[let down easy] {v. phr.} To refuse or say no to in apleasant manner; to tell bad news about a refusal or disappointment ina kindly way. The teacher had to tell George that he had failed hiscollege examinations, but she tried to let him down easy. The bosstried to let Jim down easy when he … Читать далее
[get to the bottom of] {v. phr.} To find out the real cause of. The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottomof the trouble. The doctor made several tests to get to the bottomof the man’s headaches. Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF.