Английские идиомы

[short of breath] {adj.} Panting and wheezing. He ran up sixflights of stairs so rapidly that he was short of breath for severalminutes.

Идиома: before you know it Перевод: очень быстро, очень скоро, почти моментально Пример: He’ll be gone before you know it. Ты и глазом моргнуть не успеешь, как он уйдет.

[what’s sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander] What goes forthe one, also goes for the other. — A proverb. If Herb gets aspeeding ticket, so should Erica, who was right behind him; after all, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Идиома: drop the subject Перевод: перестать говорить о чем-либо Пример: My friend was getting angry while we were talking about money so I decided to drop the subject. Мой друг начинал раздражаться, когда мы говорили о деньгах, так что я решил оставить эту тему.

[beyond measure] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {formal} So much that it can not be measured or figured without any limits. With her parents reunited and present at her graduation, she had happiness beyond measure. No one envied him for he was popular beyond measure.

Идиома: tighten one’s belt / take one’s belt it / pull one’s belt in Перевод: затянуть потуже пояс (и в прямом, и в переносном смысле); жить на более ограниченные средства Пример: I’ve had to tighten my belt since I stopped working full time. Мне пришлось во многом себя ограничивать с тех пор, как я перестал … Читать далее

[sleep off] {v. phr.} To sleep until the effect of too much alcoholor drugs passes. George had too many beers last night and he is nowsleeping off the effects.

[set out] {v.} 1. To leave on a journey or voyage. The Pilgrimsset out for the New World. Compare: SET FORTH, SET OFF, STARTOUT. 2. To decide and begin to try; attempt. George set out toimprove his pitching. 3. To plant in the ground. The gardener setout some tomato seedlings.

[variety show] {n.} A program that includes several different kindsof entertainment. Jane’s father was the master of ceremonies of a variety show on TV.

Идиома: play the field Перевод: встречаться со многими партнерами, а не с одним; вести отношения сразу с несколькими партнерами Пример: After my sister stopped dating her boyfriend she decided to play the field. После того, как моя сестра перестала встречаться со своим молодым человеком, она решила завести сразу несколько отношений.

[waste one’s breath] {v. phr.} To speak or to argue with no result;do nothing by talking. The teacher saw that she was wasting herbreath; the children refused to believe her. I know what I want. You’re wasting your breath.

Идиома: feel like doing something Перевод: быть склонным к чему-либо, хотеть сделать что-либо Пример: I do not feel like doing the dishes now. Сейчас мне что-то не хочется мыть посуду.

[home] See: AT HOME, BRING HOME, BRING HOME THE BACON, CHICKENSCOME HOME TO ROOST, CLOSE TO HOME, CONVALESCENT HOME or NURSING HOMEor REST HOME, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME, NOBODY HOME, WRITE HOME ABOUT.

[Jesus boots] or [Jesus shoes] {n.}, {slang} Men’s sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. Idig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool.

[three-ring circus] {n.} A scene of much confusion or activity. The street was a three-ring circus of cars, people, noise, andlights. It is a three-ring circus to watch that silly dog play.

[in hand] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Under control. The principalwas happy to find that the new teacher had her class in hand. Thebaby-sitter kept the children well in hand. Mabel was frightenedwhen the barking dog ran at her, but she soon got herself in hand andwalked on. Contrast: OUT OF HAND. 2. In your … Читать далее

Идиома: eyeball-to-eyeball / eyeball to eyeball Перевод: с глазу на глаз, лицом к лицу Пример: I sat eyeball-to-eyeball with our boss during the meeting. Я сидел лицом к лицу со своим начальником на собрании.

[on the hour] {adv. phr.} Each time the hour has zero minutes andzero seconds. The uptown bus goes past the school on the hour. The woman must take her pill on the hour.

[run for one’s money] {n. phr.} 1. A good fight; a hard struggle. — Usually used with «give» or «get». Our team didn’t win the game, but they gave the other team a run for their money. 2. Satisfaction;interest; excitement. — Usually used with «give» or «get». Peoplelike to watch the champion fight because they … Читать далее

[take at one’s word] {v. phr.} To believe everything says; to act on what is said. If you say you don’t want this coat, I’ll take you at your word and throw it away. When the king saidhe wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word andmurdered the councillor.

[tax trap] {n.}, {informal} Predicament in which taxpayers inmiddle-income brackets are required to pay steeply progressive ratesof taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but their personalexemptions remain fixed, resulting in a loss of real disposableincome. Everybody in my neighborhood has been caught in a taxtrap.

Идиома: sound asleep / fast asleep Перевод: крепко спать Пример: The children went to bed an hour ago and are now sound asleep. Дети отправились в кровать час назад, и сейчас крепко спят.

[toy with an] or [the idea] {v. phr.} To consider an idea or anoffer periodically without coming to a decision. He was toying withthe idea of accepting the company’s offer of the vice presidency inTokyo, but he was unable to decide.

Идиома: bread-and-butter letter Перевод: письмо с благодарностью за гостеприимство Пример: Don’t forget to send aunt Mary a bread-and-butter letter. Не забудь послать тете Мэри письмо с благодарностью за гостеприимство.

[in behalf of] or [on behalf of] {prep.}, {formal} 1. In place of;as a representative of; for. John accepted the championship awardon behalf of the team. 2. As a help to; for the good of. Theminister worked hard all his life in behalf of the poor. Compare: INONE’S BEHALF IN ONE’S FAVOR.

Идиома: point of no return Перевод: половина пути; момент, когда обратно будет уже не вернуться (в прямом и переносном значении) Пример: We reached the point of no return on our journey and decided that it would be impossible to turn back. Мы прошли уже полпути в нашем путешествии и решили, что поворачивать обратно уже невозможно.

[let sleeping dogs lie] Do not make angry and causetrouble or danger; do not make trouble if you do not have to. — Aproverb. Don’t tell Father that you broke the window. Let sleepingdogs lie.

[on the brink of] {adv. phr.} Facing a new event that’s about tohappen. «I am on the brink of a new discovery,» our physicsprofessor proudly announced.

[open shop] {n. phr.} A factory or firm that employs both union andnon-union labor. The firm refuses to adopt an open shop policy. Contrast: CLOSED SHOP.

[graveyard shift] {n. phr.} The work period lasting from sundown tosunup, when one has to work in the dark or by artificial light. «Why are you always so sleepy in class?» Professor Brown asked Sam.»Because I have to work the graveyard shift beside going to school,»Sam answered.

[matter of record] {n. phr.} A fact or event that is keptofficially as a legal record. If you are convicted of speeding itbecomes a matter of record. A birth certificate or a marriagelicense is a matter of record.

[off one’s hands] {adv. phr.} No longer in your care or possession. Ginny was glad to have the sick dog taken off her hands by thedoctor. Contrast: ON ONE’S HANDS.

[stand one in good stead] {v. phr.} To be helpful or useful to. A boy scout knife will stand you in good stead when you do not haveother tools. Julia knew how to typewrite, and that stood her ingood stead when she looked for a job.

Идиома: put in a good word for someone Идиома: put in a good word for someone разг. Перевод: замолвить за кого-либо словечко, заступиться за кого-либо Пример: I put in a good word for my friend when I was meeting with my boss and supervisor. Я замолвил словечко за своего друга, когда встречался со своим начальником … Читать далее

Идиома: play dumb / play ignorant Перевод: притворяться, делать вид, что не знать чего-либо; прикидываться «дурачком» Пример: I played dumb when my boss asked me if I knew about the problems with the telephone. Я сделал вид, что ничего не знаю, когда начальник спросил меня о проблемах с телефоном.

[from the bottom of one’s heart] or [with all one’s heart] {adv. phr.} With great feeling; sincerely. A mother loves a baby from thebottom of her heart. John thanked his rescuer from the bottom ofhis heart. The people welcomed the returning soldiers from thebottom of their hearts.

[tell on] {v.} 1. To tire; wear out; make weak. The ten-milehike told on Bill. 2. {informal} To tell someone about another’swrong or naughty acts. — Used mainly by children. Andy hit a littlegirl and John told the teacher on Andy. If you hit me, I’ll tellMother on you.

Идиома: wash one’s dirty laundry in public / wash one’s dirty linen in public Идиома: wash one’s dirty laundry in public / wash one’s dirty linen in public Перевод: выносить на достояние общественности что-либо неприятное, что должно держаться в тайне Пример: The man began to wash his best friend’s dirty linen in public after he … Читать далее

Идиома: keep track of something Перевод: следить за (развитием, ходом чего-либо) Пример: Are you keeping track of the time? Ты следишь за временем? She finds it very difficult to keep track of her bank balance. Ей очень сложно следить за своим банковским счетом.

[apple-pie order] {n. phr.}, {informal} Exact orderly arrangement, neatness; tidy arrangement. The house was in apple-pie order. Like a good secretary, she kept the boss’s desk in apple-pie order.

[to the nth degree] {adv. phr.} To the greatest degree possible;extremely; very much so. Scales must be accurate to the nthdegree. His choice of words was exactly to the nth degree.

[hand in hand] {adv. phr.} 1. Holding hands. Bob and Mary walkedalong hand in hand in the park. Compare: ARM IN ARM. 2. Accompanyingeach other; together; closely connected. — Used with «go». Ignorance and poverty often go hand in hand. Selfishness andunhappiness often go hand in hand.

Идиома: go for broke Перевод: рискнуть всем ради чего-либо; приложить все возможные усилия Пример: We are going for broke to try and win the new contract. Мы рискнем всем, чем можем, чтобы выиграть новый контракт. On my last jump I’ll go for broke. I’ll beat my best mark. В последнем туре я сделаю все возможное. … Читать далее

[stand over] {v.} 1. To watch closely; keep checking all the time. Ted’s mother had to stand over him to get him to do his homework. 2. To be held over for later action; be postponed; wait. Thecommittee decided to let the proposal stand over until its nextmeeting.

Идиома: year round Перевод: круглый год, в течение всего года Пример: We usually spend all summer at a year-round vacation resort. Обычно мы проводим все лето на круглогодичном курорте.

[run circles around] also [run rings around] {v. phr.} To show thatyou can do a task much better than; do better than veryeasily. In spelling, Ruth could run circles around Barbara anyday. Frank ran rings around the other boys on the basketballteam.

[pint-size] {adj.}, {informal} Very small. The new pint-size, portable TV sets have a very clear picture. It was funny to hear apint-size voice coming out of a great big man.

[fun and games] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A party or otherentertaining event. 2. Something trivially easy. 3. Petting, or sexualintercourse. 4. An extraordinary difficult task. Howwas your math exam? : — Yeah, it was allfun and games, man.

[off-the-cuff] {adj.}, {informal} Not prepared ahead of time. — Used of a speech or remarks. Jack was made master of ceremoniesbecause he was a good off-the-cuff speaker.

[hold one’s breath] {v. phr.} 1. To stop breathing for a momentwhen you are excited or nervous. The race was so close thateveryone was holding his breath at the finish. 2. To endure greatnervousness, anxiety, or excitement. John held his breath for daysbefore he got word that the college he chose had accepted him.