Английские идиомы

[make a nuisance of oneself] {v. phr.} To constantly bother others. The screaming kids made a nuisance of themselves around theswimming pool.

[skin-deep] {adj.} Only on the surface; not having any deep orhonest meaning; not really or closely connected with what it seems tobelong to. Mary’s friendliness with Joan is only skin-deep. Ralph crammed for the test and got a good grade, but his knowledge ofthe lesson is only skin-deep. Contrast: BRED IN THE BONE.

[make up] {v.} 1. To make by putting things orparts together. A car is made up of many different parts. 2. Toinvent; think and say something that is new or not true. Jean makesup stories to amuse her little brother. 3a. To do or provide ; do or supply ; get back; regain; give back; … Читать далее

Идиома: in the black Перевод: финансово успешный, прибыльный (противоположное значение — In the red) Пример: Our company has been in the black for over three years now. Наша компания является прибыльной вот уже больше трех лет.

[parting of the ways] {n. phr.} 1. The point where a road or pathdivides; a fork. They stood undecided at a parting of the ways, where a forest path forked. 2. A time or place where a choice must bemade; a deciding point. He had come to a parting of the ways: hehad to choose … Читать далее

[back and forth] {adv.} Backwards and forwards. The chair is rocking back and forth. The tiger is pacing back and forth in his cage. Compare: TO AND FRO.

[ins and outs] {n. phr.} The special ways of going somewhere ordoing something; the different parts. The janitor knows all the insand outs of the big school building. Jerry’s father is a good lifeinsurance salesman; he knows all the ins and outs of the business.

[body blow] {n.}, {informal} A great disappointment; a bitter failure. When he failed to get on the team it came as a body blow to him.

Идиома: over someone’s head Перевод: 1. выше чьего-либо понимания 2. обращаться к более важному человеку, идти к кому-то, кто имеет больше власти, полномочий Пример: That lesson went over my head. Did you understand it? Этот урок был выше моего понимания. А ты его понял? The store clerk could not help us so we went over … Читать далее

Идиома: give or take Перевод: приблизительно, плюс-минус Пример: I think that the man is about 45 years old give or take five years. Думаю, этому человеку лет 45, плюс-минус 5 лет.

[cover ground] or [cover the ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go a distance; travel. Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover ground so quickly. 2. {informal} To move over an area at a speed that is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. The new infielder really covers the ground at … Читать далее

[pipe dream] {n.}, {informal} An unrealizable, financially unsound, wishful way of thinking; an unrealistic plan. Joe went through themotions of pretending that he wanted to buy that $250,000 house, buthis wife candidly told the real estate lady that it was just a pipedream. Compare: PIE IN THE SKY.

Идиома: the jewel in the crown Перевод: венец, жемчужина; самое ценное, важное Пример: The college is the jewel in the crown of the city’s university. Колледж — жемчужина университета города.

[know one’s place] {v. phr.} To be deferential to one’s elders orsuperiors. Ken is a talented teaching assistant, but he has atendency to tell the head of the department how to run things. Somebody ought to teach him to know his place.

Идиома: at the crack of dawn Перевод: при первых лучах солнца, очень рано утром Пример: We left for our holiday at the crack of dawn. Мы отправились в отпуск при первых лучах солнца.

[do one’s worst] {v. phr.} To do one’s utmost by resorting to every foul means possible. Hitler did his worst to drive out the Allied invasion from Europe, but he failed.

[God forbid] {interj.} May God prevent ;I hope that will not happen or is not true. Someone told theworried mother that her son might have drowned. She said, «Godforbid!» God forbid that the dam break and flood the valley! Compare: PERISH THE THOUGHT.

[used to ] {adj. phr.} In the habit of or familiar with. People get used to smoking and it is hard for them to stop. Farmers are used to working outdoors in the winter. After my eyesbecame used to the dim light in the cave, I saw an old shovel on theground. On the hike … Читать далее

[off-again, on-again] or [on-again, off-again] {adj. phr.},{informal} Not settled; changeable; uncertain. John and Susan hadan off-again, on-again romance. I don’t like this off-again, on-again business. Are we going to have the party or not?

[all at once] {adv. phr.} 1. At the same time; together. The teacher told the children to talk one at a time; if they all talked at one time, she could not understand them. Bill can play the piano, sing, and lead his orchestra all at once. 2. or [all of a sudden] Without warning; … Читать далее

Идиома: guest of honor Перевод: человек, ради которого устраивается какое-либо событие (вечер, церемония, и т. п.) Пример: My father was the guest of honor at the company banquet. В честь моего отца в компании устроили банкет.

[loose ends] {n.} 1. Parts or things that should be finished or puttogether. Mary’s composition had many loose ends. When Georgecame home after a long trip, he started picking up the loose ends. 2.See: AT LOOSE ENDS.

Идиома: I’m easy Перевод: выражение, обозначающее, что говорящий согласится и примирится с любым решением, любым предложением Пример: «Shall we eat at home or go out?» «Whatever you like. I’m easy.» Поедим дома, или пойдем в ресторан? — Как пожелаешь. Я согласен на все.

[all up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Near to certain death or defeat without any more chance or hope. With their ammunition gone the patrol knew that it was all up with them.

[set the pace] {v. phr.} To decide on a rate of speed of travel orrules that are followed by others. The scoutmaster set the pace sothat the shorter boys would not get tired trying to keep up. Louise set the pace in selling tickets for the school play. -[pace-setter] {n.} John is the pace-setter of … Читать далее

[space probe] {n.}, {Space English} An unmanned spacecraft otherthan an Earth satellite fitted with instruments which gather andtransmit information about other planets in the solar system on what are called fly-by missions, i. e.,without the craft landing on any of these bodies. Both the U. S. A. and Russia have sent up many a space … Читать далее

Идиома: at someone’s feet Перевод: под влиянием кого-либо, под чьей-либо властью Пример: The professor was very popular among the students, and a lot of them were at his feet. Профессор пользовался большой популярностью у студентов, и многие из них находились под его влиянием.

Идиома: in the pink (of something) Перевод: в очень хорошей форме (физически и эмоционально); в добром здравии, в прекрасном состоянии; здоровый, в порядке Пример: My grandmother is in the pink and is doing very well. Моя бабушка в отличной форме, и у нее все хорошо.

Идиома: eager beaver Перевод: трудяга, усердный работник Пример: My colleague is an eager beaver and is always ready to work hard when we need him. Мой сослуживец тот еще трудяга, и он всегда готов потрудиться, когда он нам нужен.

[feel for someone] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be able to sympathizewith someone’s problems. I can really feel for you, John, forlosing your job.

[put to use] {v. phr.} To use. During the early part of theKorean war the cooks and office workers of the U. S. Army were put touse in battle. Henry decided to put his dictionary to use. Iwish you’d put the lawn mower to use!

[for fun] {prep. phr.} As amusement, not seriously, as a joke. Let’s try to play Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto together, you on onepiano, and I on another one. Compare: IN FUN.

Идиома: if memory serves / if my memory serves me right Перевод: если мне не изменяет память, если я правильно помню Пример: I think he was called Brian, if my memory serves me right. Кажется, его звали Брайан, если мне не изменяет память.

[actions speak louder than words] What you do shows your character better and is more important than what you say. — A proverb. John promised to help me, but he didn’t. Actions speak louder than words. Joe is very quiet, but actions speak louder than words. He is the best player on the team.

[give up] {v.} 1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. Thedog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn’t give it up. Jimmy isgiving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school. Compare:GIVE ONESELF UP, HAND OVER, LET GO. Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 1b. Toallow; permit. Ford gave up two … Читать далее

[dispose of] {v.} 1. To throw away; give away, or sell; get rid of. John’s father wants to dispose of their old house and buy a new one. The burglars had difficulty in disposing of the stolen jewelry. 2. To finish with; settle; complete. The boys were hungry, and quickly disposed of their dinner. The … Читать далее

Идиома: for good Перевод: навсегда, навечно Пример: We have decided to move to Los Angeles for good. Мы решили навсегда переехать в Лос-Анджелес.

[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] {adv. phr.} To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards. He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards. I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was.

[tune out] {v. phr.} To not listen to something. «How can youwork in such a noisy environment?» Jane asked Sue.»Well, I simply tune it out,» sheanswered.

Идиома: raise one’s voice (to someone) Перевод: повышать голос на кого-либо, громко говорить или кричать со злости Пример: The teacher asked the child not to raise his voice. Учитель попросил ребенка не повышать голоса.

Идиома: pull the plug (on someone or something) Перевод: 1. прекратить поддержку, отказаться; 2. отключить систему жизнеобеспечения (у пациента в госпитале) Пример: The cashier suddenly decided to pull the plug and is no longer working here. Кассир внезапно решил отказаться от работы, и больше он здесь не работает. Harry signed a living will making it … Читать далее

Идиома: wear the pants Идиома: wear the pants Перевод: быть хозяином в доме, верховодить в семье Пример: The woman is very strong and is the one who wears the pants in her family Эта женщина очень сильная, и она верховодит в своей семье.

[pull up one’s socks] {v. phr.} To try to do better, either interms of one’s behavior or at a task one is performing. I’ll haveto pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today.

[bottom] See: BET ONE’S BOOTS or BET ONE’S BOTTOM DOLLAR, FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE’S HEART, FROM — TO —, GET TO THE BOTTOM OF, HIT BOTTOM or TOUCH BOTTOM, ROCK BOTTOM, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

[turn a hand] {v. phr.} To do anything to help. — Usually used inthe negative. When we were all hurrying to get the house ready forcompany, Mary sat reading and wouldn’t turn a hand. Syn.: LIFT AFINGER.

[sell snow to the Eskimos] {v. phr.} To sell something to peoplewho already have a large quantity of the same or similar goods. MyAlaskan friend said, «One of the hottest businesses in Alaska isrefrigeration. You could say that I, as a refrigerator expert, amselling snow to the Eskimos.» See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE.

Идиома: to some extent Перевод: в некоторой степени, частично Пример: My answer to the professor’s question was correct to some extent but in general it was not what the professor wanted. В некоторой степени мой ответ профессору был правильным, но в целом он был не тем, что хотел услышать профессор.

[game is up] or {slang} [jig is up] The secret or plan won’t work;we are caught or discovered. The game is up; the teacher knows whotook her keys. The jig’s up; the principal knows the boys havebeen smoking in the basement. Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE.

[catch with one’s pants down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To surprise someone in an embarrassing position or guilty act. They thought they could succeed in the robbery, but they got caught with their pants down. When the weather turned hot in May, the drive-in restaurant was caught with its pants down, and ran out of ice … Читать далее

[home brew] {n. phr.} A beer or other malt liquor made at home, notin a brewery. Home brew reached its greatest popularity in Americaduring national prohibition.