[call to order] {v. phr.} 1. To open formally. The chairman called the committee to order. The president pounded with his gavel to call the convention to order. 2. To warn not to break the rules of a meeting. The judge called the people in the courtroom to order when they talked too loud.
Идиома: in someone’s favor Перевод: в пользу кого-либо, в чью-либо пользу Пример: The judge decided the court case in our favor and we didn’t have to pay the court costs. Судья решил дело в нашу пользу, и нам не пришлось платить судебные издержки.
[stick together] {v.} To remain close together in a situation. Stick together in the cave so that no one gets lost. The gangstuck together after the game. Bill and Bob stick together in agame or in a fight. Syn.: HANG TOGETHER.
Идиома: in ink Перевод: написанный ручкой, чернилами Пример: We were asked to write down our names and addresses in ink. Нас попросили написать ручкой наши имена и адреса.
Идиома: catch a cold Перевод: простудиться Пример: I caught a cold because of the rain and the cold weather. Из-за дождя и холодной погоды я простудился.
[front and center] {adv.}, {slang} Used as a command to a person togo to someone who wants him. Front and center, Smith. The bosswants to see you.
[break-up] {n.} The end of a relationship, personal or commercial. The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided to sue each other for embezzlement.
[gravy train] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The kind of job that bringsin a much higher income than the services rendered would warrant. Jack’s job at the Athletic Club as Social Director is a regular gravytrain.
[put an end to] or [put a stop to] {v. phr.} 1. To make end; stop; end. The farmer built an electric fence around his fieldto put an end to trespassing. The principal said that running inthe halls was dangerous, and told the teachers to put a stop to it. 2. To destroy or kill. … Читать далее
[hold court] {v. phr.} 1. To hold a formal meeting of a royal courtor a court of law. Judge Stephens allowed no foolishness when heheld court. 2. {informal} To act like a king or queen among subjects. Even at sixteen, Judy was holding court for numbers of charmedboys.
Идиома: act of God Перевод: что-либо, не подвластное человеку, в особенности, глобальные события, стихийные бедствия; Божья воля Пример: The hurricane that destroyed many houses in this area was an act of God. Ураган, уничтоживший множество домов в этом регионе, был стихийным бедствием.
Идиома: a body blow Перевод: крупная неудача, большое разочарование, тяжелый удар Пример: Unavailability of funds was a body blow to the project. Отсутствие средств было большим ударом по проекту.
[song and dance] {n.}, {informal} 1. Foolish or uninteresting talk;dull nonsense. Usually used with «give». I met Nancy today and shegave me a long song and dance about her family. 2. A long lie orexcuse, often meant to get pity. Usually used with «give». Billygave the teacher a song and dance about his mother being … Читать далее
Идиома: cheat sheet Перевод: шпаргалка Пример: The teacher caught this student using a cheat sheet at the exam. Учитель поймал ученика со шпаргалкой на экзамене.
Sack in Out [sack in Out] {v.}, {slang} To go to sleep for a prolonged period. Where are you guys going to sackin Sack out?
[lame duck] {n.}, {informal} An elected public official who hasbeen either defeated in a new election or whose term cannot berenewed, but who has a short period of time left in office duringwhich he can still perform certain duties, though with somewhatdiminished powers. In the last year of their second terms, Americanpresidents are lame ducks.
Идиома: to one’s heart’s content Перевод: вволю; столько, сколько хочется Пример: The pool is open all day so you can swim to your heart’s content. Бассейн открыт весь день, так что можешь плавать, сколько хочешь.
Идиома: like a fish out of water Перевод: не в своей тарелке Пример: I was like a fish out of water when I went to the party with my cousin. Я был не в своей тарелке, когда пошел на вечеринку со своим двоюродным братом.
[pit-a-pat] {adv.} With a series of quick pats. When John askedMary to marry him, her heart went pit-a-pat. The little boy ranpit-a-pat down the hall.
[add the finishing touches] {v. phr.} To complete; finish. Mary’s first novel promised to be excellent; however, her editor suggested that she should add some finishing touches before accepting it.
[stick one’s neck out] or [stick one’s chin out] {v. phr.},{informal} To do something dangerous or risky. When I was introuble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck out to helpme. John is always sticking his chin out by saying something heshouldn’t.
[easy does it] {informal} Let’s do it carefully, without suddenmovements and without forcing too hard or too fast; let’s try to justhard enough but not too hard. «Easy does it,» said the boss as theymoved the piano through the narrow doorway. Compare: TAKE IT EASY.
[show cause] {v. phr.} To give a reason or explanation. Thejudge asked the defendants to show cause why they should not be heldwithout bail.
Идиома: beat around the bush / beat about the bush Перевод: ходить вокруг да около; говорить уклончиво и не по существу Пример: Stop beating around the bush and give us your final decision. Хватит ходить вокруг да около, скажи свое окончательное решение.
[at swords’ points] {adj. phr.} Ready to start fighting; very much opposed to each; other hostile; quarreling. The dog’s barking kept the Browns at swords’ points with their neighbors for months. The mayor and the reporter were always at swords’ points.
[come off] or [through with flying colors] {v. phr.} To succeed; triumph. John came off with flying colors in his final exams at college.
Идиома: take a stand (on something) Перевод: стать на какую-либо точку зрения по поводу чего-либо Пример: The politician was forced to take a stand on the tax issue. Политик был вынужден принять четкую позицию по поводу налогового вопроса.
[all ears] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very eager to hear; very attentive. — Used in the predicate. Go ahead with your story; we are all ears. When John told about the circus, the boys were all ears.
[give the glad eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} To give awelcoming look as if saying «come over here, I want to talk to you.» I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye.
Идиома: the ins and outs (of something) Идиома: the ins and outs (of something) разг. Перевод: все детали, тонкости, подробности чего-либо Пример: The supervisor knows the ins and outs of the new machine. Надсмотрщик знает все тонкости новой машины.
[lend itself to] {v. phr.} To give a chance for or be useful for;to be possible or right for. Bob was sick and did not go to Jane’sparty, but his absence lent itself to misunderstanding. Theteacher’s paperweight was a heavy piece of metal which sometimes lentitself to use as a hammer. This poem lends itself … Читать далее
[roll up one’s sleeves] To get ready for a hard job; prepare towork hard or seriously. When Paul took his science examination, hesaw how little he knew about science. He rolled up his sleeves andwent to work.
[all systems go] {Originally from space English, now general colloquial usage.} Everything is complete and ready for action; it is now all right to proceed. After they wrote out the invitations, it was all systems go for the wedding.
[fix someone up with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help another get adate with a woman or man by arranging a meeting for the two. SayJoe, can you possibly fix me up with someone this weekend? I am soterribly lonesome!
Идиома: over a barrel Перевод: в трудном, затруднительном положении (часто используется в выражениях Get someone over a barrel, Have someone over a barrel, Put someone over a barrel) Пример: We have the other company over a barrel and we should be able to win the contract easily. Мы поставили другую компанию на лопатки, и у … Читать далее
Идиома: wet behind the ears Перевод: молоко на губах не обсохло; неопытный, незрелый Пример: He is a little wet behind the ears and doesn’t know much about his job yet. Он еще неопытен и мало что знает о своей работе.
[not to give one the time of day] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Todislike someone strongly enough so as to totally ignore him. Suewouldn’t give Helen the time of day.
[on one hand] {adv. phr.} Looking at a thing in one of two possibleways; from one point of view. — Usually used with «on the other hand». John wants to be a printer or a teacher; on one hand, printing paysbetter; on the other hand, schools need good teachers.
[left-handed compliment] An ambiguous compliment which isinterpretable as an offense. I didn’t know you could look sopretty! Is that a wig you’re wearing?
[take down a notch] or [take down a peg] {v. phr.}, {informal} Tomake less proud or sure of himself. The team was feelingproud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by abad defeat.
[work one’s fingers to the bone] {v. phr.} To work very hard. «Ihave to work my fingers to the bone for a measly pittance of asalary,» Fred complained.
[give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have anyinterest or liking; care. — Used also with other words in the place of»hang», such as «damn», «rap», «straw»; usually used in the negative. You can quit helping me if you want to. I don’t give a hang. Some people don’t care a … Читать далее
[cock-and-bull story] {n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable story. «Stop feeding me such cock-and-bull stories,» the detective said to the suspect.
Идиома: a shot in the dark Перевод: «выстрел наугад, вслепую»; попытка вслепую, догадка Пример: The attempt to find the small boy was a shot in the dark. Попытка найти маленького мальчика была «выстрелом наугад». The whole theory is a shot in the dark — no-one will ever take us seriously. Вся теория — это лишь … Читать далее
Идиома: behind closed doors Перевод: за закрытыми дверями; тайно, в тайне Пример: The meeting to settle the dispute took place behind closed doors. Собрание по поводу разрешения полемики прошло за закрытыми дверями.
[touch and go] {adj. phr.} Very dangerous or uncertain insituation. Our team won the game, all right, but it was touch andgo for a while. At one time while they were climbing the cliff itwas touch and go whether they could do it.
[bring] or [wheel in] or [out] or [up the big guns] {v. phr.} To make use of a concealed plan in order to defeat an opponent in an argument or in a game, debate, or competition. The new computer software company decided to bring out the big guns to get ahead of the competition.
[fly by the seat of one’s pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To fly anairplane by feel and instinct rather than with the help of theinstruments. Many pilots in World War I had to fly by the seat oftheir pants.
[rainy day] {n.} A time of need; especially: a time when you reallyneed money. Squirrels gather acorns for a rainy day. Each weekMrs. Carlson saved a little money for a rainy day.
[odds and ends] {n. phr.} Miscellaneous items; remnants. Afterthe great annual clearance sale there were only a few odds and endsleft in the store.