Английские идиомы

[knock one’s block off] {v. phr.}, {slang} To hit someone veryhard; beat someone up. Stay out of my yard or I’ll knock your blockoff. Jim will knock your block off if he catches you riding hisbike.

Идиома: a rolling stone Перевод: перекати-поле (человек, постоянно меняющий место жительства или работу, не желающий обосноваться) Пример: The man is a rolling stone and I never know where to find him. Этот человек — перекати-поле, и я никогда не знаю, где его можно найти.

Идиома: slip through the cracks / fall through the cracks Перевод: оказаться упущенным, позабытым; ускользнуть от внимания (системы, государства, правосудия, и т. п.) Пример: These children fell through the cracks. They didn’t learn to read. Эти дети были упущены из виду. Они не научились читать.

[jumping-off place] {n. phr.} 1. A place so far away that it seemsto be the end of the world. Columbus’ sailors were afraid theywould arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west. So you visited Little America? That sounds like the jumping-offplace! 2. The starting place of a long, hard trip or of … Читать далее

Идиома: upset the applecart Перевод: испортить музыку, спутать карты, перегнуть палку, расстроить планы Пример: Try not to upset the applecart as we have spent a lot of time working on this project. Постарайся ничего нам не подпортить, мы много времени потратили на этот проект.

Идиома: out and about / up and around / up and about Перевод: снова на ногах, поправиться, выйти после болезни Пример: I’m glad you’re out and about and, by all appearances, ready to resume work. Я рад, что ты снова на ногах и, судя по всему, готов приступить к работе. My uncle has been up … Читать далее

[under one’s nose] or [under the nose of] {adv. phr.}, {informal}In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place. The thiefwalked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose ofthe guards. When Jim gave up trying to find a pen, he saw threeright under his nose on the desk.

[saber rattling] or [sword rattling] {n.} A show of militarystrength usually to frighten; a threat of military force. Thedictator marched his troops and tanks along the border of our countryand did some saber rattling.

[pour oil on troubled waters] {v. phr.} To quiet a quarrel; saysomething to lessen anger and bring peace. The troops were nearinga bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters.

[stock-in-trade] {n. phr.} The materials which one customarilydeals, sells, or offers. Imported silk blouses from the Orient arethe stock-in-trade of their small shop. Anecdotes are often anafter-dinner speaker’s stock-in-trade.

Идиома: out of touch (with someone or something) Перевод: потерять связь с кем-либо или чем-либо, не поддерживать связи Пример: I am out of touch with many of my friends from high school. Я не поддерживаю связи со многими школьными друзьями.

[day in and day out] or [day in, day out] {adv. phr.} Regularly; consistently; all the time; always. He plays good tennis day in and day out. — Also used with several other time words in place of day: week, month, year. Every summer, year in, year out, the ice cream man comes back to … Читать далее

[carry one’s cross] or {literary} [bear one’s cross] {v. phr.} To live with pain or trouble; keep on even though you suffer or have trouble. Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the other boys play basketball. We didn’t know the cheerful woman was bearing her cross, a son in prison.

Идиома: get the shock of one’s life Перевод: испытать сильнейший шок, удивление Пример: I got the shock of my life when I saw my teacher on TV. Я был крайне потрясен, когда увидел своего учителя по телевизору.

[in one’s tracks] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Just where one is atthe moment; abruptly; immediately. The hunter’s rifle cracked andthe rabbit dropped in his tracks. Mary stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and ran back home. Syn.: ON THE SPOT, THEN ANDTHERE. 2. See: FOLLOW IN ONE’S FOOTSTEPS.

Идиома: with regard to / in regard to / as regards / with respect to / in respect of Перевод: что касается (чего-либо), в отношении (чего-либо), по поводу (чего-либо) Пример: With regard to Bill, I think he is working too much. Что касается Билла, то, мне кажется, что он слишком много работает. What shall we … Читать далее

Идиома: serve time Перевод: отбывать срок в тюрьме Пример: The man served time when he was young but now he is a good citizen. Когда этот человек был молод, он сидел в тюрьме, но теперь он послушный гражданин.

Идиома: run out of time Перевод: кончаться, иссякать (о времени) Пример: We ran out of time at the meeting so we could not discuss the staffing issue. На собрании у нас кончилось время, поэтому мы не смогли обсудить проблему с персоналом.

[as a last resort] {adv. phr.} In lieu of better things; lacking better solutions. «We’ll sleep in our sleeping bags as a last resort,» John said, «since all the motels are full.»

Идиома: go from bad to worse Перевод: становиться хуже, ухудшаться Пример: Things are going from bad to worse in our company. Дела в нашей компании становятся все хуже.

[in memory of] {prep.} As something that makes people remember ; as a reminder of; as a memorial to. The buildingwas named Ford Hall in memory of a man named James Ford. Manyspecial ceremonies are in memory of famous men.

Идиома: spread oneself too thin Перевод: разбрасываться, взвалить на себя слишком много, пытаться объять необъятное Пример: My sister has been spreading herself too thin lately and is not accomplishing very much of anything. Моя сестра последнее время слишком разбрасывается, и ей ничего толком не удается.

Идиома: able to take a joke Перевод: уметь давать другим смеяться и шутить над собой; не обижаться на шутки других Пример: Our boss is not able to take a joke. We must be careful what we say to him. Наш начальник не понимает шуток. Нужно подбирать слова, когда разговариваешь с ним.

Идиома: for sale Перевод: на продажу, быть выставленным на продажу Пример: There was a sign in front of the house that said it was for sale. Перед домом стояла табличка, в которой говорилось, что он продается.

[come down with] {v.}, {informal} To become sick with; catch. We all came down with the mumps. After being out in the rain, George came down with a cold.

[make out] {v.} 1. To write the facts asked for ; fill out. The teacher made outthe report cards and gave them to the students to take home. Mrs. Smith gave the clerk in the store some money and the clerk made out areceipt. 2. To see, hear, or understand by trying hard. It wasdark, … Читать далее

Идиома: see the sights Перевод: осматривать достопримечательности Пример: We stopped downtown during our holiday so that we could see the sights. Во время нашего отпуска мы остановились в центре, чтобы осмотреть достопримечательности.

Идиома: on ice Перевод: отложенный для сохранности, для дальнейшего использования; сохраняемый Пример: The city may put the plans for the new stadium on ice while they try to raise more money. Город может отложить планы по новому стадиону на будущее, пока они попытаются собрать больше денег.

[shape up] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right;get along satisfactorily. If the new boy doesn’t begin to shape upsoon, he’ll have to leave school. «How is the building of the newgym coming along?» «Fine. It’s shaping up very well.» 2. To showpromise. Plans for our picnic are shaping up very … Читать далее

[be up to no good] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be plotting and conniving to commit some illegal act or crime. «Let’s hurry!» Susan said to her husband. «It’s dark here and those hoodlums obviously are up to no good.»

[hit it off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To enjoy one another’s company;be happy and comfortable in each other’s presence. Tom and Fred hitit off well with each other. Mary and Jane hit it off from thefirst. Syn.: GET ALONG.

[catch up] {v.} 1. To take or pick up suddenly; grab. She caught up the book from the table and ran out of the room. 2. To capture or trap in a situation; concern or interest very much. — Usually used in the passive with «in». The Smith family was caught up in the war … Читать далее

[in view of] {prep.} After thinking about; because of. Schoolswere closed for the day in view of the heavy snowstorm. In view ofrising labor costs, many companies have turned to automation. Syn.:IN THE LIGHT OF.

[blow the lid off] {v. phr.}, {informal} Suddenly to reveal the truth about a matter that has been kept as a secret either by private persons or by some governmental agency. The clever journalists blew the lid off the Watergate cover-up.

Идиома: by the same token Перевод: точно также, с тем же успехом, таким же образом, по той же причине Пример: Some say he is a real charmer, but by the same token others are put off by his manner. Некоторые говорят, что он очень обаятельный, но таким же образом других отталкивают его манеры.

Идиома: run short (of something) Перевод: не иметь достаточное количество чего-либо Пример: We ran short of money during our trip to Europe. Во время нашей поездки в Европу у нас стали кончаться деньги.

Идиома: drive someone crazy / drive someone mad / drive someone insane / drive someone nuts Перевод: сводить с ума; сильно злить, раздражать Пример: The sound of the wind howling drove me crazy. Завывание ветра сводило меня с ума. John’s girlfriend keeps driving him insane because she always asks him questions when he gets home … Читать далее

Идиома: see the world through rose-colored glasses Перевод: смотреть на мир через розовые очки Пример: She is unrealistic and tends to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Она не реалист, и она смотрит на мир через розовые очки.

[Salisbury steak] {n.} A broiled or fried hamburger patty sometimescontaining eggs, milk, bread crumbs, and seasoning. James ordered aSalisbury steak for lunch.

[railroad] {v.} To force through; push through by force. Thebill was railroaded through the state legislature due to the influenceof some very wealthy sponsors.

[have eyes only for] {v. phr.} To see or want nothing else but;give all your attention to; be interested only in. Of all thehorses in the show, John had eyes only for the big white one. Allthe girls liked Fred, but he had eyes only for Helen.

[go along] {v.} 1. To move along; continue. Uncle Bill made upthe story as he went along. Compare: GO ON. 2. To go together oras company; go for fun. — Often used with «with». Mary went alongwith us to Jane’s house. John just went along for the ride to theball game. He didn’t want to … Читать далее

[within bounds] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Inside of the boundarylines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. You must hitthe ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be withinbounds. If you kick the football over a side-line, it will not bein bounds. 2. Inside of a … Читать далее

[how about that] or [what about that] {informal} An expression ofsurprise, congratulation, or praise. When Jack heard of hisbrother’s promotion, he exclaimed, «How about that!» Bill won thescholarship! What about that!

[up for grabs] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Available for anyone to tryto get; ready to be competed for; there for the taking. When thecaptain of the football team moved out of town, his place was up forgrabs.

Идиома: come down to earth Перевод: спуститься на землю; перестать мечтать, воображать что-либо Пример: My friend has finally come down to earth and is seriously looking for a job. Мой друг, наконец-то, перестал витать в облаках и всерьез принялся искать работу.

[go to bed with the chickens] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to bedearly at night. On the farm John worked hard and went to bed withthe chickens. Mr. Barnes goes to bed with the chickens because hehas to get up at 5 A. M.

[wet blanket] {n.}, {informal} A person or thing that keeps othersfrom enjoying life. The teenagers don’t invite Bob to their partiesbecause he is a wet blanket. The weatherman throws a wet blanketon picnic plans when he forecasts rain. Compare: CREPE HANGER.

[no love lost] {n. phr.} Bad feeling; ill will. Bob and Dickboth wanted to be elected captain of the team, and there was no lovelost between them. There was no love lost between the sales andthe accounting departments.

Идиома: take one’s time Перевод: не спешить, не торопиться Пример: My friend took his time to return the book that he had borrowed. Мой друг не торопился отдавать книгу, которою он у меня взял.