[sign up] {v.} 1. To promise to do something by signing your name;join; sign an agreement. We will not have the picnic unless morepeople sign up. John wants to sign up for the contest. MissCarter has signed up to be the chaperone at the dance. 2. To writethe name of to be in an activity; … Читать далее
[see service] {v. phr.} 1. To be used over a considerable period oftime. This old camera of mine has already seen six years ofservice. 2. To serve in a military sense. Colonel Hutchins hasseen service in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.
Идиома: hit below the belt Перевод: наносить удар ниже пояса (как в переносном, так и в прямом смысле (например, в боксе)); поступать нечестно Пример: To remind reformed alcoholics of their drinking problems is to hit below the belt. Напоминать людям, борющимся с алкоголизмом, об их проблеме — это удар ниже пояса.
[tearjerker] {n.} A sentimental novel or movie that makes one cry. Love Story, both in its novel form and as a movie, was a famoustearjerker.
[give one some of his] or [her own medicine] {v. phr.} To treatsomeone the way he or she treats others. Thegangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, apoliceman gave him a little of his own medicine.
[get on the stick] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; tostop being idle and to start working vigorously. All right, man, let’s get on the stick! Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE’S TAIL.
[discretion is the better part of valor] {literary} When you are in danger or trouble, good sense helps more than foolish risks; it is better to be careful than to be foolishly brave. — A proverb. When you are facing a man with a knife, discretion is the better part of valor.
[burn the candle at both ends] {v. phr.} To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired. He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends.
Идиома: have had enough Перевод: вытерпеть достаточно; терпеть, принимать что-либо достаточно, и не иметь желания продолжать этого делать Пример: I have had enough sun today so I will go home soon. Я уже достаточно позагорал на сегодня, так что скоро я пойду домой.
Идиома: jump the gun Перевод: опередить события, начать что-либо раньше срока Пример: He jumped the gun and started selling the tickets before he should have. Он начал продавать билеты намного раньше нужного срока.
[jawbreaker] {n.} 1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum. Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and achocolate bar. 2. [informal] A word or name that is hard topronounce. His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker.
[eat up] {v.} 1. To eat all of. After hiking all afternoon, theyquickly ate up all of the dinner. 2. To use all of. Idle talk hadeaten up the hour before they knew it. 3. {slang} To accept eagerly;welcome. The girls told John he was a hero because he made thewinning touchdown, and he ate … Читать далее
[into question] {adv. phr.} Into doubt or argument. — Usually usedwith «call», «bring» or «come». This soldier’s courage has neverbeen called into question. If a boy steals, his parents’ teachingcomes into question.
[so many ] {adj.} 1. A limited number of; some Our schoolauditorium will hold only so many people. 2. A group of. — Often usedfor emphasis. The children were all sitting very quietly in theirchairs, like so many dolls. Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} Bob is alwaysbragging; his stories are just so many lies.
Идиома: hot air Идиома: hot air разг. Перевод: чепуха, ерунда, преувеличение Пример: My coworker is full of hot air and you cannot trust what he says. Мой сослуживец постоянно много болтает и все преувеличивает, нельзя верить тому, что он говорит.
[face down] {v. phr.} To get the upper hand over someone bybehaving forcefully; disconcert someone by the displaying of greatself-assurance. The night guard faced down the burglar by staringhim squarely in the face. Contrast: FACE UP.
Идиома: turn thumbs down (on someone or something) Перевод: отвергать, отказать, отнестись неодобрительно (к кому-либо или чему-либо) Пример: My supervisor turned thumbs down on my desire to have a more flexible schedule. Мой надзиратель отнесся неодобрительно к моему пожеланию иметь более гибкий график.
[nurse a drink] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hold a drink in one’s handat a party, pretending to be drinking it or taking extremely smallsips only. John’s been nursing that drink all evening.
[pick a quarrel] {v. phr.} To seek the opportunity for a fight or aquarrel. When Charlie has too much to drink, he has a tendency topick a quarrel with whomever happens to be around. See: PICK A FIGHT.
Идиома: provided that (something is so) Перевод: при условии, что; если Пример: We plan to go hiking this weekend provided that the weather is nice. Мы собираемся пойти в поход в конце этой недели, если погода будет хорошая.
[salt pork] {n.} Very fat pork that has been packed in salt ordipped in brine for curing. Mother cooked beans with salt pork forsupper.
[at home] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the place where you live or come from. * I went to his house, but he was not at home. Americans abroad are protected by the government like Americans at home. 2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. Charles and John enjoy working together because … Читать далее
[for one’s money] {prep. phr.} Regarding one’s endorsement orsupport; as far as one is concerned. For my money, the bestcandidate for Congress is Ms. Smith.
Идиома: make a killing Идиома: make a killing разг. Перевод: сделать много денег, быстро разбогатеть Пример: The woman made a killing on the real estate market before she retired. Женщина заработала много денег на рынке недвижимости до того, как ушла на пенсию.
[good deal] or [great deal] {n.}, {informal} A large amount; much.- Used with «a». Mrs. Walker’s long illness cost her a good deal. George spends a great deal of his time watching television. -Often used like an adverb. Cleaning up after the party took a greatdeal more work than the girls expected. Usually it takes … Читать далее
[stick with] {v. phr.} To unfairly thrust upon; encumber one with. In the restaurant my friends stuck me with the bill although it wassupposed to be Dutch treat.
[big-time] {adj.} Belonging to the top group; of the leading class; important. Jean won a talent contest in her home town, and only a year later she began dancing on big-time television. Bob practices boxing in the gym every day; he wants to become a big time boxer. — Often used in the phrase «big-time … Читать далее
[bullet lane] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} The passing lane. Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler is moving too slow.
[look high and low for] {v. phr.} To look everywhere; search allover. Everyone has been looking high and low for the lost key butno one could find it.
[push up daisies] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be dead and buried. I’llbe around when you’re pushing up daisies. Don’t play with guns oryou may push up the daisies.
[in one’s good graces] or [in one’s good books] {adv. phr.}Approved of by you; liked by someone. Ruth is in her mother’s goodgraces because she ate all her supper. Bill is back in the goodgraces of his girlfriend because he gave her a box of candy. Compare:IN GOOD. Contrast: IN ONE’S BAD GRACES.
[get a fix on] {v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distantobject by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. Can you get a fixon the submarine? Contrast: GET A FIX.
Идиома: back to the salt mines Перевод: вновь за работу, за учебу, за занятия, и т. п. (вернуться к выполнению чего-либо неприятного) Пример: We finished our lunch and went back to the salt mines. Мы закончили обедать и вернулись за работу. School starts in the fall, so then it’s back to the salt mines again. … Читать далее
Идиома: (as) old as the hills Перевод: очень старый Пример: The building next to the library is as old as the hills. Здание рядом с библиотекой очень старое.
[other fish to fry] {n. phr.}, {informal} Other things to do; otherplans. They wanted John to be the secretary, but he had other fishto fry. Mary was invited to the party but she refused because shehad other fish to fry.
Идиома: in a way Перевод: в некотором отношении, в некоторой степени Пример: In a way I want to go to the restaurant but basically I don’t care. В какой-то степени я хочу сходить в ресторан, но вообще мне без разницы.
Идиома: save one’s breath Перевод: промолчать, не тратить лишних слов Пример: You may as well save your breath and not talk to her as she will not believe you anyway. Можешь даже и не тратить лишних слов и не разговаривать с ней, потому что она тебе все равно не поверит.
[devil to pay] {n. phr.} Great trouble. — Used after «the». There’ll be the devil to pay when the teacher finds out who broke the window. When Jim wrecked his father’s car, there was the devil to pay.
[snapshot] {n.} A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait. We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving around theisland.
[do-or-die] {adj.} Strongly decided, very eager and determined. With a real do-or-die spirit the team scored two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game. The other army was larger but our men showed a do-or-die determination and won the battle.
[run away with] {v.} 1a. To take quickly and secretly, especiallywithout permission; steal. A thief ran away with Grandma’s silverteapot. Syn.: MAKE OFF. 1b. To go away with; elope. Mary said thatif her parents wouldn’t let her marry Phil, she would run away withhim. 1c. To take hold of; seize. The boys thought they saw … Читать далее
Идиома: off one’s chest Перевод: облегчить душу Пример: I talked to my friend and I was able to get some of my problems off my chest. Я поговорил со своим другом и смог немного облегчить себе душу.
[throw] or [feed one to the wolves] {v. phr.} 1. To turn someoneinto a scapegoat. In order to explain the situation to the media, the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves. 2. To sendinto danger without protection. Mary was very shy. Her friends didnot come to speak before the club in … Читать далее
[full of oneself] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Interested only inyourself. Joe would be a nice boy if he would stop being so full ofhimself. Compare: BIG HEAD.
[John Hancock] or [John Henry] {n.}, {informal} Your signature;your name in writing. The man said, «Put your John Hancock on thispaper.» Joe felt proud when he put his John Henry on his veryfirst driver’s license.
[off balance] {adj. phr.} 1. Not in balance; not able to stand upstraight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or falling;unsteady. Never stand up in a canoe; it will get off balance andturn over. Paul was speeding along on his bicycle, when anunexpected hole in the road caught him off balance … Читать далее
[talk of the town] {n. phr.} Something that has become so popularor prominent that everyone is discussing it. Even after threedecades, Picasso’s famous metal statue is still the talk of the townin Chicago.
Идиома: in a kind of way / in a sort of way Перевод: в некоторой степени; несколько, немного Пример: In a kind of way I want to buy a new car but in other ways I don’t think that I really need one. В какой-то степени я хочу купить новую машину, но на самом деле … Читать далее
Идиома: have money to burn Перевод: иметь много денег, и тратить их на ненужные и лишние вещи; иметь столько денег, что куры не клюют Пример: The man has money to burn and is always buying something new. У этого человека куча денег, и он постоянно покупает что-то новое.
[the long and the short] or [the long and short] {n. phr.} All thatneeds to be said; the basic fact; point. The long and the short ofthe matter is that the man is no actor. The money isn’t there, andthat’s the long and short of it.