[in check] {adv. phr.} In a position where movement or action isnot allowed or stopped; under control; kept quiet or back. The boywas too small to keep the big dog in check, and the dog broke awayfrom his leash. The soldiers tried to keep the attacking Indiansin check until help came. Mary couldn’t hold her … Читать далее
Идиома: a nine-to-five-job Перевод: работа с обычными рабочими часами (с 9 до 5) Пример: Many people like the regular hours of a nine-to-five job. Многим людям нравится работа с обычными рабочими часами.
[head-hunting] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. The custom of seekingout, decapitating, and preserving the heads of enemies as trophies. 2.A search for qualified individuals to fill certain positions. Thepresident sent a committee to the colleges and universities to do somehead-hunting; we hope he finds some young talent. 3. A systematicdestruction of opponents, especially in politics. Billings … Читать далее
[heart-to-heart] {adj.} Speaking freely and seriously aboutsomething private. The father decided to have a heart-to-heart talkwith his son about smoking. She waited until they were alone soshe could have a heart-to-heart talk with him. Compare: MAN-TO-MAN.
[blow one’s brains out] {v. phr.} 1. To shoot yourself in the head. Mr. Jones lost all his wealth, so he blew his brains out. 2. {slang} To work very hard; overwork yourself. The boys blew their brains out to get the stage ready for the play. Mary is not one to blow her brains … Читать далее
Идиома: get out of hand Перевод: выйти из-под контроля, стать неуправляемым Пример: The party was beginning to get out of hand so we asked everyone to leave. Вечеринка начала выходить из-под контроля, так что мы попросили всех уйти.
Идиома: contrary to something Перевод: несмотря на что-либо Пример: Contrary to what everybody thought, my friend had already quit his job. Несмотря на то, что все думали, мой друг уже бросил свою работу
[by dint of] {prep.} By the exertion of; by the use of; through. By dint of sheer toughness and real courage, he lived through the jungle difficulties and dangers. His success in college was largely by dint of hard study.
Идиома: fall from grace Перевод: потерять расположение; упасть в глазах общества; впасть в немилость Пример: The politician fell from grace with the public during the money scandal. Во время скандала, связанного с деньгами, этот политик потерял расположение общества.
[bull session] {n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something by a group of persons. After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bull session until the lights went out.
[tighten one’s belt] {v. phr.} To live on less money than usual;use less food and other things. When father lost his job we had totighten our belts. Often used in the expression «tighten one’s beltanother notch». When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to dowithout many things, but when their savings were all … Читать далее
[fish out of water] {n. phr.} A person who is out of his properplace in life; someone who does not fit in. Because Ed could notswim, he felt like a fish out of water at the beach. She was theonly girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a fishout … Читать далее
[sore spot] or [sore point] {n.} A weak or sensitive part; asubject or thing about which someone becomes angry or upset easily. Don’t ask Uncle John why his business failed; it’s a sore spot withhim. Compare: WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.
[out like a light] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Fast asleep; to sleepvery quickly. Tom got so much fresh air and exercise that he wentout like a light as soon as he lay down. As soon as the lightswere turned off, Johnny was out like a light. 2. In a faint;unconscious. Johnny was hit by a … Читать далее
[sold on] {adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced ofthe value of. When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andywas hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them.
[blind date] {n.} An engagement or date arranged by friends for people who have not previously known one another. A blind date can be a huge success, or a big disappointment.
[talent show] {n.} An entertainment in which new entertainers tryto win a prize. Mary won the talent show by her dancing. Thepeople liked Bill’s singing in the talent show.
[deadbeat] {n.}, {slang} A person who never pays his debts and who has a way of getting things free that others have to pay for. You’ll never collect from Joe — he’s a deadbeat.
Идиома: hit one’s stride / reach one’s stride Перевод: показать свой наилучший результат, показать все, на что способен Пример: The woman has finally reached her stride as a very good sales representative. Женщина, наконец, показала все, на что способна, и проявила себя как очень хороший торговый представитель.
[step in] {v.} 1. To go inside for a quick visit. It was a coldnight, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for acup of coffee. 2. To begin to take part in a continuing action ordiscussion, especially without being asked. When the dogs began tofight, John stepped in to stop … Читать далее
[fill up] or [fill it up] or [fill her up] {v. phr.} To fillentirely. . When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in the tank, Andrew replied, «Fill her up.»
[here goes nothing] {interj.}, {informal} I am ready to begin, butthis will be a waste of time; this will not be anything great; thiswill probably fail. — Used especially before beginning something thattakes skill, luck or courage. «Here goes nothing,» said Bill at thebeginning of the race.
[work off] {v.} To make go away, especially by working. John worked off the fat around his waist by doing exercise everymorning. Mr. Smith worked off his anger by chopping wood.
Идиома: supply and demand Перевод: спрос и предложение Пример: The supply and demand for used sporting equipment is always very tight. Спрос и предложение на подержанное спортивное оборудование всегда очень ровные.
[build a fire under] {v. phr.} To urge or force to action; get moving; arouse. The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license.
[ride roughshod over] {v. phr.} To do as you wish withoutconsidering the wishes of ; treat with scorn or lackof courtesy; show no sympathy for. The city officials roderoughshod over the people who did not want their homes torn down for anew school. The boss rode roughshod over the men when they askedfor higher wages.
[haul down one’s colors] or [strike one’s colors] {v. phr.} 1. Topull down a flag, showing you are beaten and want to stop fighting. After a long battle, the pirate captain hauled down his colors. 2.To admit you are beaten; say you want to quit. After losing twosets of tennis, Tom hauled down his color.
Идиома: change the subject Перевод: сменить тему разговора Пример: I tried to change the subject when my friend began to talk about the money that I owed him. Я попытался поменять тему разговора, когда мой друг начал говорить о деньгах, которые я ему задолжал.
[have oneself] {v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To enjoy. — Sometimes usedin very informal speech to provide emphasis. As soon as theirparents left, the boys had themselves some fun. After working hardall day, John had himself a good night’s sleep.
Идиома: know a thing or two (about someone or something) Идиома: know a thing or two (about someone or something) разг. Перевод: знать толк в чем-либо, знать все о ком-либо или о чем-либо Пример: My father works in a software development company and knows a thing or two about computers. Мой отец работает в софтверной … Читать далее
[check off] {v.} To put a mark beside to show that it has been counted. The teacher checked off each pupil as he got on the bus. Bill wrote down the names of all the states he could remember, and then he checked them off against the list in his book. Compare: TICK OFF.
Идиома: take something to heart Перевод: принимать что-либо близко к сердцу Пример: You should not really take what he says to heart. He is really very kind. Не следует принимать близко к сердцу то, что он говорит. На самом деле он очень добр.
[for all that] {adv. phr.} In spite of what has been said, alleged, or rumored. Well, for all that, we think that she is still the mostdeserving candidate for Congress.
Идиома: year in, year out Перевод: год за годом, из года в год, много лет подряд, постоянно, всегда Пример: Year in and year out the city had to spend money to fix the old stadium. Из года в год городу приходится тратить деньги на ремонт этого старого стадиона.
[give a pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make disgusted; annoy. Ann’s laziness gives her mother a pain. John’s bad manners givehis teacher a pain. Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK.
Идиома: above all else Перевод: важнее всего остального; в первую очередь Пример: Above all else, I plan to go to the Natural History Museum when I visit the city. Когда я буду в городе, первым делом я планирую сходить в музей естественной истории.
[have it in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To wish or mean to harm;have a bitter feeling against. George has it in for Bob because Bobtold the teacher that George cheated in the examination. AfterJohn beat Ted in a fight, Ted always had it in for John.
Идиома: hit home Перевод: попасть точно в цель, в самую точку; задеть за живое Пример: The president’s message seemed to hit home with most people who watched him on TV. Послание президента, похоже, задело за живое большинство людей, которые смотрели его по телевизору.
[go to the chair] {v. phr.} To be executed in the electric chair. After many stays of execution, the criminal finally had to go to thechair.
Идиома: keep something to oneself Перевод: держать что-либо при себе, не рассказывать о чем-либо Пример: I asked my friend to keep the news to herself. Я попросил свою подругу не рассказывать о новостях.
[pitch into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To attack with blows or words. He pitched into me with his fists. He pitched into the idea ofraising taxes. Syn.: LAY INTO, , RIP INTO. 2. To get to work at;work hard at. She pitched into the work and had the house cleanedup by noon. He pitched into his … Читать далее
[branch off] {v.} To go from something big or important to something smaller or less important; turn aside. At the bridge a little road branches off from the highway and follows the river. Martin was trying to study his lesson, but his mind kept branching off onto what girl he should ask to go with … Читать далее
[pass the hat] {v. phr.} To solicit money; take up collections fora cause. The businessmen’s club frequently passes the hat forcontributions toward scholarships.
[hole-in-the-wall] {n. phr.} A small place to live, stay in, orwork in; a small, hidden, or inferior place. The jewelry storeoccupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall. When Mr. and Mrs. Green werefirst married, they lived in a little hole-in-fhe-wall in a cheapapartment building. 2. {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon}. Atunnel. Let’s get through this hole in the … Читать далее
[olive branch] {n. phr.} An overture; a symbol of peace. Tiredof the constant fighting, the majority government extended an olivebranch to the militant minority.
[in consideration of] {adv. phr.} 1. After thinking about andweighing; because of. IN consideration of the boy’s young age, thejudge did not put him in jail for carrying a gun. 2. In exchange for;because of; in payment for. In consideration of the extra work Joehad done, his boss gave him an extra week’s pay. Compare: … Читать далее
[children and fools speak the truth] Children and fools say things without thinking; they say what they think or know when grown-ups might not think it was polite or wise to do so. — A proverb. «Uncle Willie is too fat,» said little Agnes. «Children and fools speak the truth,» said her father.
Идиома: all at once Перевод: неожиданно, без предупреждения Пример: All at once the fire alarm rang and we had to leave the building. Внезапно сработала пожарная сигнализация, и нам пришлось покинуть здание.
[cigar-store Indian] {n. phr.} A wooden statue of an Indian which in the past was placed in front of a cigar store. A cigar store Indian used to mean a cigar store in the same way a barber pole still means a barber shop.
[tempt fate] or [tempt the fates] {v. phr.} To take a chance; run arisk; gamble. You’re tempting fate every time you drive that oldwreck of a car.