Английские идиомы

[tear oneself away] {v. phr.} To force oneself to leave; leavereluctantly. The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tearmyself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago.

[in reason] {adv. phr.}, {formal} Following the rules of reasoning;sensibly; reasonably. One cannot in reason doubt that freedom isbetter than slavery.

Идиома: bite one’s tongue Перевод: прикусить язык (сдержаться, чтобы не сказать лишнего) Пример: I always bite my tongue when I am talking with my aunt so that I do not say the wrong thing and make her angry. Я всегда прикусываю язык, когда разговариваю со своей тетей, чтобы не сказать лишнего и не разозлить ее.

[window dressing] {n. phr.} An elaborate exterior, sometimesdesigned to conceal one’s real motives. All those fancy invitationsturned out to be nothing but window dressing. All he really wantedwas to be introduced to my influential father-in-law.

Идиома: bid defiance to somebody Перевод: бросить кому-либо вызов, сопротивляться кому-либо Пример: He was the only brave person among them all, because he wasn’t afraid to bid defiance to the tyrant. Среди всех них он был единственным смелым человеком, так как не побоялся бросить вызов тирану.

[be on to] {v. phr.} To understand the motives of someone; not be deceived. Jack keeps telling us how wealthy his family is, but we are on to him.

[at half mast] {prep. phr.} Halfway up or down; referring primarily to flag posts, but may be used jokingly. When a president of the United States dies, all flags are flown at half mast.

Идиома: red tape Перевод: бюрократические препоны; официальные формы и процедуры, особенно сложные и требующие много времени Пример: Red tape prevented Jordan’s wife from joining him abroad. Из-за бюрократических препон жена Джордана не смогла приехать к нему за границу.

[signed, sealed, and delivered] {adj. phr.} Finished; completed; ina state of completion. «How is the campus renovation plan for thegovernor’s office coming along?» the dean of the college asked.»Signed, sealed, and delivered,» his assistant answered. Compare: CUTAND DRIED; HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

[bread-and-butter letter] {n.} A written acknowledgment of hospitality received. Jane wrote the Browns a bread-and-butter letter when she returned home from her visit to them.

[take care] {v. phr.} To be careful; use wisdom or caution. Takecare that you don’t spill that coffee! We must take care to letnobody hear about this.

[popup] {v.} 1. or [bob up] To appear suddenly or unexpectedly;show up; come out. Just when the coach thought he had everythingunder control, a new problem bobbed up. After no one had heardfrom him for years, John popped up in town again. 2. To hit a pop flyin baseball. Jim popped the pitch up.

[gas up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of. Themechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip. 2. To fill thetank with gasoline. The big truck stopped at the filling stationand gassed up.

[brush up] or [brush up on] {v.} To refresh one’s memory of or skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. She spent the summer brushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall. He brushed up his target shooting.

[lead the way] {v. phr.} To go before and show how to go somewhere;guide. The boys need someone to lead the way on their hike. Themen hired an Indian to lead the way to the Pueblo ruins. Thatschool led the way in finding methods to teach reading.

[dog’s age] or [coon’s age] {n.}, {informal} A very long time. Usually used after «for» or «in» with a negative. Charlie Brown! I haven’t seen you for a coon’s age. Father hasn’t had a night out with the boys in a dog’s age. I waited for him for a dog’s age, but he didn’t come. … Читать далее

[inside out] {adv.} 1. So that the inside is turned outside. Mother turns the stockings inside out when she washes them. 2. or[inside and out] also [in and out] In every part; throughout;completely. David knows the parts of his bicycle inside out. Wesearched the house inside and out for the kitten. Compare: BACKWARDSAND FORWARDS, INS … Читать далее

[get with it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To pay attention; be alive oralert; get busy. The students get with it just beforeexaminations. The coach told the team to get with it. Compare: ONTHE BALL.

[build up to] {v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a culmination point. The clouds were building up to a violent storm. Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce.

[put one’s nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make youjealous; leave you out of favor. When Jane accepted Tom’sinvitation it put Jack’s nose out of joint. 2. To ruin your plans;cause you disappointment. Joe’s mother put his nose out of joint bynot letting him go to the movie.

[in league with] or {informal} [in cahoots with] {prep.} In secretagreement or partnership with ; working together secretlywith, especially for harm. People once believed that some womenwere witches in league with the devil. The mayor’s enemies spreada rumor that he was in cahoots with gangsters.

[hand out] {v.}, {informal} To give toseveral people. The teacher handed out the examination papers. At the Christmas party Santa Claus handed out the presents under thetree. Handing out free advice to all your friends will not makethem like you. Compare: GIVE OUT.

[pants] See: ANTS IN ONE’S PANTS, CATCH ONE WITH ONE’S PANTS DOWN, FANCY PANTS, FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE’S PANTS, GET THE LEAD OUT OF ONE’spanTS, KICK IN THE PANTS, WEAR THE TROUSERS or WEAR THE PANTS.

[do over] {v. phr.} 1. To renovate; redecorate. The new owners are going to do over the entire building in the fall. 2. To repeat. Please do that math problem over until you get it right.

Идиома: in a bad mood Перевод: в плохом настроении Пример: I was in a bad mood after I wrote the university exam. У меня было плохое настроение после того, как я сдал экзамен в университете.

[squeeze out of] {v. phr.} To apply pressure to someone in order toobtain what one desires. The police were interrogating the suspectto squeeze information out of him.

[run-of-the-mill] or [run-of-the-mine] {adj.} Of a common kind;ordinary; usual. Frank is a very good bowler, but Joe is justrun-of-the-mill. It was just a run-of-the-mine movie.

[down the hatch!] {v. phr.}, {informal} Let us drink! When we celebrated Mom’s birthday, we all raised our glasses and cried in unison, «Down the hatch!»

[in luck] {adj. phr.} Being lucky; having good luck; findingsomething good by chance. Bill was in luck when he found the moneyon the street. Mary dropped her glasses and they did not break. She was in luck.

Идиома: come to mind Перевод: прийти на ум, прийти в голову Пример: Nothing came to mind when I tried to remember the names of the actors. Ничего не приходило в голову, когда я пытался вспомнить имена актеров.

[good buddy] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s hand radio jargon}Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios. What’s the Smokey situation, good buddy?

[wildcat strike] {n.}, {informal} A strike not ordered by a laborunion; a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers. Thegarbage collectors have gone on a wildcat strike, but the union isgoing to stop it.

Идиома: can’t do anything with someone or something Перевод: быть не в состоянии справиться с кем-либо или чем-либо, быть не в состоянии урегулировать что-либо Пример: My sister is always complaining that she can’t do anything with her daughter. Моя сестра постоянно жалуется, что не может справиться со своей дочерью.

[see fit] or [think fit] {v. phr.} To decide that an action isnecessary, wise, or advisable; choose. Jim asked «Dad, what timeshould I come home after the dance?» His father answered, «You way doas you see fit.» — Often used with an infinitive. After muchthought, we did not see fit to join the Smiths on … Читать далее

[swim against the current] or [swim against the stream] {v. phr.}To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the waythings are happening; struggle upstream. The boy who tries tosucceed today without an education is swimming against the stream.

[give the benefit of the doubt] {v. phr.} To believe isinnocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. The money wasstolen and John was the only boy who had known where it was, but theteacher gave him the benefit of the doubt. George’s grade washigher than usual and he might have cheated, but his … Читать далее

[make oneself scarce] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave quickly; go away. The boys made themselves scarce when they saw the principal comingto stop their noise. A wise mouse makes himself scarce when a catis nearby.

Идиома: in the same boat Перевод: в одном положении, в одной ситуации; испытывать те же трудности, неприятности (обычно употребляется в выражениях Be in the same boat, и Get in (into) the same boat) Пример: I understand your problems because I’m in the same boat as you. Я понимаю твои трудности, потому что я в таком … Читать далее

[call names] {v. phr.} To use ugly or unkind words when speaking to someone or when talking about someone. — Usually used by or to children. Bill got so mad he started calling Frank names.

Идиома: loose ends Перевод: неоконченные мелкие дела, незавершенные мелочи Пример: I have many loose ends to deal with before I go on my holidays. Мне нужно позаботиться о многих мелочах, прежде, чем я отправлюсь в отпуск.

Идиома: on the take Идиома: on the take разг. Перевод: берущий взятки, имеющий нечестный доход Пример: The commission found a number of police officers on the take. Комиссия выяснила, что несколько офицеров полиции берут взятки.

[seat belt] {n.} A strong strap used to protect a person in amoving car or other vehicle by holding him in his seat. When theplane began to land, Billy and his mother fastened their seat belts. Passengers in automobiles should wear seat belts for safety.

[make free with] {v.} 1. To take or use without asking. Bob makes free with his roommate’s clothes. A student should notmake free with his teacher’s first name. 2. To act toward in a rude or impolite way. The girls don’t like Ted because hemakes free with them. Compare: TAKE LIBERTIES.

[make an end of] {v. phr.} To make end; put a stop to;stop. To make an end of rumors that the house was haunted, areporter spent the night there.

[ramble on about] {v. phr.} To chatter on idly and without apurpose. When Ted has too much to drink, he always rambles on aboutthe good old days.

[in the cold light of day] {adv. phr.} After sleeping on it; aftergiving it more thought; using common sense and looking at the matterunemotionally and realistically. Lost night my ideas seemedterrific, but in the cold light of day I realize that they won’twork.

Идиома: have a weakness for someone or something Перевод: не уметь противостоять кому-либо или чему-либо, иметь слабость по отношению к кому-либо или чему-либо Пример: The girl has a weakness for chocolate and is always eating it. У этой девочки слабость к шоколаду и она постоянно его ест.

Идиома: see the color of someone’s money Перевод: убедиться в наличии денег у кого-либо Пример: I did not give my friend a ticket for the game until I saw the color of his money. Я дал своему другу билет на игру только когда убедился, что у него есть деньги.

[cue in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which is already known. Let’s not forget to cue in Joe on what has been happening.

[at worst] or [at the worst] {adv. phr.} 1. Under the worst conditions; as the worst possibility. When Don was caught cheating in the examination he thought that at worst he would get a scolding. Compare: AT MOST. Contrast AT BEST. 2. In the least favorable view, to say the worst about a thing. The … Читать далее