Английские идиомы

[worked up] also [wrought up] {adj.}, {literary} Feeling strongly;excited; angry; worried. Mary was all worked up about the exam. John got worked up when they blamed him for losing the game. Compare: ON EDGE.

[do well by] {v. phr.} To benefit; help; treat exceptionally well. In his will Grandpa did well by all of his grandchildren and left each of them one million dollars.

[sunbelt] {n.}, {informal} A portion of the southern United Stateswhere the winter is very mild in comparison to other states. TheSimpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff’s rheumatism.

[French fried potato] or [French fry] {n.} A narrow strip of potatofried in deep fat. — Usually used in the plural. Sue ordered ahamburger and french fries.

[hold over] {v.} 1. To remain or keep in office past the end of theterm. The city treasurer held over for six months when the newtreasurer died suddenly. The new President held the members of theCabinet over for some time before appointing new members. 2. Toextend the engagement of; keep longer. The theater held over … Читать далее

[shoot ahead of] or [past] or [through] or [alongside of] {v. phr.}To move or drive ahead rapidly. As we had to slow down before thetunnel, a red sports car shot ahead of us.

[fall back on] or [fall back upon] v. 1. To retreat to. Theenemy made a strong attack, and the soldiers fell back on the fort. 2. To go for help to; turn to in time of need. When the big billsfor Mother’s hospital care came, Joe was glad he had money in the bankto fall … Читать далее

Идиома: once and for all Перевод: раз и навсегда Пример: I told my friend once and for all that I would not give him any money. Я сказал своему другу раз и навсегда, что не дам ему денег.

Идиома: a far cry from something Перевод: сильно отличаться от чего-либо, не быть похожим на что-либо Пример: The man’s statement is a far cry from what he told me over the telephone. Заявление этого человека сильно отличается от того, что он сказал мне по телефону.

[get the better of] or [get the best of] {v. phr.} 1. To win over, beat; defeat. Our team got the best of the visitors in the lastquarter. George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers. When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get thebetter of his good sense … Читать далее

[beside oneself] {adj. phr.} Very much excited; somewhat crazy. She was beside herself with fear. He was beside himself, he was so angry. When his wife heard of his death, she was beside herself.

[throw in] {v.} 1. To give or put in as an addition; to give to orwith something else. John threw in a couple of tires when he soldBill his bicycle. Mary and Tess were talking about the prom, andJoan threw in that she was going with Fred. Compare: FOR GOODMEASURE. 2. To push into operating … Читать далее

Идиома: run for one’s life Перевод: убегать, спасаться, чтобы выжить Пример: I ran for my life when I met the bear on the camping trip. Я спасся бегом, когда во время похода встретил медведя.

[think piece] {n.}, {slang} 1. The human brain. Lou’s got onepowerful think piece, man. 2. Any provocative essay or article that, by stating a strong opinion, arouses the reader to think about it andreact to it by agreeing or disagreeing. That article by CharlesFenyvesi on Vietnamese refugees in the Washington Post sure was athink piece!

[to oneself ] {adv. phr.} 1. Silently; in the thoughts; withoutmaking a sign that others can see; secretly. Tom thought to himselfthat he could win. Mary said to herself that Joan was prettierthan Ann. Bill laughed to himself when John fell down. 2. Withouttelling others; in private; as a secret. — Used after «keep». Marykeeps … Читать далее

Идиома: in a nutshell Перевод: вкратце, кратко, в двух словах Пример: I tried to explain the problem to my boss in a nutshell. Я попытался объяснить проблему своему начальнику в двух словах.

[millstone around one’s neck] {n. phr.} An intolerable burden. Max said that his old car was a millstone around his neck. Compare:MONKEY ON ONE’S BACK.

Идиома: live from hand to mouth Перевод: жить бедно; едва сводить концы с концами Пример: The man is an artist and must live from hand to mouth because he has no money. Этот человек — художник, и ему приходится перебиваться с хлеба на воду, потому что у него нет денег.

[heave to] {v.} To bring a ship to a stop; bring a sailing ship toa standstill by setting the sails in a certain way. «Heave to!» thecaptain shouted to his crew. We fired a warning shot across thefront of the pirate ship to make her heave to.

[read one’s mind] {v. phr.} To know what someone else is thinking. I have known John so long that I can read his mind. — [mindreader] {n.} That’s exactly what I was going to say. You must be amind reader! Compare: READ LIKE A BOOK.

[live up to] {v.} To act according to; come up to; agree with;follow. So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to theexample he saw in Lincoln. Bob was a man who lived up to hispromises. The new house didn’t live up to expectations.

[do one’s thing] or [do one’s own thing] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do what one does well and actually enjoys doing. Two thousand fans paid $15 each to hear the rock group do their thing. 2. To follow one’s bent; for example, to be engaged in left-wing politics, some sort of meditation, or use … Читать далее

Идиома: feet of clay Перевод: скрытый или неожиданный недостаток или слабость, имеющийся у сильного, влиятельного человека Пример: The new manager has feet of clay and may not last very long in this new position. У нового менеджера есть некоторые недостатки, и он может и не продержаться долго на новой должности.

[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy] Too much hard work without time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. — A proverb. Bill’s mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[beat the band] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At great speed; with much noise or commotion. — Used after «to». The fire engines were going down the road to beat the band. The audience cheered and stamped and clapped to beat the band.

Идиома: by any means Перевод: каким бы то ни было образом Пример: We decided to try to find a computer to use by any means. Мы решили каким либо способом найти компьютер.

[answer for] {v.} 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family. 2. To say you are sure that has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. When people thought Ray had stolen the money, the principal said, «Ray is … Читать далее

[short-spoken] {adj.} Using so few words that you seem impatient orangry; speaking in a short impatient way; saying as little as possiblein an unfriendly way. Jim is always short-spoken when he is tired. We were hoping to borrow Dad’s car, but he was so short-spoken whenhe came home that we were afraid to ask.

[bottle blond] {n.}, {slang} A person who is obviously not a natural blond but whose hair is artificially colored. I doubt that Leonora’s hair color is natural; she strikes me as a bottle blond.

[meatball] {n.}, {slang} A dull, boring, slow-witted, oruninteresting person. You’ll never get an interesting story out ofthat meatball — stop inviting him.

[give way to] {v. phr.} 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass;yield to. John gave way to the old lady and let her pass. 1b. Toallow to decide. Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying thecar. 1c. To lose control of, not hold back. Timmygave way to his feelings when … Читать далее

Идиома: avoid (someone or something) like the plague Перевод: сильно избегать кого-либо или что-либо, бежать от кого-либо или чего-либо как от чумы Пример: The girls avoided the new student like the plague. Девушки избегали нового студента как чумы.

[take care of] {v. phr.} 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. She stayed home to take care of the baby. Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON, LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE. 2. {informal} To deal with; do whatis needed with. I will take care of that letter. The coach toldJim to take care of … Читать далее

Идиома: have a go at something Перевод: попытаться что-либо сделать Пример: I decided to have a go at applying for the job after my boss told me about it. Я решил попытаться подать документы на эту работу после того, как мне о ней рассказал мой начальник.

[partial to] {v. phr.} Having a weakness for; favorable toward. He seems to be partial to blondes while his brother is partial toredheads.

Идиома: a jack-of-all-trades / a jack of all trades Перевод: мастер на все руки Пример: We gave the man a job because we needed a jack-of-all-trades to look after the many repairs. Мы дали этому человеку работу потому, что нам нужен был мастер на все руки, который бы занялся всем тем, что нужно починить.

[show one’s hand] {v. phr.} To reveal or exhibit one’s true andhitherto hidden purpose. Only after becoming Chancellor of Germanydid Adolf Hitler really show his hand and reveal that he intended totake over other countries.

Идиома: day after day Перевод: день за днем, каждый день Пример: Day after day the woman goes to the school to meet her child. Каждый день эта женщина ходит в школу, чтобы забрать своего ребенка.

[brown-nose] {v.}, {slang}, {avoidable}, {though gaining inacceptance} To curry favor in a subservient way, as by obviously exaggerated flattery. Max brown-noses his teachers, that’s why he gets all A’s in his courses. Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[rope in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To use a trick to make dosomething; deceive; fool. The company ropes in high school studentsto sell magazine subscriptions by telling them big stories of how muchmoney they can earn. Syn.: TAKE UP. 2. To get ; persuade to do something. Martha roped in Charles to helpher decorate the gym … Читать далее

[in place ] {adv. phr.} 1a. In the right or usual place orposition. Nothing is in place after the earthquake. Even trees andhouses are turned over. The picture is not in place on the wall. It is crooked. 1b. In one place. Our first exercise in gym classwas running in place. 2. In proper order. … Читать далее

Идиома: bring to one’s knees / bring someone or something to their knees Перевод: поставить на колени; победить кого-либо или что-либо Пример: The strike by the teachers quickly brought the school district to its knees. Забастовка учителей быстро поставила школьный округ на колени.

[fill one’s shoes] {v. phr.} To take the place of another and do aswell; to substitute satisfactorily for. When Jack got hurt, thecoach had nobody to fill his shoes. Joe hopes to fill his father’sshoes. See: IN ONE’S SHOES.

Pick a The lock [pick a The lock] {v. phr.} To burglarize; open illegally; open alock without the regular key. The robber got into the house bypicking the lock.

[holistic health] {n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} Themaintenance of health and the avoidance of disease through suchpsychogenic practices and procedures as biofeedback, meditation, alternative methods of childbirth, and avoidance of drugs. TheMurgatroyds are regular holistic health freaks — why, they won’t eventake aspirin when they have a headache.

[let down] {v. phr.} 1. To allow to descend; lower. Harry letthe chain saw down on a rope and then climbed down himself. 2. Torelax; stop trying so hard; take it easy. The horse let down nearthe end of the race and lost. The team let down in the fourthquarter because they were far ahead. … Читать далее

[put upon] {v.} To use unfairly; expect too much from. — Used in the passive or in the past participle. Martha was put uponby the bigger girls. Arthur was a much put-upon person.

Идиома: time and a half Перевод: зарплата в полуторном размере, получаемая за сверхурочную работу Пример: The supermarket workers receive time and a half when they work on Saturday. Работники супермаркета получают зарплату в полуторном размере, когда работают в воскресенье.

[give color to] or [lend color to] {v. phr.} To make seem true or likely. The boy’s torn clothes gave color to his storyof a fight. The way the man ate lent color to his story of nearstarvation.

[get off to a flying] or [running start] {v. phr.} To have apromising or successful beginning. Ron got off to a flying start inbusiness school when he got nothing but A’s.