Английские идиомы

[give one’s right arm for] {v. phr.} To give something of greatvalue; sacrifice. During our long hike in the desert, I would havegiven my right arm for an ice cold drink.

[lump sum] {n.} The complete amount; a total agreed upon and to bepaid at one time. The case was settled out of court with theplaintiff receiving a lump sum of half a million dollars for damages.

Идиома: make a note of something Перевод: записать что-либо, сделать заметку о чем-либо Пример: I made a note of the people that I was going to phone on the weekend. Я записал имена людей, которым собирался позвонить в конце недели.

[make a scene] {v. phr.} To act hysterically; attract unfavorableattention. I didn’t want Kate to make a scene in front of all ofthose people, so I gave her the money she wanted.

[into line] {adv. phr.} 1. Into agreement. The department’sspending was brought into line with the budget. 2. Under control. Independent congressmen were brought into line by warnings that jobsfor their friends would be kept back. The players who had brokentraining rules fell into line when the coach warned them that theywould he put off the … Читать далее

Идиома: wait with bated breath Перевод: ждать, затаив дыхание Пример: I waited with bated breath for the results of my exams. Я ждал результатов экзаменов, затаив дыхание.

[taking pictures] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon}To use a radar-operated speed indicator in order to enforce the 55 MPHspeed limit. The Smokeys are taking pictures!

Идиома: go Dutch Перевод: платить каждому за себя (в паре, в группе, в коллективе) Пример: The two young people always go Dutch when they go on a date. Эти двое молодых людей всегда платят каждый за себя, когда они идут на свидание.

[go out of one’s way] {v. phr.} To make an extra effort; do morethan usual. Jane went out of her way to be nice to the new girl. Don did not like Charles, and he went out of his way to say badthings about Charles. Compare: BEND OVER BACKWARD, KNOCK ONESELF OUT.

[bed of roses] or [bowl of cherries] {n. phr.} A pleasant easy place, job, or position; an easy life. A coal miner’s job is not a bed of roses. After nine months of school, summer camp seemed a bowl of cherries. Compare: IN CLOVER, LIFE OF RILEY.

Идиома: come to an end Перевод: закончиться, завершиться Пример: When the story came to an end both of the children had fallen asleep. Когда рассказ кончился, оба ребенка заснули.

[right-wing] {adj.} Being or belonging to a political group whichopposes any important change in the way the country is run. Somecountries with right-wing governments have dictators. Contrast:LEFT-WING.

Идиома: all or nothing Перевод: все или ничего Пример: It is all or nothing. If I cannot fully participate in the meeting I will not attend. Только все или ничего. Если я не могу принять полноценного участия в собрании, то я совсем не приду.

[by and by] {adv.} After a while; at some time in the future; later. Roger said he would do his homework by and by. The mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do a man’s work. Syn.: AFTER A WHILE.

Идиома: all the livelong day Перевод: весь день, на протяжении всего дня Пример: I know the words to the song, “I’ve been working on the railroad, all the livelong day.” Я знаю слова к этой песне: “Я работаю на железной дороге весь день напролет”.

[cut across] {v.} 1. To cross or go through instead of going around; go a short way. John didn’t want to walk to the corner and turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street. 2. To go beyond to include; stretch over to act on; affect. The love for reading cuts across … Читать далее

Идиома: change of heart Перевод: перемена чьих-либо чувств, мыслей, отношения касательно чего-либо или кого-либо Пример: The woman had a change of heart and decided to let her child go to the circus. Женщина передумала и решила отпустить своего ребенка в цирк.

Идиома: no point in something Перевод: отсутствие смысла в том, чтобы что-либо делать Пример: There is no point in talking to my supervisor. He never listens to what I am saying. С моим менеджером бессмысленно говорить. Он никогда не слушает то, что я говорю.

[catch off balance] {v. phr.} To confront someone with physical force or with a statement or question he or she is not prepared to answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of another. The smaller wrestler caught his opponent off balance and managed to throw him on the float in spite of his greater … Читать далее

[run for it] or [make a run for it] {v. phr.} To dash for safety;make a speedy escape. The bridge the soldiers were on started tofall down and they had to run for it. The policeman shouted forthe robber to stop, but the robber made a run for if.

[trade-in] {n.} Something given as part payment on somethingbetter. The dealer took our old car as a trade-in. — Often usedlike an adjective. We cleaned up the car at trade-in time.

Идиома: draw blood Перевод: пускать кровь; разозлить кого-либо Пример: The politician was very careful not to draw blood during the debate. Политик был очень внимателен, чтобы не разозлить своего оппонента во время дебатов.

[by] or [in my book] {adv. phr.} In my opinion; as far as I am concerned; in my judgement. By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very good department head.

Идиома: bring to mind Перевод: напомнить Пример: Her acting brought to mind some of the great actresses of the past. Ее игра напомнила о некоторых великих актрисах прошлого.

[in round figures] {adv. phr.} As an estimated number; as arounded-off figure containing no decimals or fractions. Skip thecents and just tell me in round figures how much this car repair willcost.

[far and wide] {adv. phr.} Everywhere, in all directions. Thewind blew the papers far and wide. My old school friends arescattered far and wide now. The movie company looked far and widefor a boy to act the hero in the new movie. Compare: ALL OVER.

[let it all hang out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Not todisguise anything; to let the truth be known. Sue can’t deceiveanyone; she just lets it all hang out.

[straw boss] {n.} 1. The boss of a few workers who is himself underanother boss or foreman. The straw boss told Jim he would have tosee the foreman about a job. 2, A man who works himself and alsobosses a few other workers. Smith worked better than the other men, so the foreman made him … Читать далее

[out of step] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not in step; not matchingstrides or keeping pace with another or others. George alwaysmarches out of step with the music. 2. Out of harmony; not keepingup. — Often followed by «with». Just because you don’t smoke, itdoesn’t mean you are out of step with other boys and … Читать далее

[beat to the punch] or [beat to the draw] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do something before another person has a chance to do it. John was going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to the draw. Lois bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch.

[in a bad way] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In trouble or likely to havetrouble. If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in abad way. Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paperthat is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way. Mrs. Joneshas cancer and is … Читать далее

[face value] {n.} 1. The worth or price printed on a stamp, bond, note, piece of paper money, etc. The savings bond had a face valueof $25. 2. The seeming worth or truth of something. She took hisstories at face value and did not know he was joking.

[sit on one’s hands] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do nothing; fail orrefuse to do anything. We asked Bill for help with our project, buthe sat on his hands.

Идиома: kiss of death Перевод: смертный приговор; конец чему-либо или кому-либо Пример: It was the kiss of death for the conversation with the teacher when the student learned that the teacher knew her father. Разговору с учителем пришел конец, когда ученица узнала, что учитель знал ее отца.

[monkey on one’s back] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unsolved or naggingproblem. «My math course is a real monkey on my back,» Jackcomplained. Compare: ALBATROSS AROUND ONE’S NECK, MILLSTONE AROUNDONE’S NECK.

Идиома: you name it Перевод: фраза, использующая после перечисления чего-либо, чтобы показать, что дальнейшие примеры не нужны Пример: There’s plenty to do here — you can hike, bike, camp, canoe, you name it. Здесь есть чем заняться — можно прогуляться пешком, проехаться на велосипеде, отправиться в поход, сплавать на каноэ, и много чего еще.

[neck and neck] {adj. or adv.}, {informal} Equal or nearly equal ina race or contest; abreast; tied. At the end of the race the twohorses were neck and neck. For months John and Harry seemed to beneck and neck in Alice’s favor. Compare: NIP AND TUCK.

[make something of] {v. phr.} 1. To make seemimportant. When girls see another girl with a boy, they often tryto make something of it. 2. To start a fight over; use as an excuseto start a quarrel. Bob accidentally shoved Bill in the corridor, and Bill made something of it. Ann didn’t like what Mary … Читать далее

[half a mind] also [half a notion] {n. phr.}, {informal} A wish orplan that you have not yet decided to act on; a thought of possiblydoing something. — Used after «have» or «with» and before «to» and aninfinitive. I have half a mind to stop studying and walk over tothe brook. Jerry went home with … Читать далее

[look-in] {n.}, {informal} A chance or hope. — Usually used with anegative. It wasn’t much of a look-in, but it was the only chancethey let him have. Charlie didn’t realize it, but he never had alook-in with Bonnie.

[fraidy-cat] or [fraid-cat] or [scaredy-cat] or [scared cat] {n.},{informal} A shy person; someone who is easily frightened. — Usuallyused by or to children. Tom was a fraidy-cat and wouldn’t go in thewater.

[get to first base] or [reach first base] {v. phr.} To make a goodstart; really begin; succeed, Joe had a long paper to write forhistory class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn’t got tofirst base yet. Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he evenget to first base with her? George … Читать далее

Идиома: suit oneself Перевод: делать, поступать, как хотеть, как нравиться Пример: I was able to do everything to suit myself while I stayed with my uncle. Я мог делать все, что захочу, пока гостил у своего дяди.

[if you can’t lick them, join them] If you cannot defeat anopponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doingthings, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. «The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers,»the president of an American car factory said. «If … Читать далее

[wait on] or [wait upon] {v.} 1. To serve. Sue has a summer jobwaiting on an invalid. The clerk in the store asked if we had beenwaited upon. 2. {formal} To visit as a courtesy or for business. We waited upon the widow out of respect for her husband. Johnwaited upon the President with a … Читать далее

[make head or tail of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To see the why of;finding a meaning in; understand. — Used in negative, conditional, andinterrogative sentences. She could not make head or tail of thedirections on the dress pattern. Can you make head or tail of theletter?

[brand-new] also [bran-new] {adj.} As new or fresh as when just made and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. He had taken a brand-new car from the dealer’s floor and wrecked it. In Uncle Tom’s trunk, we found a wedding ring, still in its little satin-lined box, still brand-new.

[level off] or [level out] {v.} 1. To make flat or level. Thesteamroller leveled out the gravel roadbed and then the concrete waspoured. 2. To move on an even level. The airplane leveled out at2,000 feet. After going up for six months, the cost of livingleveled off in September.

[hang in ] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To persevere; notto give up; to stick to a project and not lose faith or courage. Hang in there old buddy; the worst is yet to come.

[plume oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be proud of yourself;boast. He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as hisdate. He plumed himself on his successful planning in theelection. She plumed herself on the grace with which she sat on ahorse. Compare: PRIDE ONESELF.