Идиома: lose track of something Перевод: потерять след, нить чего-либо, не следить за ходом, развитием Пример: I’ve lost track — what day are you leaving? Я запутался — в какой день ты уезжаешь? I lost track of the number of times I read this book. Я читал эту книгу так много раз, что сбился со … Читать далее
[hand down] {v.} To arrange to give or leave after, death. Joewill have his father’s gold watch because it is handed down in thefamily. In old times, property was usually handed down to theoldest son at his father’s death. Compare: PASS ON.
[chicken-brained] {adj.} Stupid; narrow-minded; unimaginative. I can’t understand how a bright woman like Helen can date such a chicken-brained guy as Oliver.
[out of the red] {adv. phr.} Having reached solvency; no longer indebt. Under the new management, our company finally got out of thered. Contrast: IN THE HOLE, IN THE RED. Compare: IN THE BLACK.
[chicken-hearted] {adj.} Cowardly; excessively timid. «Come on, let’s get on that roller coaster,» she cried. «Don’t be so chicken-hearted.» See: CHICKEN-LIVERED.
[tight squeeze] {n. phr.} A difficult situation; financialtroubles. The Browns aren’t going out to dinner these days; theyare in a tight squeeze.
[run riot] {v. phr.} 1. To act freely or wildly; not controlyourself. The monkey got out of his cage and ran riot in the petshop. John let his imagination run riot, thinking he was huntinglions in Africa. 2. To be or grow in great numbers or large amounts. Daisies ran riot in the meadow. Compare: … Читать далее
[try on] {v.} To put on to see if it fits. She triedon several pairs of shoes before she found one she liked. Theclerk told him to try the coat on.
[in the air] {adv. phr.} 1. In everyone’s thoughts. Christmaswas in the air for weeks before. The war filled people’s thoughtsevery day; it was in the air. Compare: IN THE WIND. 2. Meeting thebodily senses; surrounding you so as to be smelled or felt. Springis in the air. Rain is in the air. 3. See: … Читать далее
Идиома: pull one’s punches Перевод: смягчать удар, смягчать критику, быть умеренным, снисходительным Пример: The manager was pulling his punches when he began to criticize his workers. Менеджер был снисходительным, когда начал критиковать своих рабочих.
Идиома: of interest (to someone) Перевод: интересовать кого-либо Пример: The man who works at the gas station is of interest to the police in their investigation of the murder. Мужчина, который работает на бензозаправке, интересует полицию в связи с расследованием убийства.
[in the main] {adv. phr.}, {formal} In most cases; generally;usually. In the main, small boys and dogs are good friends. Inthe main, the pupils did well on the test.
[do things by halves] {v. phr.} To do things in a careless and incomplete way. When he reads a book he always does it by halves; he seldom finishes it.
Идиома: acid test Перевод: испытание, тест, в котором ответы, заключения, не подвергаются сомнению Пример: The problem was an acid test of your faith in the new manager. Проблема заключалась в твоей полной вере в нового менеджера.
[bullshit] {v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to make yourself seem impressive. «Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can’t believe a word of what you’re saying.»
[go wrong] {v. phr.} 1. To fail; go out of order. Something wentwrong with our car and we stalled on the road. 2. To sink into animmoral or criminal existence. In a large city many young people gowrong every year.
[doesn’t add up to a can of beans] {v. phr.} To be of little or no value. «That’s a fairly interesting concept you got there, Mike, but the competition is bound to say that it doesn’t add up to a can of beans.»
Идиома: as well as Перевод: в дополнение к чему-либо; также, тоже Пример: Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel. Возьмите с собой, пожалуйста, костюм для плавания, а также полотенце.
[back-to-back] {adv.} 1. Immediately following. The health clinic had back-to-back appointments for the new students during the first week of school. 2. Very close to, as if touching. Sardines are always packed in the can back-to-back. The bus was so full that people had to stand back-to-back.
[get stuck] {v. phr.} 1. To be victimized; be cheated. TheSmiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it brokedown just two days after they got it. 2. To become entrapped orembroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to beunable to free oneself. Last winter our car got stuck in … Читать далее
Идиома: on the cutting edge / at the cutting edge Перевод: на самом высшем уровне; на современном, новейшем уровне Пример: This technology is right on the cutting edge. It’s so new, it’s not available to the public yet. Эта технология находится на самом современном уровне. Она настолько новая, что еще не доступна широкой публике.
Идиома: turn on a dime Перевод: развернуться на пятачке; быстро развернуться Пример: The new truck is able to turn on a dime. Новый грузовик умеет делать быстрые развороты.
[setup] {n. phr.} 1. Arrangement, management, circumstances. Boy, you really have a wonderful setup in youroffice! I just can’t do my work in such a messy setup! 2.Financial arrangement. It is a fairly generous setup sending youruncle $1,000 a month.
[kick oneself] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be sorry or ashamed;regret. When John missed the train, he kicked himself for nothaving left earlier. Mary could have kicked herself for lettingthe secret out before it was announced officially.
[cover the waterfront] {v. phr.} To talk or write all about something; talk about something all possible ways. The principal pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior.
[stagestruck] {adj.} Desirous of becoming an actor or actress;enamored of the acting profession. Milly is so stagestruck that shewaits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to gettheir signatures.
[beyond question ] {adj. phr.} Not in doubt certain; sure. — Used in the predicate. People always believe anything that Mark says; his honesty is beyond question. Contrast: IN QUESTION.
[in reverse] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} In a backward direction;backward. John hit the tree behind him when he put the car inreverse without looking first. The first of the year Bob did wellin school but then he started moving in reverse.
Идиома: a sore point / spot Перевод: больное место, уязвимое место Пример: I tried not to make any reference to Jim’s drinking habits — I know it’s a sore point with Tess at the moment. Я старался никак не упоминать о проблемах Джима с выпивкой, я знаю, что это сейчас больное место для Тесс.
[pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum paymentauthorized by law. He had hoped that Peter would be lenientregarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his fullpound of flesh.
Идиома: no kidding Перевод: без шуток, серьезно; фраза может использоваться как для выражения серьезности говорящего, удивления (с восклицательной интонацией), так и для выражения сарказма (в данном случае может переводиться, как «Да ну!», «Правда, что ли?», и т. п.) Пример: No kidding, there must have been thousand of people at the concert. Я серьезно, на концерте … Читать далее
[air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR, CLEAR THE AIR, GIVE ONESELF AIRS, GET THE AIR at GET THE BOUNCE, GIVE THE AIR at GIVE THEBOUNCE, IN THE AIR, INTO THIN AIR, LEAVE HANGING or LEAVE HANGING IN THE AIR, ON THE AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, UP IN THE AIR, WALK ON AIR.
[scot-free] {adj. phr.} Without punishment; completely free. Inspite of his obvious guilt, the jury acquitted him and he got offscot-free.
[off duty] {adj.} Not supposed to be at work; having free time; notworking. Sailors like to go sight-seeing, when they are off duty ina foreign port. It seems that all the taxis in New York are offduty whenever it rains. — Often used with hyphens, before a noun. The bank robber was captured by an … Читать далее
[half the battle] {n. phr.} A large part of the work. When youwrite an essay for class, making the outline is half the battle. To see your faults and decide to change is half the battle ofself-improvement.
Идиома: ground (someone) Перевод: посадить на домашний арест с лишением каких-либо привилегий (обычно по отношению к подросткам) Пример: The girl was grounded by her parents because she came home late too often. Родители посадили девочку на домашний арест за то, что она часто приходила домой поздно.
[on the safe side] {adv. phr.} Provided for against a possibleemergency; well prepared. «Please double-check these proofs, Mr. Brown,» the printer said, «just to be on the safe side.»
[ahead of time] {adv. phr.} Before the expected time; early. The bus came ahead of time, and Mary was not ready. The new building was finished ahead of time. Contrast: BEHIND TIME.
[draw a bead on] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To aim at; sight. The deer bounded into the forest before the hunters could draw a bead on them. John drew a bead on the elk, but didn’t have the heart to pull the trigger. 2. To take as an aim or goal. «I’m drawing a bead … Читать далее
[bottom dollar] {n.}, {v. phr.}, {informal} One’s last penny, one’s last dollar. He was down to his bottom dollar when he suddenly got the job offer.
[out of shape] or [out of condition] {adj. phr.} 1. Not in goodcondition; not able to perform well. Father was out of shape whenhe took a long hike with the boys, and he was stiff and sore the nextday. Jack’s pitching arm got out of condition during the winter, when he wasn’t using it. Compare: … Читать далее
[at first glance] or [at first sight] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} After a first quick look. At first sight, his guess was that the whole trouble between the two men resulted from personalities that did not agree. Tom met Mary at a party, and it was love at first sight.
[sure-enough] {adj.} Real; genuine. Rick found a sure-enoughnickel. Martha’s uncle gave her a sure-enough pearl on a littlegold chain. Jane’s uncle is a sure-enough cowboy.
Идиома: play with fire Перевод: играть с огнем, навлекать на себя неприятности Пример: You are playing with fire if you get involved with that new project. You may lose much money. Ты будешь очень рисковать, если решишь принять участие в этом новом проекте. Ты можешь потерять кучу денег.
[flakeball] or [flake] {n.}, {slang}, {drug culture} A disjointed, or «flaky» person, who is forgetful and incoherent, as if under theinfluence of narcotics. Hermione is a regular flakeball. Compare:SPACED OUT.
[off day] {n. phr.} A period when one is not functioning at his orher best; a period of weakness. The champion was obviously havingan off day; otherwise she would have been able to defeat heropponent. Contrast: DAY OFF.
[cross a bridge before one comes to it] {v. phr.} To worry about future events or trouble before they happen. — Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb. «Can I be a soldier when I grow up, Mother?» asked Johnny. «Don’t cross that bridge until you come to it,» said his mother. Compare: … Читать далее
Идиома: path of least resistance Перевод: наилегчайший путь, самый простой путь, путь наименьшего сопротивления Пример: I took the path of least resistance and quit the class rather than try to pass the course. Я выбрал путь наименьшего сопротивления, и бросил этот курс, вместо того, чтобы сдавать его.
[catch-22] {n.}, {informal} From Joseph Heller’s novel «Catch-22», set in World War II. 1. A regulation or situation that is self-contradictory or that conflicts with another regulation. In Heller’s book it referred to the regulation that flight crews must report for duty unless excused for reasons of insanity, but that anyone claiming such an excuse … Читать далее
[draw out] {v. phr.} 1. To take out; remove. Johnny drew a dollar out of the bank to buy his mother a present. The hunter drew out his gun and shot the snake. 2. To make talk or tell something. Jimmy was bashful but Mrs. Wilson drew him out by asking him about baseball. 3. … Читать далее