[go from bad to worse] {adv. phr.} To change from a bad position orcondition to a worse one; become worse. Dick’s typing went from badto worse when he was tired. Jack’s conduct in school has gone frombad to worse. Compare: OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[get hold of] {v.} 1. To get possession of. Little childrensometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves. 2. To find aperson so you can speak with him. Mr. Thompson spent several hourstrying to get hold of his lawyer.
Идиома: have a narrow escape Перевод: с трудом избежать опасности; едва получиться Пример: The boy had a narrow escape when he almost fell from his bicycle. Мальчик едва избежал опасности, когда чуть не упал с велосипеда.
[deadline] {n.} A final date by which a project, such as a term paper, is due. The deadline for the papers on Shakespeare is November 10.
Идиома: old flame Перевод: старая любовь, бывший возлюбленный(-ая) Пример: In Toronto, I met an old flame. We were lovers many years ago. В Торонто я встретил свою старую любовь. Мы были влюбленными друг в друга много лет назад.
Идиома: try someone’s patience Перевод: испытывать терпение кого-либо, действовать кому-либо на нервы Пример: The constant complaints of the customers are beginning to try the clerk’s patience. Постоянные жалобы покупателей начинают действовать служащему на нервы.
[part and parcel] {n. phr.} A necessary or important part;something necessary to a larger thing. — Usually followed by «of». Freedom of speech is part and parcel of the liberty of a free man.
[eat dirt] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act humble; accept another’sinsult or bad treatment. Mr. Johnson was so much afraid of losinghis job that he would eat dirt whenever the boss got mean.
[let ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} To allow to go on without change;accept for the present. The committee couldnot decide what to do about Bob’s idea, so they let the matter ridefor a month or so. The class was rather noisy but the teacher letit ride because it was near Christmas. Ruth’s paper was not verygood, … Читать далее
[dot the i’s and cross the t’s] {v. phr.} To be careful, thorough, and pay close attention to detail. «The best way to get an A on the final exam,» the teacher said, «is for every one to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.» Compare: MIND ONE’S P’S AND Q’S.
[keep in touch with] {v. phr.} To remain in communication with;maintain contact with. Don’t forget to keep in touch, either byletter or phone, when you’re in Europe!
[on the mend] {adj. phr.} Healing; becoming better. John’sbroken leg is on the mend. Mary’s relationship with Joan is on themend.
[landing ship] {n.} A ship built to land troops and army equipmenton a beach for an invasion. The landing ship came near the beach, doors in the bow opened, and marines ran out.
[That makes two of us!] Informal way to say, «I am in agreementwith what you arc saying or doing.» So you voted for SenatorAldridge? So did I — that makes two of us.
[hush-hush] {adj.}, {informal} Kept secret or hidden; kept frompublic knowledge; hushed up; concealed. The company had a newautomobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hush-hushproject until they knew it was successful.
[on ice] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. The same as won; sure tobe won. The score was 20-10 in the last inning, and our team hadthe game on ice. 2. Away for safekeeping or later use; aside. Youwill have to put your vacation plans on ice until your debts arepaid. The senator was voted … Читать далее
Идиома: water under the bridge Перевод: что было, то было; что-либо, что уже произошло и чего нельзя изменить Пример: It was terrible that your house was robbed but it is water under the bridge now and you must move forward. Это просто ужасно, что твой дом ограбили, но что было, то было, и тебе нужно … Читать далее
[go through the motions] {v. phr.} To pretend to do something bymoving or acting as if you were really doing it; do something withoutreally trying hard or caring. Jane was angry because she couldn’tgo out, and when her mother said to dust her room she just wentthrough the motions. The team was so far behind … Читать далее
[trial balloon] {n.} A hint about a plan of action that is givenout to find out what people will say. John mentioned the classpresidency to Bill as a trial balloon to see if Bill might beinterested in running. The editorial was a trial balloon to testthe public’s reaction to a change in the school day.
[pull up stakes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To leave the place where youhave been living. We are going to pull up stakes and move toCalifornia. The Jones family pulled up stakes three times in twoyears.
Идиома: at the bottom of the hour Перевод: в середине часа — то есть в 10.30, 11.30 и т. д. (под bottom of the hour имеется в виду нижняя часть часов, т. е. середина часа) Пример: The weather forecast is on the radio at the bottom of the hour. Прогноз погоды передается по радио в … Читать далее
[know one’s way around] or [know one’s way about] {v. phr.} 1. Tounderstand how things happen in the world; he experienced in the waysof the world. The sailor had been in the wildest ports in theworld. He knew his way around. Compare: HAVE BEEN AROUND. 2. or{informal} [know one’s onions] or [know one’s stuff] To … Читать далее
Идиома: from the get-go / from the get go Идиома: from the get-go / from the get go разг. Перевод: с самого начала Пример: We didn’t like each other from the get-go. Мы не понравились друг другу с самого начала. I’ve been supporting this candidate from the get go. Я поддерживаю этого кандидата с самого … Читать далее
[lead one a merry dance] {v. phr.} To cause someone unusualdiscomfort or expense; tire someone by causing one to overdo. Withher personal extravagances and constant social activities that cost afortune, Carol led her husband a merry dance.
[bring to terms] {v. phr.} To make agree or do; make surrender. The two brothers were brought to terms by their father for riding the bicycle. The war won’t end until we bring the enemy to terms. Contrast: COME TO TERMS.
[get one’s ducks in a row] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get everythingready. The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a rowbefore they went to camp. Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for histrip. Compare: LINE UP.
Идиома: zero-sum game Перевод: ситуация, в которой если кто-либо выигрывает или получает то, что нужно, то кто-либо другой обязательно проигрывает или лишается чего-либо Пример: It was a zero-sum game with the manager and someone had to win or lose. С менеджером была сложная ситуация, и кому-то пришлось проиграть.
[apple of one’s eye] {n. phr.} Something or someone that is adored; a cherished person or object. Charles is the apple of his mother’s eye. John’s first car was the apple of his eye. He was always polishing it.
Идиома: make a difference Перевод: иметь разницу, иметь значение (обычно в отрицательном значении) Пример: It doesn’t make a difference whether he comes to the meeting or not. Не имеет значения, придет он на собрание или нет.
Идиома: jump out of one’s skin Перевод: быть вне себя (от страха, потрясения, удивления) Пример: I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the man at the window. У меня душа ушла в пятки, когда я увидел человека у окна.
[second thought] {n.} A change of ideas or opinions resulting frommore thought or study. Your second thoughts are very often wiserthan your first ideas. We decided to climb the mountain, but onsecond thought realized that it was too dangerous. Compare: THINKBETTER OF.
Идиома: cut to the bone Перевод: сильно уменьшить, урезать, сократить Пример: During the Depression Grandmother’s housekeeping money was cut to the bone. Во время Великой депрессии средства бабушки для ведения домашнего хозяйства были сильно уменьшены.
Идиома: life of Riley Идиома: life of Riley разг. Перевод: беззаботная, легкая, райская жизнь Пример: My father has been leading the life of Riley since he retired from his job. Мой отец ведет беззаботную жизнь с тех пор, как ушел на пенсию с работы.
Идиома: cause eyebrows to raise Перевод: сильно удивить, шокировать кого-либо Пример: I caused eyebrows to raise when I decided not to accept the award from my company. Я всех сильно удивил, когда решил отказаться от премии от моей компании.
[slug it out] {v. phr.} To have a strong verbal or physical battlewith someone; to contest something most vigorously. The twocontenders for the lightweight boxing championship were slugging itout in the ring. The two candidates for Congress were slugging itout on radio and on television.
Идиома: true to one’s word Перевод: верный своему слову Пример: My friend was true to his word and was waiting for me exactly at the time that we had agreed upon. Мой друг сдержал свое слово, и ждал меня в точно назначенное время.
[once in a blue moon] {adv. phr.} Very rarely; very seldom; almostnever. Coin collecting is interesting, hut you find a valuable coinonly once in a blue moon. Once in a blue moon someone grows a verypale marigold, but no truly white marigolds have been raised.
[smoke-out] {n.} A successful conclusion of an act of investigativejournalism revealing some long-kept secrets. Journalist BobWoodward was the hero of the Watergate smoke-out.
Идиома: as to Перевод: что касается, относительно, касательно; согласно, соответственно Пример: We have some questions as to how the accident happened. У нас есть несколько вопросов касательно того, как произошел этот несчастный случай. The players were put into groups as to their ability. Игроков поделили на группы соответственно их способностям.
[get the ax] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired from a job. PoorJoe got the ax at the office yesterday. 2. To be dismissed fromschool for improper conduct, such as cheating. Joe got caughtcheating on his final exam and he got the ax. 3. To have a quarrelwith one’s sweetheart or steady ending in … Читать далее
[the works] {n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be had orthat you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. Whenthe tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered theworks with a steak dinner. 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Roughhandling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; … Читать далее
[under fire] {adv. phr.} Being shot at or being attacked; hit byattacks or accusations; under attack. The soldiers stood firm underfire of the enemy. The principal was under fire for not sendingthe boys home who stole the car.
Идиома: break the news (to someone) Перевод: сообщать кому-либо какие-либо новости, известия Пример: He is planning to break the news about his transfer tomorrow. Он собирается рассказать о своем переводе завтра.
[in secret] {adv. phr.} In a private or secret way; in a hiddenplace. The miser buried his gold in secret and no one knows whereit is. The robbers went away in secret after dark. Compare: INPRIVATE.
[goodness gracious] {interj.}, {slightly archaic} Exclamation ofsurprise and a certain degree of disapproval. «Can my boyfriendstay overnight, Dad?» Melanie asked. «Goodness gracious, mostcertainly not!» her father replied. «What would the neighbors think?»
[make it snappy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To move quickly; be fast;hurry. — Usually used as a command. «Make it snappy,» Mother said,»or we’ll be late for the movie.» The man hurried into therestaurant and told the waitress, «A cup of coffee, and make itsnappy.»
[to a man] {adv. phr.} Without exception; with all agreeing. Theworkers voted to a man to go on strike. To a man John’s friendsstood by him in his trouble. Compare: EVERY LAST MAN.
[skin alive] {v. phr.} 1. {informal} To scold angrily. Motherwill skin you alive when she sees your torn pants. 2. {informal} Tospank or beat. Dad was ready to skin us alive when he found we hadruined his saw. 3. {slang} To defeat. We all did our best, but thevisiting gymnastic team skinned us alive.
Идиома: buy a pig in a poke Перевод: покупать не глядя; купить кота в мешке Пример: It is like buying a pig in a poke if you buy that car without first inspecting it. Если ты купишь эту машину, не проверив ее сначала, это будет как купить кота в мешке.
Идиома: at loose ends Перевод: беспокойный, неустановившийся Пример: My friend’s mother was at loose ends after her husband died. Мать моего друга была беспокойной после того, как умер ее муж.