Английские идиомы

[That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, «That concludes ourbusiness.» I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takescare of that!

Идиома: in charge of something or someone Перевод: 1. быть ответственным, отвечать за что-либо или кого-либо; 2. быть главным, возглавлять что-либо Пример: Our teacher is in charge of selling tickets for the school dance. Наш учитель отвечает за продажу билетов на школьные танцы. Who is in chare here? Кто здесь главный?

Идиома: go down in history Перевод: войти в историю Пример: The concert will go down in history as the biggest in the world. Этот концерт войдет в историю как самый большой в мире.

Идиома: so to speak Перевод: так сказать, так выразиться Пример: We had a good time at the restaurant, so to speak, although the service was not very good. Мы хорошо провели время в ресторане, так сказать, хотя обслуживание было не очень.

[rule out] {v.} 1. To say that must not be done; notallow; also: decide against. The principal ruled out dances onschool nights. The play was ruled out by the referee. Jeanprobably will not go to college, but she has not ruled that out. 2.To show that is not a possibility; make itunnecessary to think about; … Читать далее

Идиома: first off Перевод: первое, во-первых, прежде всего Пример: First off the policeman told us that we had been driving too fast. Прежде всего, полицейский сказал нам, что мы ехали слишком быстро.

[high-hat ] {adj.}, {slang} Treating others as inferior; actingabove others. It was an expensive place to eat, and the customerswere likely to be a little high-hat. Jones acted high-hat towardanyone poorer than he.

[pit against] {v.} To match against; oppose to; put in oppositionto; place in competition or rivalry with. The game pits two of thebest pro football teams in the East against each other. He pittedhis endurance against the other man’s speed. He was pitted againstan opponent just as smart as he was.

[lie in state] {v. phr.} Of a dead person: To lie in a place ofhonor, usually in an open coffin, and be seen by the public beforeburial. When the president died, thousands of people saw his bodylying in state.

[high season] {n. phr.} The time of year when the largest number ofpassengers are travelling; the time when airfare costs more. We hadto pay $100 more for our tickets because it was the high season. Contrast: LOW SEASON.

[fair sex] {n. }, {informal} Women in general; the female sex. «Better not use four-letter words in front of a member of the fairsex,» Joe said.

Идиома: go places Перевод: добиться многого, достичь больших успехов Пример: I suspect they’ll be going places with the new product. Я считаю, что с этим новым продуктом они многого достигнут.

Идиома: at sixes and sevens Перевод: быть в растерянности, недоумевать Пример: We were at sixes and sevens when the local grocery store closed. Мы растерялись, когда местный продуктовый закрылся.

[bore to tears] {v. phr.} To fill with tired dislike; tire by dullness or the same old thing bore. The party was dull and Roger showed plainly that he was bored to tears. Mary loved cooking, but sewing bores her to tears.

[play for keeps] {v. phr.} To take an action of finality andirreversibility. «Are you serious about me?» she asked. «Yes,» hereplied. «I want to marry you. I play for keeps.»

[nothing to it] {adj. phr.} Presenting no serious challenge; easilyaccomplished. Once you learn how to tread water, swimming is reallyeasy; there is nothing to it. Compare: EASY AS APPLE PIE, A CINCH, APIECE OF CAKE.

[dark of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} A time when the moon is not shining or cannot be seen. It was the dark of the moon when the scouts reached camp and they had to use flashlights to find their tents. Contrast: FULL OF THE MOON.

[sing one’s praises] {v. phr.} To extol or praise continuously. The audience left the concert with everyone singing the praises ofthe young piano virtuoso.

[stuck-up] {adj.}, {informal} Acting as if other people are not asgood as you are; conceited; snobbish. Mary is very stuck-up, andwill not speak to the poor children in her class.

[in the clouds] {adj. phr.} Far from real life; in dreams; infancy; in thought. When Alice agreed to marry Jim, Jim went home inthe clouds. — Often used with «head», «mind», «thoughts». Mary islooking out the window, not at the chalkboard; her head is in theclouds again. A good teacher should have his head in … Читать далее

[edge away] {v. phr.} To withdraw or retreat gradually. Frightened by the growling tiger guarding its catch, the huntercarefully edged away.

[be set on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To be determined about something. Tom is set upon leaving his Chicago job for Tokyo, Japan, although he speaks only English.

[far and away] {adv. phr.} Very much. The fish was far and awaythe biggest ever caught on the lake. Compare: BY FAR, HEAD ANDSHOULDERS.

[get gray hair] or [get gray] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become oldor gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. — Often usedwith «over». «If John doesn’t join the team, I won’t get gray hairover it,» the coach said. Naughty children are why mothers getgray. Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.

[ax to grind] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something to gain for yourself; a selfish reason. In praising movies for classroom use he has an ax to grind; he sells motion picture equipment. When Charles told the teacher he saw Arthur copying his homework from Jim, he had an ax to grind; Arthur would not let Charles … Читать далее

[by ear] {adv. phr.} 1. By sound, without ever reading the printed music of the piece being played. The church choir sang the hymns by ear. 2. Waiting to see what will happen. I don’t want to plan now; let’s just play it by ear.

[carry the day] {v. phr.}, {informal} To win completely; to succeed in getting one’s aim accomplished. The defense attorney’s summary before the jury helped him carry the day.

[for the life of one] {adv.}, {informal} No matter how hard youtry. — Used for emphasis with negative statements. I can’t for thelife of me remember his name.

[second nature] {n.} Something done without any special effort, asif by natural instinct. Cutting tall trees has become second natureto the experienced lumberjack.

[get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get] {n. phr.}, {informal}Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way throughschool.

[call a halt] {v. phr.} To give a command to stop. The scouts were tired during the hike, and the scoutmaster called a halt. When the children’s play got too noisy, their mother called a halt.

[ride herd on] {v. phr.} 1. To patrol on horseback around a herd ofanimals to see that none of them wanders away. Two cowboys rodeherd on the cattle being driven to market. 2. {informal} To watchclosely and control; take care of. A special legislative assistantrides herd on the bills the president is anxious to have … Читать далее

[have on] {v.} 1. To be dressed in; wear. Mary had on her newdress. 2. To have planned; have an appointment; plan todo. Harry has a big weekend on. I’m sorry I can’t attend yourparty, but I have a meeting on for that night. 3. See: HAVE NOTHINGON, HAVE SOMETHING ON.

Идиома: smell a rat Перевод: почуять что-либо недоброе, заподозрить неладное, стать подозрительным Пример: I do not know what my colleague is doing but something seems strange. I think that I smell a rat. Не знаю, что делает мой сослуживец, но что-то это кажется странным. Я чую неладное.

[throw in the sponge] or [throw up the sponge] or [throw in thetowel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept loss. Aftertaking a beating for five rounds, the fighter’s seconds threw in thesponge. When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, hethrew in the towel and left. Syn.: GIVE UP.

[not to lift a finger] {v. phr.} To not help in the slightestdegree. «My husband won’t lift a finger to help me,» shecomplained, «although we have 12 people coming for dinner.»

[on the outs] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not friendly; having aquarrel. Mary and Sue were on the outs. Being on the outs witha classmate is very upsetting. Syn.: AT ODDS.

[out of turn] {adv. phr.} 1. Not in regular order; at the wrongtime. John played out of turn. By taking a day off out of turn, Bob got the schedule mixed up. 2. Too hastily or wrongly; at thewrong time or place; so as to annoy others. Dick loses friends byspeaking out of turn.

Идиома: not give it another thought Перевод: не волноваться, не думать о чем-либо Пример: I did not give it another thought when I agreed to help my friend move from his apartment. Я недолго раздумывал, когда согласился помочь своему другу с переездом.

[apart from] or [aside from] {prep. phr.} Beside or besides; in addition to. The children hardly see anyone, apart from their parents. Aside from being fun and good exercise, swimming is avery useful skill. Syn.: EXCEPT FOR, OUTSIDE OF.

[pound away at] {v. phr.} 1. To attack; criticize. In hiscampaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at theadministration’s foreign policy. 2. To work industriously. Mikewas pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels andpickaxes.

[sneeze at] {v.}, {informal} To think of as not important; not takeseriously. — Used with negative or limiting words and in questions. Mr. Jones was chosen by his party to run for President. He was notelected, but to be chosen to run is not to be sneezed at. If youthink Mrs. Green’s tests are things … Читать далее

[off one’s high horse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not acting proudand scornful; humble and agreeable. The girls were so kind to Nancyafter her mother died that she came down off her high horse and madefriends with them. 2. Acting friendly again; not angry and unpleasantany more; agreeable. Sally wouldn’t speak to anyone all afternoonbecause she … Читать далее

[cross fire] {n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more places at once so that the lines of fire cross. The soldiers on the bridge were caught in the crossfire coming from both sides of the bridge. 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more people; also, … Читать далее

[throw together] {v.} 1. also [slap together] To make in a hurryand without care. Bill and Bob threw together a cabin out of oldlumber. The party was planned suddenly, and Mary threw together ameal out of leftovers. 2. To put in with other people by chance. The group of strangers was thrown together when the … Читать далее

[live out] {v.} 1. To finish ; spend. Smithlived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved tothe South again. After retiring, John and his wife lived out theirlives in Florida. 2. To last through; endure to the end of. Welived out the winter on short ration. He lived out … Читать далее

[farm out] {v.} 1. To have another person do for you;send away to be done. Our teacher had too many test papers to read, so she farmed out half of them to a friend. 2. To send away to betaken care of. While Mother was sick, the children were farmed outto relatives. 3. To send … Читать далее

[full of the Old Nick] or [full of the devil] or [full of it] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Always making trouble; naughty; bad. That boy isfull of the Old Nick.

[— and —] 1. — And is used between repeated words to show continuation or emphasis. When the children saw the beautiful Christmas tree they looked and looked. Old Mr. Bryan has known Grandfather for years and years, since they were boys. Billy dived to the bottom of the lake again and again, looking for … Читать далее

[have got to] {v. phr.} Must; be in great need to do something; beobliged to. I am sorry but we have got to leave, otherwise, we’llmiss the last train.