[the matter] {adj.} Not as it should be; wrong. — Used in questionsor with negatives or «if». Why don’t you answer me? What’s thematter? John may be slow in arithmetic, but nothing’s the matterwith his pitching arm. If anything is the matter, please tell me.
[drop dead] {v.}, {slang} To go away or be quiet; stop bothering someone. — Usually used as a command. «Drop dead!» Bill told his little sister when she kept begging to help him build his model airplane. When Sally bumped into Kate’s desk and spilled ink for the fifth time, Kate told her to drop … Читать далее
[flush it] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To fail. I reallyflushed it in my math course. 2. {interj.}, {used imperatively}Expression registering refusal to believe something considered stupidor false. «You expect me to buy that story? Flush it!»
[night owl] {n. phr.} One who sleeps during the day and stays up orworks during the night. Tom hardly ever sleeps at night; he prefersto work by lamp light and has become a regular night owl. Compare:GRAVEYARD SHIFT.
[get the goods on] or [have the goods on] {v. phr.}, {slang} Tofind out true and, often, bad information about; discover what iswrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. Tell the truth, Johnny. We know who your girl is because we’ve got the goods on you. Thepolice had the goods on the burglar … Читать далее
[go to the devil] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go away, mind yourown business. — Used as a command; considered rude. George told Bobto go to the devil. «Go to the devil!» said Jack, when his sistertried to tell him what to do. 2. To become bad or ruined; becomeuseless. The boy got mixed up … Читать далее
[foul line] {n.} 1. Either of two lines separating fair from foulground in baseball. Willie hit the ball just inside the foul linefor a double. 2. A line across the upper end of a bowling alleyacross which a bowler must not step. John bowled a strike but itdidn’t count because he stepped over the foul … Читать далее
[shoot questions at] {v. phr.} To interrogate rapidly andvigorously. The attorney for the prosecution shot one questionafter another at the nervous witness.
[on one’s shoulders] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care; as yourresponsibility. The success of the program rests on yourshoulders. He acts as if he had the cares of the world on hisshoulders.
Идиома: second-rate Перевод: второсортный, не лучшего качества Пример: The performance of the school choir was second-rate and they need more practice to improve. Выступление школьного хора было не самым лучшим, им нужно больше практиковаться.
Идиома: by hook or by crook Перевод: любыми путями, всеми правдами и неправдами Пример: My sister wants to go to Italy next week by hook or by crook. В следующем году моя сестра любыми путями хочет отправиться в Италию.
[brain trust] {n.} A group of specially trained, highly intelligent experts in a given field. Albert Einstein gathered a brain trust around himself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies.
Идиома: take an oath Перевод: дать клятву Пример: I had to take an oath before I could answer questions at the public hearing. Мне пришлось дать клятву, перед тем, как отвечать на вопросы на слушаньях.
[have had it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have experienced or sufferedall you can; to have come to the end of your patience or life. «I’ve had it,» said Lou, «I’m resigning from the job of chairmanright now.» When the doctor examined the man who had been shot, hesaid, «He’s had it.»
[more than] {adv.} Over what you might expect; very. They weremore than glad to help. He was more than upset by the accident. Contrast: LESS THAN.
[X marks the spot] An indication made on maps or documents ofimportance to call attention to a place or a feature of someimportance. The treasure hunter said to his companion, «Here it is;X marks the spot.»
Идиома: get out of bed on the wrong side Перевод: встать не с той ноги, быть в плохом настроении Пример: I think that she got out of bed on the wrong side as she is not talking to anyone today. Кажется, она сегодня не с той ноги встала, раз ни с кем не разговаривает.
[pull something on one] {v. phr.} To perpetrate somethingprejudicial; deceive. Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when, after going with her for three years, he suddenly married anothergirl.
[in the lap of luxury] {adv. phr.} Well supplied with luxuries;having most things that money can buy. Mike grew up in the lap ofluxury. Compare: ON EASY STREET, WELL-TO-DO.
Идиома: elephant in the room Перевод: простая истина, что-либо, о чем всем известно, что всем очевидно, но на что не обращают внимание, что не обсуждается, и т. п. Пример: When I had dinner with my parents, the elephant in the room was the fact that I’m 45 years old and still single. Во время ужина … Читать далее
Идиома: a penny for one’s thoughts Перевод: рассказать кому-либо о том, что кто-либо думает, что у кого-либо на уме Пример: «A penny for your thoughts,» the girl said as she saw her boyfriend looking out the window. «Расскажи, о чем ты думаешь,» сказала девушка, когда увидела, что ее молодой человек смотрит в окно.
Идиома: alive and well Перевод: быть в хорошем здравии, иметь хорошее здоровье Пример: The worker is alive and well after the accident. Рабочий полностью поправился после несчастного случая.
Идиома: put someone on a pedestal Перевод: сильно уважать, восхищаться, боготворить кого-либо Пример: My father used to put my mother on a pedestal when I was young. Когда я был маленький, мой отец часто восхищался моей матерью.
Идиома: know one’s way around / know one’s way about Перевод: знать, как сделать что-либо Пример: My friend knows his way around the city very well. Мой друг хорошо знает этот город.
Идиома: a dog in the manger Перевод: собака на сене; кто-либо, владеющий чем-либо ненужным для себя, но не отдающий это другим, и не делящийся с другими Пример: The girl was a dog in the manger. She cancelled the dinner because she could not attend. Эта девушка как собака на сене. Она отменила ужин из-за того, … Читать далее
[set off] {v.} 1. To decorate through contrast; balance bydifference. The bright colors of the birds were set off by thewhite snow. A small gold pin set off her plain dark dress. 2. Tobalance; make somewhat equal. Her great wealth, as he thought, setoff her plain face. 3a. To begin to go. They set off … Читать далее
[as follows] A list of things that come next; what is listed next. — Followed by a colon. My grocery list is as follows: bread, butter, meat, eggs, sugar. The names of the members are as follows: John Smith, Mary Webb, Linda Long, Ralph Harper. The route is as follows: From City Hall go south … Читать далее
[on paper] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by appearances only andnot by past performance; in theory; theoretically. On paper, theAmerican colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War. Thefootball team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper.
[that’s — for you] That’s the way is; is like that. John tried hard, but he lostthe game. That’s life for you. Mary changed her mind about going. That’s a girl for you.
[tear up] {v.} 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; removefrom the surface. The city tore up the street to lay a new waterpipe. Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had anew rug put in. 2. To tear into pieces. Mary tore up the oldsheets and made costumes … Читать далее
[chained to the oars] {adj. phr.} The condition of being forced to do strenuous and unwelcome labor against one’s wishes for an extended period of time. Teachers in large public schools frequently complain that they feel as if they had been chained to the oars.
[fly off the handle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become very angry. John flew off the handle whenever Mary made a mistake. Thechildren’s noise made the man next door fly off the handle. Syn.:LOSE ONE’S TEMPER.
Идиома: keen on something Перевод: сильно желать чего-либо, очень любить что-либо Пример: My girlfriend is keen on going to a movie this weekend. Моя девушка очень хочет пойти в кино в конце этой недели.
[get on] or [get onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To speak to roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. Mrs. Thompsongot on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean. The fans goton the new shortstop after he made several errors. Syn.: JUMP ON. 2.See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. Work seems harder these … Читать далее
Идиома: on the other hand Перевод: с другой стороны Пример: He is very intelligent but on the other hand he is very lazy and always gets low marks at school. Он очень умен, но, с другой стороны, он очень ленив и всегда получает низки отметки в школе.
Идиома: full of it Идиома: full of it разг. Перевод: что-либо, полностью состоящее из чепухи, ерунды Пример: I thought that the woman was full of it when she told me that the business was closed. Я подумал, что женщина несла полную чушь, когда она сказала мне, что предприятие закрылось.
[spick-and-span] {adj.} Sparkling clean; having a brand new look. She is such a good housekeeper that her kitchen is alwaysspick-and-span.
Идиома: a needle in a haystack Перевод: иголка в стоге сена; что-либо, что очень трудно найти Пример: Looking for the lost receipt among the thousands of other receipts was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Поиск потерянного чека среди тысяч других чеков был подобен поиску иголки в стоге сена.
[sell one on] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to do something. Wewere able to sell our wealthy uncle on the idea of having a jointfamily vacation in Hawaii.
[raise Cain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be noisy; cause trouble. WhenJohn couldn’t go on the basketball trip with the team he raised Cain. The children raised Cain in the living room. Compare: KICK UP AFUSS, RAISE THE DEVIL.
[lie through one’s teeth] {v. phr.} To lie uninhibitedly andunashamedly. Everyone in the courtroom could sense that the accusedwas lying through his teeth.
[insofar as ] {conj.} To the extent that; to the point that; asmuch as. You will learn your lessons only insofar as you arewilling to keep studying them.
[drop in] {v.} To make a short or unplanned visit; pay a call. — Often used with «on». We were just sitting down to dinner when Uncle Willie dropped in. The Smiths dropped in on some old friends on their vacation trip to New York. Syn.: DROP BY, RUN IN.
[at all costs] {adv. phr.} At any expense of time, effort, or money. Regardless of the results. Mr. Jackson intended to save his son’s eyesight at all costs. Carl is determined to succeed in his new job at all costs.
[get in wrong] {v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of someone;come into disfavor. Although he means well, Fred is always gettingin wrong with someone at the office.
[worth] See: BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH, FOR ALL ONEIS WORTH, GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE, NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN, WORTH A CENT.
[three sheets in the wind] or [three sheets to the wind] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Unsteady from too much liquor; drunk. The sailorcame down the street, three sheets in the wind.
[feel out] {v.} To talk or act carefully with someone and find whathe thinks or can do. The pupils felt out the principal about aparty after the game. John felt out his father about letting himhave the car that evening. At first the boxers felt each otherout. Compare: SOUND OUT.
[cat has nine lives] A cat can move so fast and jump so well that he seems to escape being killed many times. We thought our cat would be killed when he fell from the roof of the house. He was not, but he used up one of his nine lives.
[give one a lift] {v. phr.} 1. To give someone a ride. Jack gaveme a lift in his new car. 2. To comfort someone. Talking to mydoctor yesterday gave me a lift.