Английские идиомы

[in love] {adj. phr.} Liking very much; loving. John is in lovewith Helen. Tom and Ellen arc in love. Mary is in love withher new wristwatch.

[relative to] 1. On the subject of; about. Relative to schoolathletics, the principal said the students should not allow athleticsto interfere with homework. 2. In comparison with; in proportion to. Relative to the size of an ant, a blade of grass is as tall as atree.

Идиома: white elephant Перевод: обуза (бесполезная собственность, которую обременительно держать и от которой трудно избавиться) Пример: They are having a white elephant sale at the school next week. На следующей неделе у них в школе будут продаваться старые ненужные вещи.

[rolling stone gathers no moss] A person who changes jobs or wherehe lives often will not be able to save money or things of his own. — A proverb. Uncle Willie was a rolling stone that gathered no moss. He worked in different jobs all over the country.

[run scared] {v. phr.} To expect defeat, as in a politicalcampaign. The one-vote defeat caused him to run scared in everyrace thereafter.

[call to mind] {v. phr.} To remember; cause to remember. Your story calls to mind a similar event that happened to us a few years back.

[laugh off] {v.} To dismiss with a laugh as not important or notserious; not take seriously. He had a bad fall while ice skatingbut he laughed it off. You can’t laugh off a ticket for speeding. Compare: MAKE LIGHT OF.

[take on] {v.} 1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with. A bigship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseasfor sale. The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the womanon. 2. To begin to have ; take. Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of … Читать далее

[cut corners] {v. phr.} 1. To take a short way; not go to each corner. He cut corners going home in a hurry. 2. To save cost or effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. John’s father asked him to cut corners all he could in college. 3. To do less than a very … Читать далее

[do one’s bit] or [part] {v. phr.} To shoulder one’s share of responsibility in a communal undertaking; shirk one’s obligation. «Let me go home and rest, fellows,» John said. «I think I’ve done my bit for this project.»

[shoot the works] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To spare no expense oreffort; get or give everything. Billy shot the works when he boughthis bicycle; he got a bell, a light, a basket, and chrome trimmings onit, too. The Greens shot the works on their daughter’s weddingreception. 2. To go the limit; take a risk. The … Читать далее

Идиома: head on / head-on Перевод: прямо, во всеоружии Пример: We should deal with this problem head on. Нам следует напрямую разобраться с этой проблемой.

[weather eye] {n.} 1. Eyes that can tell what the weather will be. Grandfather’s weather eye always tells him when it will rain. 2.Eyes ready or quick to see; careful watch. — Usually used in phraseslike «keep a weather eye on», «open», or «out for». Mrs. Brown kepta weather eye on the children so they … Читать далее

Идиома: on the lam Идиома: on the lam Разг. Перевод: в бегах, скрывающийся (от полиции) Пример: When he’s not in jail, he’s on the lam — always running. Когда он не в тюрьме, он скрывается — он всегда в бегах.

Идиома: once in a lifetime Перевод: что-либо, что происходит лишь один раз в жизни Пример: I felt that only once in a lifetime would I get a chance to see my favorite singer perform. Я считал, что лишь один раз в жизни у меня будет возможность увидеть исполнение моего любимого певца.

Идиома: go figure Перевод: фраза, выражающая удивление, недоумение, непонимание чего-либо; может переводиться такими выражениями, как «Понимай, как хочешь», «Как это вообще понять», и т. п. Пример: The government said it would promote free trade by increasing tariffs on imported goods. Go figure. Правительство объявило, что будет способствовать свободной торговле за счет увеличения тарифов на ввозимые … Читать далее

[change off] {v.}, {informal} To take turns doing something; alternate. John and Bill changed off at riding the bicycle. Bob painted one patch of wall and then he changed off with Tom.

[way the wind blows] or [how the wind blows] {n. phr.} Thedirection or course something may go; how things are; what may happen. Most senators find put which way the wind blows in their home statebefore voting on bills in Congress.

[on the job] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Working hard; not wastingtime. Joe was on the job all of the time that he was at work. The school paper came out on time because the editors were on thejob.

[thing or two] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally known, or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or importantinformation. Mary told Joan a thing or two about Betty’s realfeelings. 2. A lot; much. Bob knows a thing or two about sailing. Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO.

[house of cards] {n. phr.} Something badly put together and easilyknocked down; a poorly founded plan, hope, or action. John’sbusiness fell apart like a house of cards.

[by and large] {adv. phr.} As it most often happens; more often than not; usually; mostly. There were bad days, but it was a pleasant summer, by and large. By and large, women can bear pain better than men. Syn.: FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE WHOLE.

[pull in one’s horns] or [draw in one’s horns] {v. phr.},{informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; backdown on a promise. He said he could beat any man theresingle-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward. 2.To cut back from one’s usual way of living; reduce spending oractivities; … Читать далее

[flying wedge] {n.}, {informal} 1. An offensive formation infootball in which players link arms and line up to form a «V» with theball carrier in the middle. The flying wedge was so dangerous andhurt so many players that rules have forbidden it for over 50 years. 2. A group who use a «V» formation to … Читать далее

[leading light] {n. phr.} A prominent person in a community, company, or group. Alan is the leading light of our discussiongroup on music.

[far from it] {adv. phr.} Not even approximately; not really atall. «Do you think she spent $100 on that dress?» Jane asked. «Farfrom it,» Sue replied. «It must have cost at least $300.»

[snap one’s fingers at] {v. phr.} To show contempt for; show norespect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard. John snappedhis fingers at the sign that said «Do not enter,» and he went in thedoor. The highway sign said «Speed limit, 35 miles per hour,» butwhen a driver snapped his fingers at it by going … Читать далее

[look back] {v.} To review the past; think of what has happened. As John looked back, his life seemed good to him. Murphy lookedback on his early struggles as having made him feel especially alive. When Ed applied for a job and asked the school to recommend him, the principal looked back over his records.

[write up] {v.} 1. To write the story of; describe in writing; givea full account of. Reporters from many newspapers are here to writeup the game. The magazine is writing up the life of thePresident. 2. To put something thought or talked about into writing;finish writing. John took notes of what the teachersaid in class … Читать далее

[fence-sitting] {n.} or {adj.} Choosing neither side. You havebeen fence-sitting for too long. It is time you made up your mind. Contrast: MAKE UP ONE’S MIND, TAKE SIDES.

Идиома: make a beeline for (someone or something) Перевод: направиться куда-либо (или к кому-либо) самым прямым и коротким путем Пример: When I enter the cafeteria I always make a beeline for the dessert section. Когда я захожу в столовую, я сразу иду прямиком к отделу с десертами.

Идиома: in earnest Перевод: всерьез Пример: The young woman has been looking for a job in earnest since she graduated. Молодая женщина всерьез ищет работу с тех пор, как закончила колледж.

[go down in history] or [go down in the records] {v. phr.} To beremembered or recorded for always. The lives of great men go downin history. Babe Ruth went down in history as a home run hitter. The boy’s straight A’s for four years of college went down in therecords. The President said that the … Читать далее

Идиома: get a rise out of someone Перевод: вывести из себя, разозлить, вызвать раздражение Пример: We got a rise out of the teacher when we opened the window in the cold weather. Мы вывели из себя учителя, когда открыли окно в холодную погоду.

[do a stretch] {v. phr.} To spend time in jail serving one’s sentence. Jake has disappeared from view for a while; he is doing a stretch for dope smuggling.

[home on] or [home in on] {v.} To move toward a certain place byfollowing a signal or marker. The airplane homed in on the radiobeacon. The ship homed on the lights of New York harbor.

[a bit] {n., informal} A small amount; some. There’s no sugar in the sugar bowl, but you may find a bit in the bag. If the ball had hit the window a bit harder, it would have broken it. — Often used like an adverb. This sweater scratches a bit. — Also used like an … Читать далее

[front office] {n.}, {informal} The group of persons who manage abusiness; the officers. The front office decides how much theworkers are paid.

[make sit up] {v. phr.} To shock to attention; surprise; createkeen interest. Her sudden appearance at the party and her amazinglylow-cut dress made us all sit up.

Идиома: at the top of one’s lungs / at the top of one’s voice Перевод: очень громким голосом Пример: I cried out for my friend at the top of my lungs. Я позвал друга громко, как мог.

[travel light] {v. phr.} To travel with very little luggage or withvery little to carry. Plane passengers must travel light. Tomand Fred traveled light on their camping trip.

[get the lead out of one’s pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy;work faster. The captain told the sailors to get the lead out oftheir pants. The coach told the players to get the lead out oftheir pants.

[lay away] {v.} 1. To save. She laid a little of her pay awayeach week. 2. To bury. — Used to avoid the word «bury»,which some people think is unpleasant. He was laid away in hisfavorite spot on the hill.

[never mind] {v. phr.} Don’t trouble about it; don’t worry aboutit; forget it; skip it. — Usually used in speaking or when writingdialogue. Never mind preparing a picnic lunch; we’ll find alunchstand when we get to the beach. «What did you say?» «Oh, never mind.» «What about money?» «Never mind that. I’ll take careof it.»

[stand by] {v.} 1. To be close beside or near. Mary could nottell Jane the secret with her little brother standing by. Wouldyou just stand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother? 2.To be near, waiting to do something when needed. The policeman inthe patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, … Читать далее

[jump the track] {v. phr.} 1. To go off rails; go or run the wrongway. The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident. The pulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother’s washingfell down. 2. {informal} To change from one thought or idea toanother without plan or reason; change the thought … Читать далее

[cook one’s goose] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ruin someone hopelessly; destroy one’s future expectations or good name. The bank treasurer cooked his own goose when he stole the bank’s funds. She cooked John’s goose by reporting what she knew to the police. The dishonest official knew his goose was cooked when the newspapers printed the … Читать далее

[get the bounce] or [get the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [getthe air] To lose one’s sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover. Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl. Shirleywas afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went outwith other boys while … Читать далее

Идиома: go straight Перевод: начать жить честно; стать законопослушным Пример: The man was in prison for two years but now he wants to go straight. Этот человек был в тюрьме два года, но сейчас он хочет начать жить честно.

[look in on] {v.} To go to see; make a short visit with; make acall on. On his way downtown, Jim looked in on his aunt. Thedoctor looked in on Mary each day when he went by.