Английские идиомы

[play the devil with] or [play hob with] {v. phr.}, {informal} Tocause confusion in; upset. Uncle Bob’s unexpected visit played thedevil with our own plans to travel. Mother’s illness played hobwith our party.

[crew cut] or [crew haircut] {n.} A boy’s or man’s hair style, cut so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. Many boys like to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler.

[car pool] {n.} A group of people who own cars and take turns driving each other to work or on some other regular trip. It was John’s father’s week to drive his own car in the car pool.

[sow one’s wild oats] {v. phr.} To do bad or foolish things, especially while you are young. Mr. Jones sowed his wild oats whilehe was in college, but now he is a wiser and better man.

[go for] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To try to get; aim for; try for. Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight. Thedog went for Bob’s leg. 2. To favor; support; like. Little Susiereally goes for ice cream. Bob goes for Jane in a big way. 3. Toattack; begin to fight or … Читать далее

[self-made] {adj.} Having achieved wealth, fame, and success onone’s own without outside help. John D. Rockefeller is one of themost famous self-made men in America.

[jump the gun] also [beat the gun] {v. phr.} 1. To start before thestarter’s gun in a race. The runners were called back because oneof them jumped the gun. 2. {informal} To start before you should;start before anyone else. The new students were not supposed tocome before noon, but one boy jumped the gun and … Читать далее

[on the house] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Paid for by the owner. Atthe opening of the new hotel, the champagne was on the house. Oscar was the first customer at the diner, so his lunch was on thehouse.

Идиома: for the record Перевод: для раскрытия фактов; сделать или сказать что-либо к сведению, по факту Пример: For the record I told the police officer about some of the events of the previous year. К сведению офицера полиции я рассказал ему о некоторых событиях предыдущего года.

[in short supply] {adj. phr.} Not enough; in too small a quantityor amount; in less than the amount or number needed. The cookiesare in short supply, so don’t eat them all up. We have five peopleand only four beds, so the beds are in short supply.

[cheesebox] {n.}, {slang} A small, suburban house built by a land developer available at low cost and resembling the other houses around it. They moved to a suburb, but their house is just a cheesebox.

[spirit away] {v. phr.} To hide or smuggle something out; abduct. The famous actress was spirited away by her bodyguards as soon as sheemerged from the door.

[devil] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, FULL OF THE OLD NICK or FULL OF THE DEVIL, GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE, GO TO THE DEVIL, PLAY THE DEVIL WITH, RAISE THE DEVIL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS.

Идиома: heart-to-heart Перевод: интимный, сердечный Пример: The couple had a heart-to-heart talk before they decided to get married. Перед тем, как эта пара решила пожениться, у них был сердечный разговор.

Идиома: quick on the uptake Перевод: быстро соображать, понимать что-либо Пример: The student is quick on the uptake and understands most scientific theories very quickly. Этот студент очень быстро соображает и легко понимает самые сложные научные теории.

Идиома: give someone a black eye Перевод: 1. подбить глаз; 2. испортить репутацию. Пример: I bumped into the door and it gave me a black eye. Я ударился об дверь и поставил себе синяк под глазом.

Идиома: walk of life Перевод: слой общества, сфера деятельности Пример: People from every walk of life came to the concert in the park. Люди всех слоев общества пришли на концерт в парке.

[go the whole hog] or [go whole hog] {v. phr.}, {informal} To dosomething completely or thoroughly; to give all your strength orattention to something. When Bob became interested in modelairplanes, he went the whole hog. The family went whole hog at thefair, and spent a lot of money. Compare: ALL OUT, ALL THE WAY, SHOOTTHE … Читать далее

[day off] {n.} A day on which one doesn’t have to work, not necessarily the weekend. Monday is his day off in the restaurant, because he prefers to work on Saturdays and Sundays.

[old-timer] {n.} An old person who remembers bygone days, matters, and personalities. There was an old-timer at the party who told usinteresting details about World War II. Contrast: OLD GUARD, OLDHAND.

[raise one’s sights] {v. phr.} To aim high; be ambitious. Teenage boys sometimes think too much of themselves and have atendency to raise their sights too high.

[sleep out] {v.} 1. To sleep outdoors. The Scouts plan to sleepout next Saturday. 2. To go home at night instead of sleeping at theplace where you work. Mrs. Jones’ maid sleeps in, but her cooksleeps out.

[common touch] {n.} The ability to be a friend of the people; friendly manner with everyone. Voters like a candidate who has the common touch.

[no matter] 1. Not anything important. I wanted to see himbefore he left but it’s no matter. 2. It makes no difference;regardless of. She was going to be a singer no matter whatdifficulties she met. He had to get the car fixed no matter howmuch it cost. No matter what you try to do, it … Читать далее

[under one’s thumb] or [under the thumb] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power. The Jonesfamily is under the thumb of the mother. Jack is a bully. He keepsall the younger children under his thumb. The mayor is so popularthat he has the whole town under his thumb. Compare: JUMP … Читать далее

Идиома: cool one’s heels Перевод: вынужденно дожидаться, томиться в ожидании Пример: Ben was forced to cool his heels before his boss would talk to him. Бену пришлось изрядно подождать, пока его начальник поговорил с ним.

[it never rains but it pours] One good thing or bad thing is oftenfollowed by others of the same kind. — A proverb, John got sick, then his brothers and sisters all got sick. It never rains but itpours.

[play to the gallery] {v. phr.} To try to get the approval of theaudience. Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing tothe gallery. The lawyer for the defense was more interested inplaying to the gallery than in winning the case. Compare: SHOW OFF.

[out of one’s blood] {adv. phr.} Separate from one’s feelings, interests, or desires. When Tom moved to the city, he couldn’t getthe country out of his blood. Mary is having a hard job gettingsummer laziness out of her blood. Contrast: IN ONE’S BLOOD.

[fast talker] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A con artist or a swindler, one who is particularly apt to get away with illegitimate transactionsbecause of the clever way he talks. I wouldn’t trust Uncle Joe if Iwere you, — he is a fast talker.

[fond of] Having a liking for; attracted to by strong liking. Alan is fond of candy. Uncle Bill was the children’s favorite, and he was fond of them too.

[year-round] or [year-around] {adj.} Usable, effective, oroperating all the year. Colorado is a year-round resort; there isfishing in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Идиома: thumb one’s nose at someone or something Перевод: показательно относиться с неуважением, с презрением к кому-либо или чему-либо; утереть нос Пример: The star player thumbed his nose at the fans when they began to yell at him. Главный игрок утер нос фанатам, когда они начали кричать на него.

[elbow room] {n.} Adequate space to move around or to work in. He doesn’t require a huge office, but we must at least give him elbowroom.

[hang one on] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To give a heavy blow to; hithard. The champion hung one on his challenger in the second roundand knocked him out of the ring. 2. To get very drunk. After Smithlost his job, he went to a bar and hung one on.

[twist one around one’s little finger] also [turn one around one’slittle finger] or [wrap one around one’s finger] {v. phr.} To havecomplete control over; to be able to make do anything youwant. Sue can twist any of the boys around her little finger. Compare: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.

[wet one’s whistle] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have a drink, especiallyof liquor. Uncle Willie told John to wait outside for a minutewhile he went in to the cafe to wet his whistle.

Идиома: from dawn to dusk Перевод: от восхода до заката солнца Пример: The farm workers worked from dawn to dusk everyday in order to pick the lettuce crop. Рабочие на фермере работали от восхода до заката, чтобы собрать весь урожай салата.

[easy come, easy go] {truncated sent.}, {informal} Something youget quickly and easily may be lost or spent just as easily. Grandfather thought Billy should have to work for the money Fathergave him, saying «Easy come, easy go.»

Идиома: polish the apple Перевод: льстить, подхалимничать (из этого выражения происходят также выражения Apple polishing — процесс лести и подхалимства, и Apple polisher — тот, кто льстит и подхалимничает) Пример: Nobody likes the girl because she is always polishing the apple with her teacher. Никому не нравится эта девочка, потому что она всегда подлизывается к … Читать далее

[fill in] {v.} 1. To write words needed in blanks; put in; fill. You should fill in all the blanks on an application for a job. 2.{informal} To tell what you should know. The new boy didn’t knowthe rules so Bob filled him in. The teacher filled in Mary aboutclass work done while she was … Читать далее

[see a lot of] {v. phr.} To go out regularly with someone; have anaffair with someone. They have been seeing a lot of each otherlately.

[eat one’s heart out] {v. phr.} To grieve long and hopelessly; tobecome thin and weak from sorrow. For months after her husband’sdeath, Joanne simply ate her heart out. We sometimes hear of a dogeating its heart out for a dead owner.

Идиома: cut a figure / cut a fine figure Перевод: производить впечатление, выглядеть хорошо; быть хорошо, элегантно одетым Пример: The man cut a fine figure when he entered the dining room. Мужчина произвел хорошее впечатление своим внешним видом, когда вошел в обеденный зал. When Dee was in her twenties she cut a fine figure in … Читать далее

[game at which two can play] {n. phr.} A plan, trick, or way ofacting that both sides may use. Rough football is a game two canplay. Politics is a game at which two can play.

Идиома: leave a lot to be desired Перевод: оставлять желать лучшего Пример: The job performance of the new employee leaves a lot to be desired. Качество работы нового сотрудника оставляет желать лучшего.

[show one’s teeth] {v. phr.} To show anger; show belligerence. He is a very mild, private person, but during a tough businessnegotiation he knows how to show his teeth.

[hard feeling] {n.} Angry or bitter feeling; enmity. — Usually usedin the plural. Jim asked Andy to shake hands with him, just to showthat there were no hard feelings. Bob and George once quarreledover a girl, and there are still hard feelings between them.

Идиома: fly in the face of someone or something / fly in the teeth of someone or something Перевод: бросать вызов; пойти против чего-либо или кого-либо Пример: The demands of the woman were beginning to fly in the face of anything that was reasonable. Требования женщины начинали идти против всякого здравого смысла.

[great oaks from little acorns grow] As great oak trees grow fromtiny acorns, so many great people or things grew from a small andunimportant beginning, so be patient. — A proverb. Many great menwere once poor, unimportant boys. Great oaks from little acorns grow.