[too many cooks spoil the broth] or [stew] A project is likely togo bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. — A proverb. When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape thecompany’s investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, «Let me do this bymyself! Don’t you know that too many … Читать далее
[come clean] {v. phr.}, {slang} To tell all; tell the whole story; confess. The boy suspected of stealing the watch came clean after long questioning.
[in the public eye] {adj. phr.} Widely known; often seen in publicactivity; much in the news. The senator’s activity kept him in thepublic eye. A big league ballplayer is naturally much in thepublic eye.
Идиома: on the fence (about something) Перевод: в нерешительности (обычно используется с глаголами Be, Sit) Пример: The politician is on the fence about the tax issue. Политик в нерешительности по поводу вопроса о налогах.
[jump down one’s throat] {v. phr.} To suddenly become very angry atsomeone; scold severely or angrily. The teacher jumped down Billy’sthroat when Billy said he did not do his homework.
Идиома: bound to (do something) Перевод: обязательно, непременно сделать что-либо Пример: If you ask your father he is bound to try and help you with your problem. Если ты попросишь отца, он непременно попытается тебе помочь с твоей проблемой.
[to say the least] {v. phr.} To understate; express as mildly aspossible. After all we did for him, his behavior toward us, to saythe least, was a poor way to show his appreciation.
Идиома: lip service Перевод: лицемерие; неискренняя поддержка, неискреннее уважение; поддержка только на словах, а не на деле Пример: The company paid lip service to the proposal but I do not think that they really support it. Компания словами поддержала предложение, но я не думаю, что они поддержат его на деле.
Идиома: flotsam and jetsam Перевод: 1. хлам, ненужные вещи 2. бродяги, бездомные, нищие Пример: All sorts of flotsam and jetsam washed up on the beach. На пляж вымыло всякий хлам и мусор. Drug addicts, the homeless, all are viewed as the flotsam and jetsam of today’s society. Наркоманы, бездомные — все они считаются отбросами современного … Читать далее
[over a barrel] also [over the barrel] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Inthe power of your enemies; not able to do anything about what happensto you; in a helpless condition; trapped. Bill had Tom over abarrel because Tom owed him money. Ralph has me over a barrel; Ineed five dollars, and he won’t lend it to me … Читать далее
[think a great deal of] or [think a lot of] also [think much of]{v. phr.} To consider to be very worthy, valuable, or important; toesteem highly. Mary thinks a great deal of Tim. The teacherthought a lot of Joe’s project. — The phrase «think much of» isusually used in negative sentences. Father didn’t think much … Читать далее
[meet up with] {v. phr.} To meet by accident; come upon withoutplanning or expecting to. When he ran around the tree, Bob suddenlymeet up with a large bear. The family would have arrived on time, but they met up with a flat tire.
Идиома: at risk Перевод: в опасности, рисковать Пример: The children were at risk of getting sick when the disease spread in the school. Дети рисковали заболеть, когда болезнь распространилась по школе.
Идиома: even so Перевод: однако, несмотря на Пример: My friend always works but even so he has no money saved. Мой друг всегда много работает, но, несмотря на это, он нисколько не скопил.
[have an eye on] or [have one’s eye on] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Tolook at or think about ; have a wish for; have as anaim. I bought ice cream, but Jimmy had his eye on some candy. John has his eye on a scholarship so he can go to college. Compare:IN MIND. 2. See: … Читать далее
Идиома: so much the better Перевод: все к лучшему Пример: So much the better, if extra people help us then we can get the work done quickly. Все к лучшему, если нам поможет больше людей, то мы сможем закончить работу быстрее.
[hog-tie] {v.}, {informal} 1. To tie so it is unable tomove or escape. The Cowboy caught a calf and hog-tied it. 2. Tomake someone unable to act freely; limit. The welfare worker wantedto help at once, but rules and regulations hog-tied her, so she couldonly report the case.
[out-of-pocket expenses] {n. phr.} Expenses one has to pay foroneself, not the company that sends one on a given assignment, such astips for waiters, cab drivers, etc. Luckily, my out-of-pocketexpenses didn’t amount to more than $15.
[out of reach] {adv. phr.} Unreachable; unattainable;unobtainable. Sam wanted to be a United States senator but he cameto realize that such a dream was out of his reach.
[couch potato] {n.} A person who is addicted to watching television all day. Poor Ted has become such a couch potato that we can’t persuade him to do anything.
Идиома: take a vacation Перевод: отправиться куда-либо в отпуск Пример: I have much stress at work and I want to take a vacation next month. Я испытываю много стресса на работе, и в следующем месяце я хочу уйти в отпуск.
[in great measure] {adv. phr.} To a great extent; largely. TheJapanese attack on Hawaii was in great measure a contributing factorto President Roosevelt’s decision to enter World War II. Compare: TOA LARGE EXTENT.
[off the beaten track] {adv. phr.} Not well known or often used;not gone to or seen by many people; unusual. The theater is off thebeaten track. We are looking for a vacation spot that is off thebeaten track. Compare: OUT OF THE WAY.
Идиома: needless to say Перевод: не приходится говорить (о чем-либо), не говоря уже о, разумеется Пример: Needless to say, I am excited to be back. Разумеется, я очень рад, что вернулся.
[down-to-earth] {adj.} Showing good sense; practical. The committee’s first plan for the party was too fancy, but the second was more down-to-earth. Mr. Jenkins never seems to know what is happening around him, but his wife is friendly and down-to-earth. Compare: COME BACK TO EARTH.
Идиома: cry wolf Перевод: поднимать ложную тревогу Пример: The man is always crying wolf and now nobody believes him. Этот человек всегда поднимает ложную тревогу, и теперь никто ему не верит.
Идиома: sick and tired of someone or something Перевод: не любить что-либо или кого-либо; сильно устать от кого-либо или чего-либо Пример: I am sick and tired of my friend’s constant complaining. Мне жутко надоело постоянное нытье моего друга.
Идиома: not have a leg to stand on Перевод: не иметь поддержки, не иметь обоснований для своей позиции, не иметь шансов доказать что-либо Пример: I haven’t even got the receipt to prove where I bought it, so I don’t have a leg to stand on. У меня даже нет чека, чтобы доказать, где я его … Читать далее
[in vain] {adv. phr.} 1. Without effect; without getting thedesired result; without success. The drowning man called in vainfor help. To cry over spilled milk is to cry in vain. Compare: GOFOR NOTHING, NO USE. 2. See: TAKE ONE’S NAME IN VAIN.
[pass the buck] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make another person decidesomething or accept a responsibility or give orders instead of doingit yourself; shift or escape responsibility or blame; put the duty orblame on someone else. Mrs. Brown complained to the man who soldher the bad meat, but he only passed the buck and told her … Читать далее
[hail-fellow-well-met ] {adj. phr.} Talking easily and in afriendly way to everyone you meet. John won the election as classpresident because he was hail-fellow-well-met.
[in one’s face] {adv. phr.} 1. Against your face. The trickcigar blew up in the clown’s face. A cold wind was in our faces aswe walked to school. 2. In front of you. The maid slammed the doorin the salesman’s face. I told the boys that they were wrong, butthey laughed in my face. Compare: … Читать далее
Идиома: on the house Перевод: бесплатно, за счет заведения Пример: The hotel room was not ready when we arrived so they gave us drinks on the house. Комната в гостинице была еще не готова, когда мы прибыли, поэтому они предложили нам напитки за счет заведения.
[out in force] {adv. phr.} Present in very large numbers; en masse. On the Fourth of July the police cars are out in force in theChicago area.
[hard-top] {n.} 1. A car that has a metal roof; a car that is not aconvertible. Every spring Mr. Jones sells his hard-top and buys aconvertible. 2. or [hardtop convertible] A car with windows that canbe completely lowered with no partitions left standing, and with a topthat may or may not be lowered. Mr. Brown’s … Читать далее
[break into] {v.} 1. To force an entrance into; make a rough or unlawful entrance into. Thieves broke into the store at night. 2. {informal} To succeed in beginning. He broke into television as an actor. 3. To interrupt. He broke into the discussion with a shout of warning. 4. To begin suddenly. He broke … Читать далее
[scare up] or [scrape up] {v.}, {informal} To find, collect, or gettogether with some effort when needed. The boy scared up enoughmoney to go to college. «Will you stay for supper?» she asked. «Ican scare up enough for us all.» He managed to scrape up the moneyfor his speeding fine.
Идиома: clear the air Перевод: разрешить все споры, недомолвки; положить конец недоразумениям Пример: We had a big argument but now it is time to clear the air. Мы сильно поспорили, но сейчас пора мириться.
[let out] {v.} 1a. To allow to go out or escape. The guard letthe prisoners out of jail to work in the garden. Mother won’t letus out when it rains. Compare: LET LOOSE. 1b. {informal} To make come out of the mouth; utter. A bee stung Charles. He letout a yell and ran home. Father … Читать далее
Идиома: keep an eye on someone or something Перевод: последить и позаботиться о ком-либо или о чем-либо Пример: Will you keep an eye on the baby while I go to the store? Последи, пожалуйста, за младенцем, пока я схожу в магазин.
[talk in circles] {v. phr.} To waste time by saying words thatdon’t mean very much. After three hours at the negotiating table, the parties decided to call it quits because they realized that theyhad been talking in circles.
[wild pitch] {n.} A pitch in baseball that is so high, so low, orso far from the plate that the catcher cannot catch it and a baserunner can move to the next base. The runner went to second base ona wild pitch.
[get a fix] or [give a fix] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} Toprovide with an injection of narcotics. The neighborhoodpusher gave Joe a fix. Contrast: GET A FIX ON.
[dark horse] {n.}, {informal} A political candidate little known to the general voting public; a candidate who was not expected to run. Every once in a while a dark horse candidate gets elected President.
[for all one knows] {adv. phr.} According to the information onehas; probably. For all we know, Ron and Beth might have eloped andbeen married in a French chateau.
[speakeasy] {n.} A bar during Prohibition where illegal alcoholicbeverages were sold. Al Capone’s associates met in a Chicagospeakeasy to drink and discuss business.
[lie to] {v.} Of a ship: To stay in one place facing against thewind; stop. Our ship will lie to outside the harbor untildaylight. Compare: LAY TO.
[look to one’s laurels] To make sure that your reputation is notspoiled; protect your good name; keep your record from being beaten byothers. Tom won the broad jump, but he had to look to his laurels. Look to your laurels, Joan. Betty says she is going to run againstyou for head cheerleader.
[on record] {adj. phr.} 1. An official or recorded statement orfact; said for everyone to know. We do not know when the famouswriter was born, but the date of his death is on record. The twocandidates went on television to put their ideas on record. 2. Knownto have said or done a certain thing. — … Читать далее
[lightning never strikes twice in the same place] The same accidentdoes not happen twice; the same person does not have the same luckagain. — A proverb. Billy won a pony in the contest last year, butlightning never strikes twice in the same place.