Английские идиомы

Идиома: out of shape Перевод: не в форме Пример: My mother is out of shape and cannot walk for a long distance. Моя мать не в форме, и она не может долго ходить.

Идиома: speak highly of someone or something Перевод: хорошо говорить, отзываться о ком-либо или чем-либо Пример: Everybody speaks highly of the new principal of our school. Все хорошо отзываются о новом директоре нашей школы.

[bottom drop out] or [bottom fall out] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To fall below an earlier lowest price. The bottom dropped out of the price of peaches. 2. To lose all cheerful qualities; become very unhappy, cheerless, or unpleasant. The bottom dropped out of the day for John when he saw his report card. The … Читать далее

[point up] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize. The increase incrime points up the need for greater police protection. Johnny’sreport card points up his talent for math.

[cut in] {v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a line of cars, people, etc.; push in. After passing several cars, Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident. — Often used with «on». A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to … Читать далее

Идиома: Rise and shine! Перевод: Проснись и пой! Быстро вставай и собирайся! (используется, когда будят кого-либо) Пример: «Rise and shine!» my father called to me in the morning. «Проснись и пой!» призывал меня отец утром.

Идиома: take something personally Перевод: принимать что-либо на свой счет Пример: I wish that my colleague would not take everything that I say personally. Как бы я хотел, чтобы мой коллега не принимал на свой счет все, что я говорю.

[in the spotlight] {adv. phr.} In the center of attention, witheverybody watching what one is doing. It must be difficult for thePresident to be in the spotlight wherever he goes. Compare: IN THELIMELIGHT.

[clock watcher] {n. phr.}, {informal} A worker who always quits at once when it is time; a man who is in a hurry to leave his job. When Ted got his first job, his father told him to work hard and not be a clock watcher.

[come] See: CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT, EASY COME — EASY GO, FIRST COME — FIRST SERVED, GET WHAT’S COMING TO ONE, HAVE IT COMING, HOW COME also HOW’S COME, IF WORST COMES TO WORST, JOHNNY-COME-LATELY, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN, KNOW IF … Читать далее

[bag and baggage] {adv.}, {informal} With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. If they don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage.

Идиома: heads or tails Перевод: орел или решка Пример: We decided who would start the game by throwing heads or tails with a coin. Мы решили определить, кто начнет игру, подбросив монетку.

[dead center] {n.} The exact middle. The treasure was buried in the dead center of the island. Often used like an adverb. The arrow hit the circle dead center.

[lay waste] {v. phr.}, {literary} To cause wide and great damageto; destroy and leave in ruins; wreck. Enemy soldiers laid wastethe land.

[bum’s rush] {n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing or pushing someone out from where he is not wanted. When John tried to go to the party where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum’s rush. Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum’s rush. 2. To hurry or rush. The salesman tried … Читать далее

[die away] or [die down] {v.} To come slowly to an end; grow slowlyness or weaker. The wind died down. The music died away. He waited until the excitement had died down. His mother’s anger died away.

Идиома: go to pieces / fall to pieces Перевод: потерять контроль над собой, потерять голову, обезуметь Пример: The woman went to pieces when she learned about her father’s death. Женщина потеряла голову, когда узнала о смерти своего отца.

[see things] {v. phr.}, {informal} To imagine sights which are notreal; think you see what is not there. I had not seen him fortwenty years and when we met on the street I thought I was seeingthings. She woke her husband to tell him she had seen a face atthe window, but he told her … Читать далее

[stick by one] {v. phr.} To support; remain loyal to. All ofPeter’s friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite of what has beensaid about him in the press.

Идиома: clip someone’s wings Перевод: подрезать крылышки, пообрезать крылья, подрезать крылья кому-либо Пример: She never had kids. I guess she thought motherhood would clip her wings. У нее никогда не было детей. Видимо, она думала, что материнство подрежет ей крылышки.

Идиома: speak volumes Перевод: говорить красноречивее всяких слов Пример: Your smile speaks volumes about your career. You like it. Твоя улыбка говорит красноречивее всяких слов о твоей карьере. Тебе она нравится.

Идиома: take the bull by the horns Перевод: взять быка за рога; выполнить какую-либо сложную задачу, работу Пример: My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and started to plan the family reunion. Моя тетя решила взять быка за рога, и начала планировать воссоединение семьи.

[cut teeth] {v. phr.} 1. To have teeth grow out through the gums. The baby was cross because he was cutting teeth. 2. or [cut eye teeth] {informal} To learn something very early in life; gain experience; start by learning or doing. — Used with a possessive, usually used with «on». The professional ball player … Читать далее

[new lease on life] {n. phr.} A new chance to live; an improvedmanner of living. After his illness and his retirement, living inHawaii was a new lease on life.

Идиома: a month of Sundays Идиома: a month of Sundays разг. Перевод: целая вечность; очень долгое время Пример: It will take a month of Sundays to phone all the students in our school. Потребуется целая вечность, чтобы позвонить всем ученикам нашей школы.

[make an example of] {v. phr.} To punish publicly to showwhat happens when someone does wrong. The teacher made an exampleof the boy who copied from another student during a test. ThePilgrims made an example of a thief by putting him in the stocks.

Идиома: let the cat out of the bag Перевод: выпустить кота из мешка; проболтаться, выдать секрет, рассказать тайну Пример: «Don’t let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party for our boss.» Не проболтайся о вечеринке-сюрпризе для нашего начальника. People know we plan to elope. Who let the cat out of the bag? … Читать далее

[give oneself airs] {v. phr.} To act proud; act vain. Mary gaveherself airs when she wore her new dress. John gave himself airswhen he won first prize.

[at every turn] {adv. phr.} Every time; all the time; continually without exception. Because of his drinking, the man was refused a job at every turn.

[blind spot] {n.} 1. A place on the road that a driver cannot see in the rear view mirror. I couldn’t see that truck behind me, Officer, because it was in my blind spot. 2. A matter or topic a person refuses to discuss or accept. My uncle Ted has a real blind spot about … Читать далее

[no use] {n.} 1. No purpose; no object; no gain. There’s no usein crying about your broken bicycle. Bob said, «Let’s try again.»Dick answered, «It’s no use.» 2. Bad opinion; no respect; no liking.- Usually used after «have». He had no use for dogs after a dog bithim. Jimmy had no use for arithmetic because … Читать далее

[full of beans] {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. Full of pep; feeling good;in high spirits. The football team was full of beans after winningthe tournament. The children were full of beans as they got readyfor a picnic. 2. also [full of prunes] Being foolish and talkingnonsense. You are full of prunes; that man’s not 120 years … Читать далее

Идиома: kiss someone or something goodbye Перевод: потерять кого-либо или что-либо; навсегда распрощаться с кем-либо или чем-либо Пример: «You can kiss your computer good-bye. It is totally destroyed.» Можешь попрощаться со своим компьютером. Он полностью уничтожен.

[till the cows come home] {adv. phr.} Until sunset; until the last. The women in the country used to sit in the spinning room makingyarn out of skeins of wool, usually till the cows came home.

[sum up] {v.} To put something into a few words; shorten into abrief summary; summarize. The teacher summed up the lesson in threerules. The mailman’s job, in all kinds of weather, is summed up inthe phrase «Deliver the mail.»

[as for] {prep.} 1. In regard to; speaking of; concerning. We have plenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough. 2. Speaking for. Most people like the summer but as for me, I like winter much better. Compare: FOR ONE’S PART.

[mad as a hornet] or [mad as hops] or [mad as a wet hen] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In a fighting mood; very angry. When my fathersees the dent in his fender, he’ll be mad as a hornet. Bill wasmad as hops when the fellows went on without him. Mrs. Harris wasmad as a wet hen … Читать далее

[Things are looking up!] Informal way to say that conditions areimproving. Things are looking up at our university as the governorpromised a 5% salary raise.

[egg on] {v.} To urge on; excite; lead to action. Joe’s wifeegged him on to spend money to show off. The big boys egged on thetwo little boys to fight. Compare: PUT UP.

Идиома: shake in one’s boots / quake in one’s boots Перевод: дрожать от страха; дрожать как лист; колени подгибаются от страха Пример: The little boy was shaking in his boots when the large dog approached him. У маленького мальчика от страха затряслись коленки, когда он увидел, что к нему приближается большая собака. I was quaking … Читать далее

[pay attention] {v. phr.} To listen to someone; hear and understandsomeone alertly. «Pay attention, children!» the teacher cried,»Here is your homework for next week!»

[give one a piece of one’s mind] {v. phr.}, {informal} To scoldangrily; say what you really think to. Mr. Allen gave theother driver a piece of his mind. The sergeant gave the soldier apiece of his mind for not cleaning his boots. Syn.: TELL OFF. Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING.

[how do you do] {formal} How are you? — Usually as a reply to anintroduction; it is in the form of a question but no answer isexpected. «Mary, I want you to meet my friend Fred. Fred, this ismy wife, Mary.» «How do you do, Mary?» «How do you do, Fred?»

[give it some thought] {v. phr.} To wait and see; considersomething after some time has elapsed. «Will you buy my car?» Fredasked. «Let me give it some thought,» Jim answered. Contrast: SLEEPON.

[house detective] {n.} A detective employed by a hotel, store, orother business to watch for any trouble. The one-armed man sweepingthe bank floor was really the house detective.

[make a face] {v. phr.}, {informal} To twist your face; make anugly expression on your face. Theboy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back. The sickboy swallowed the medicine and made a face.

[month of Sundays] {n. phr.}, informal A very long time. — Used foremphasis after «for» or «in» and usually with a negative verb. Ihave not had devil’s food cake in a month of Sundays. When he gother first letter, he felt that he had not heard from her for a monthof Sundays. Syn.: DOG’S AGE.

[go to pieces] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or sick fromnervousness; become wild. Mrs. Vance went to pieces when she heardher daughter was in the hospital. The man went to pieces when thejudge said he would have to go to prison for life. Mary goes topieces when she can’t have her own way.

Идиома: in over one’s head (with someone or something) Перевод: быть погрязшим, увязшим в какой-либо ситуации; быть вовлеченным в сложную ситуацию Пример: The supervisor was in over his head when he began to fire people for no reason. Надсмотрщик оказался в сложной ситуации, когда начал увольнять людей без причины.

[have none of] {v. phr.} To refuse to approve or allow. Theteacher said she would have none of Mike’s arguing. When thefullback refused to obey the captain, the captain said he would havenone of that.