[at one time] {adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. Let’s start the dance again all at one time. Mr. Reed’s bills came all at one time and he could not pay them. Syn.: AT THE SAME TIME. 2. At a certain time in the past; years ago. At one time people thought that … Читать далее
Идиома: tickle someone pink / to death / to pieces Перевод: угодить, порадовать, доставить огромное удовольствие; насмешить до смерти Пример: I know that these flowers will tickle her pink. Я знаю, что эти цветы ее очень порадуют. What you told her just tickled her to death! То, что ты ей только что рассказал, насмешило ее … Читать далее
[have dibs on] or [put dibs on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To demand ashare of something or to be in line for the use of an object usable bymore than one person. Don’t throw your magazine away! I put dibs on it, remember?
Идиома: mind one’s own business Перевод: заниматься своим делом, не лезть в чужие дела Пример: I asked my friend to mind his own business when he asked me about my problems with my father. Я попросил своего друга не лезть в чужие дела, когда он спросил меня о моих проблемах с отцом.
[ambulance chaser] {n.} An attorney who specializes in representing victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank or talent. Don’t hire Cohen; he’s just another ambulance chaser.
Идиома: yakety-yak Перевод: много разговоров по пустякам Пример: We spent the whole evening in a yakety-yak session at my friend’s. Мы провели весь вечер, разговаривая о пустяках у моего друга.
[That’s about the size of it!] Informal way to say, «What you saidis true; the rumor or the news is true.» «I am told you’re leavingour firm for Japan,» Fred said to Tom. «That’s about the size of it,»Tom replied with a grin.
Идиома: not to know if / whether one is coming or going Перевод: быть в замешательстве, совсем запутаться; не знать, что происходит; голова идет кругом Пример: The new sales manager does not know if he is coming or going. Новый менеджер по продажам совсем запутался. If you believe the cult leaders, you won’t know whether … Читать далее
Идиома: look down one’s nose at Идиома: look down one’s nose at разг. Перевод: смотреть свысока, относиться снисходительно, с презрением Пример: They always looked down their noses at anyone who couldn’t speak French. Они всегда относились с презрением ко всем, кто не умел говорить по-французски.
[give oneself away] {v. phr.} To show guilt; show you have donewrong. The thief gave himself away by spending so much money. Carl played a joke on Bob and gave himself away by laughing. Compare: GIVE AWAY.
[throat] See: CUT ONE’S THROAT, FLY AT ONE’S THROAT, JUMP DOWNONE’S THROAT, LUMP IN ONE’S THROAT, RAM DOWN ONE’S THROAT and SHOVEDOWN ONE’S THROAT.
[give notice] {v. phr.} To inform an employer, an employee, alandlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement ofservice or tenancy. Max gave notice at the bank where he wasworking. Sally was given notice by her landlord.
[Tom, Dick, and Harry] {n. phr.} People in general; anyone;everyone. — Usually preceded by «every» and used to show scorn ordisrespect. The drunk told his troubles to every Tom, Dick andHarry who passed by.
[Agent Orange] {n.} A herbicide used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War, considered by some to cause birth defects and cancer, hence, by extension, an instance of «technological progress pollution». If things continue as they have, we’ll all be eating some Agent Orange with our meals.
Идиома: have a bone to pick (with someone) Перевод: быть несогласным с кем-либо, быть недовольным кем-либо, иметь с кем-либо разногласия Пример: I have a bone to pick with my boss because of his criticism of me. У меня разногласия с моим начальником из-за его упреков в мой адрес.
[excuse oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To think of reasons for not being toblame; think yourself not at fault. John excused himself for hislow grades on the ground that the teacher didn’t like him. 2. To askto be excused after doing something impolite. John excused himselffor his tardiness, saying his watch was wrong. 3. To ask … Читать далее
[call the roll] {v. phr.} To read out the names on a certain list, usually in alphabetical order. The sergeant called the roll of the newly enlisted volunteers in the army.
[null and void] {adj.} Not worth anything; no longer valid. Boththe seller and the buyer agreed to forget about their previouscontract and to consider it null and void.
[down to the wire] {adj.}, {slang} 1. Running out of time, nearing a deadline. Bob is down to the wire on his project. 2. Being financially almost broke, being very low on cash or other funds. We can’t afford going to a restaurant tonight — we’re really down to the wire!
Идиома: make nice Перевод: вести себя особенно учтиво, вежливо (как правило, с какой-либо целью) Пример: Whenever he needs something from me, he always tries to make nice. Всегда, когда ему что-то от меня нужно, он ведет себя особенно вежливо.
[acquire a taste for] {v. phr.} To become fond of something; get to like something. Jack acquired a taste for ripe cheeses when he went to France.
Идиома: cheek by jowl Перевод: рядом, очень близко, бок о бок, в непосредственной близости, впритык Пример: The fans entered the stadium cheek by jowl. Фанаты вошли на стадион бок о бок.
Идиома: have someone’s work cut out (for someone) Перевод: что-либо очень трудное, что нужно сделать Пример: You’ll have your work cut out to beat the champion. Непросто тебе будет победить этого чемпиона. There is a lot for Bob to do. He has his work cut out for him. Бобу нужно многое выполнить. Ему придется сильно … Читать далее
[hang together] {v.} 1. To stay united; help and defend oneanother. The club members always hung together when one of them wasin trouble. Syn.: STICK TOGETHER. Compare: STAND BY, STAND UP FOR. 2.{informal} To form a satisfactory whole; fit together. Jack’s storyof why he was absent from school seems to hang together.
[get the eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be looked at, especiallywith interest and liking. The pretty girl got the eye as she walkedpast the boys on the street corner. 2. To be looked at or stared at, especially in a cold, unfriendly way. When Mary asked if she couldtake home the fur coat and … Читать далее
Идиома: keep one’s fingers crossed Перевод: скрестить пальцы; надеяться на хорошее Пример: Please keep your fingers crossed that I will pass my exam. Пожалуйста, скрести за меня пальцы, чтобы я сдал экзамен.
[open sesame] {n. phr.}, {literary} Immediate means of entrance, orunobstructed access to something. Tom mistakenly believed that hiswealth would be an open sesame to the world of creative arts.
Идиома: hold still Перевод: не двигаться, застынуть Пример: Please hold still while I fix your jacket zipper. Пожалуйся, не двигайся, пока я не починю молнию на твоей куртке.
[of necessity] {adv. phr.} Because there is no other way; becauseit must be; necessarily. Being a professional actor of necessitymeans working nights and Sundays.
[brain drain] {n.}, {informal} 1. The loss of the leading intellectuals and researchers of a country due to excessive emigration to other countries where conditions are better. Britain suffered a considerable brain drain to the United States after World War II. 2. An activity requiring great mental concentration resulting in fatigue and exhaustion That math … Читать далее
[pick on] {v.} 1. {informal} To make a habit of annoying orbothering ; do or say bad things to. Other boyspicked on him until he decided to fight them. Syn.: PICK AT. 2. Tosingle out; choose; select. He visited a lot of colleges, andfinally picked on Stanford.
Идиома: trial balloon Перевод: пробный шар; что-либо, направленное на проверку чей-либо реакции Пример: If you want to know public opinion, send up a trial balloon and listen to what they say. Если хочешь узнать общественное мнение, запусти пробный шар, и послушай, что будут говорить.
Идиома: (not) have anything to do with someone Перевод: (не) хотеть иметь с кем-либо дела (о дружбе, работе, делах, и т. п.) Пример: My father will not have anything to do with the salesman because he sold him the faulty car. Мой отец не хочет иметь дела с продавцом, потому что он продал ему бракованную … Читать далее
[not a leg to stand on] {n. phr.}, {informal} No good proof orexcuse; no good evidence or defense to offer. The man with a gunand $300 in his pocket was accused of robbing an oil station. He didnot have a leg to stand on.
[order about] or [around] {v. phr.} To dictate arrogantly tosomeone; domineer. Dan orders his younger colleagues around in amost unpleasant way.
Идиома: make it Идиома: make it разг. Перевод: 1. преуспевать, добиться успеха; достичь цели, добиться результата; 2. приехать, попасть, добраться, присутствовать Пример: The woman worked hard and was able to make it in the publishing industry. Эта женщина много работала, и она преуспела в издательской отрасли. I was feeling sick so I was not able … Читать далее
[have a screw loose] {v. phr,}, {slang} To act in a strange way; tobe foolish. Now I know he has a screw loose — he stole a police carthis time. He was a smart man but had a screw loose and peoplethought him odd.
[call off] {v.} To stop ; quit; cancel. When the ice became soft and sloppy, we had to call off the ice-skating party. The baseball game was called off because of rain.
[tie the knot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get married; also toperform a wedding ceremony. Diane and Bill tied the knotyesterday. The minister tied the knot for Diane and Billyesterday.
Идиома: take it Перевод: 1. выдержать, вынести (какие-либо проблемы, критику в свой адрес, оскорбления, и т. п.); 2. полагать, считать, понимать Пример: My friend is quite sensitive and cannot take it when I make a joke about him. Мой друг очень чувствителен, и всегда обижается, когда я подшучиваю над ним. I take it that you … Читать далее
[pitch woo] {v. phr.}, {slang} To kiss and hug; make love. Maryand John pitched woo in the movies. While Bob drove, Betty and Jimsat in the back pitching woo.
Идиома: wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve Перевод: не уметь скрывать своих чувств Пример: He was wearing his heart on his sleeve after the meeting with his boss. Он не мог скрыть своих чувств после встречи с начальником.
[shoplifter] {n.} A thief who steals things from a store. The TVcamera identified the shoplifter, who was then arrested and sentencedto jail.
[melt in one’s mouth] {v. phr.} 1. To be so tender as to seem toneed no chewing. The chicken was so tender that it melted in yourmouth. 2. To taste very good; be delicious. Mother’s apple piereally melts in your mouth.
[best seller] {n.} An item that outsells other items of a similar sort. Catherine Neville’s novel «The Eight» has been a national best seller for months. Among imported European cars, the Volkswagen is a best seller.
[beat all] or [beat the Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be strange or surprising. John found a box full of money buried in his garage. Doesn’t that beat all! It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a basket.
[split ticket] {n.} A vote for candidates from more than one party. Mr. Jones voted a split ticket. An independent voter likes asplit ticket. Contrast: STRAIGHT TICKET.
[garbage down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speedwithout much regard for manners or social convention. The childrengarbaged down their food.
[be a poor hand at] {v. phr.} To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him. Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.
[in arms] {adv. phr.} Having guns and being ready to fight; armed. When our country is at war, we have many men in arms. Syn.: UP INARMS!