[lay to] {v.} 1. To give the blame or credit to; to name as cause. He was unpopular and when he made money, it was laid to hisdishonesty, but when he lost money, it was laid to his stupidity. Compare: LAY AT ONE’S DOOR. 2. To hold a ship or boat still againstthe wind. The … Читать далее
[put aside] {v. phr.} 1. To save; put something aside for a specialpurpose. Peter puts $100 aside every week. 2. To let go of; putaway. The teacher to the students, «Put your books aside and startwriting your tests!»
Идиома: pick up a trail / pick up a scent Перевод: учуять след, запах человека или животного, за которым идет погоня Пример: The tracking dogs were easily able to pick up the trail of the criminal. Собаки легко смогли учуять след преступника.
[on the go] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Active and busy. Successfulbusinessmen are on the go most of the time. Healthy, happy peopleare usually on the go. Compare: ON THE MOVE.
[cast down] {adj.} Discouraged; sad; unhappy. — Used less often than the reverse form, «downcast». Mary was cast down at the news of her uncle’s death. Charles felt cast down when he lost the race.
[on the take] {adv. phr.} Bribable; corrupt. Officer O’Keefe wasput on three months’ probation because it was alleged that he was onthe take.
Идиома: speak ill of someone Перевод: плохо говорить, отзываться о ком-либо Пример: I wish that my friend would not speak ill of the other people in our class. Я бы хотел, чтобы мой друг не отзывался так плохо о других учениках в своем классе.
[while back] {adv.} At a time several weeks or months in the past.- Used with «a». We had a good rain a while back, but we need morenow. Grandfather is well now, but a while back he was in thehospital for three weeks. See: CRACK THE WHIP.
[and the like] {n. phr.} Things of a similar nature. I like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the like. When I go out to the beach flake towels, a mat, suntan lotion, and the like.
[strike] or [hit a sour note] {v. phr.} To spoil the mood at agathering by hearing some bad news. The news of Mr. Brown’s suddenillness struck a sour note during our New Year’s Eve party. Compare:SPIT INTO THE WEDDING CAKE.
[cash in] {v.} 1. To exchange for the value in money. He paid the bill by cashing in some bonds. When the card game ended, the players cashed in their chips and went home. 2. or [cash in one’s chips] {slang} To die. When the outlaw cashed in his chips, he was buried with his … Читать далее
Идиома: at sea (about something) Перевод: не знать, что делать, быть в растерянности, недоумевать Пример: Most members of the class were at sea when the teacher tried to explain the difficult theory. Большинство учеников недоумевали, когда учитель пытался объяснить им эту сложную теорию.
Идиома: in commission Перевод: в рабочем, исправном состоянии Пример: Luckily, we were able to fix the engine, and it was in commission again. К счастью, мы смогли отремонтировать двигатель, и он вновь был исправен.
[bed of nails] {n. phr.} A difficult or unhappy situation or set of circumstances. «There are days when my job is a regular bed of nails,» Jim groaned. Contrast: BED OF ROSES.
Идиома: the particulars of something Перевод: детали, подробности чего-либо Пример: I have no knowledge of the particulars of my father’s business dealings. Я не знаю подробностей бизнес сделок моего отца.
[live in] or [room in] {v.}, {informal} To live in the school youattend or the place where you work. Jack decided to live in duringhis freshman year at college. Many women advertise for mother’shelpers to room in with families and help take care of children.
[lose one’s tongue] {v. phr.}, informal To be so embarrassed orsurprised that you cannot talk. The man would always lose histongue when he was introduced to new people. Compare: CAT GET ONE’STONGUE.
Идиома: flat out Перевод: 1. четко и ясно, ничего не скрывая, не утаивая; прямо, в открытую 2. на полной скорости, с предельной скоростью Пример: I told my friend flat out that I would not go to the party with her. Я прямо сказала своей подруге, что не пойду с ней на вечеринку. Scott was driving … Читать далее
Идиома: see someone home Перевод: проводить кого-либо домой Пример: I saw my cousin home after her visit last evening. Вчера вечером я проводил свою двоюродную сестру домой после того, как она приходила к нам в гости.
[kick against the pricks] {v. phr.}, {literary} To fight againstrules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself. Johnny kickedagainst the pricks in his foster home until he learned that he couldtrust his new family.
[within call] or [within hail] {adv. phr.} 1. Near enough to heareach other’s voices. When the two ships were within hail, theirofficers exchanged messages. Billy’s mother told him to staywithin call because supper was nearly ready. 2. In a place where youcan be reached by phone, radio, or TV and be called. The sick manwas … Читать далее
[work through channels] {v. phr.} To go through the properprocedures and officials. At a state university everybody must workthrough channels to get things done.
Идиома: put something to bed Перевод: 1. заканчивать, завершать что-либо, разобраться с чем-либо 2. заканчивать приготовления для печати чего-либо (в издательском деле), приготовить для печати Пример: We talked for three hours about the problem but we finally put the issue to bed. Мы три часа разговаривали об этой проблеме, но, наконец, разобрались с ней. Finish … Читать далее
[such as it is] Just as it appears or is presented, not being anybetter or worse than most others of its kind; being average ormediocre. This pie, such as it is, is the best I can make. Janetold her grandmother her grades, such as they were.
Идиома: in no time Перевод: мгновенно, мигом, очень быстро Пример: I will have this done for you in no time and then you can go for lunch. Я мигом для тебя это сделаю, а потом можешь идти на обед.
Идиома: vanish into thin air / disappear into thin air Перевод: бесследно исчезнуть, пропасть Пример: The university student vanished into thin air and was never seen again. Студент университета бесследно исчез, и больше его никогда не видели.
Идиома: burst into tears Перевод: расплакаться, разреветься, разрыдаться Пример: The parents burst into tears of happiness when their daughter graduated. Родители расплакались от счастья, когда их дочь окончила колледж.
[show one’s colors] {v. phr.} 1. To show what you are really like. We thought Toby was timid, but he showed his colors when he rescuedthe ponies from the burning barn. 2. To make known what you think orplan to do. Mr. Ryder is afraid that he will lose the election ifhe shows his colors … Читать далее
[gross-out session] {n.}, {slang}, {avoidable} A verbal contestbetween teen-agers in which the object of the game is to see who canbe more disgusting or vulgar than anybody else. When Jim got homehe found his two teen-age sons engaged in a gross-out session; hebawled them out and cut their weekly allowance.
[fifth column] {n. phr.} A group or organization within a countrythat works to bring about the country’s downfall, usually through actsof espionage and sabotage. The Communist party in the United Stateswas considered by Senator McCarthy to be the Soviet Union’s fifthcolumn.
[step up] {v.} 1. To go from a lower to a higher place. Johnstepped up onto the platform and began to speak. 2. To come towardsor near; approach. The sergeant called for volunteers and PrivateJones stepped up to volunteer. John waited until the teacher hadfinished speaking to Mary, and then he stepped up. 3. To … Читать далее
[rub it in] {v. phr.}, {slang} To remind a person again and againof an error or short-coming; tease; nag. Jerry was already unhappybecause he fumbled the ball, but his teammates kept rubbing it in. I know my black eye looks funny. You don’t need to rub it in.
[meet one’s Waterloo] {v. phr.} To be defeated; lose an importantcontest. After seven straight victories the team met its Waterloo. John fought instead of running, and the bully met his Waterloo.
[work] See: ALL IN A DAY’S WORK, ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK ADULL BOY, AT WORK, BUSY WORK, IN THE WORKS, MAKE SHORT WORK OF, MANYHANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, SHOOT THE WORKS, THE WORKS, IN THE WORKS.
[count to ten] {v. phr.}, {informal} To count from one to ten so you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. Father always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got angry. Compare: … Читать далее
[cross one’s path] {v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to come upon someone more by accident than by plan. Surprisingly, I crossed John’s path in Central Park one afternoon.
[high-handed] {adj.} Depending on force rather than right; bossy;dictatorial. With high-handed daring, John helped himself to thebest food on the table. Mr. Smith was a high-handed tyrant in hisoffice.
Идиома: have a sweet tooth Перевод: быть сладкоежкой, любить сладкое Пример: The girl has a sweet tooth and loves to eat chocolate. Эта девочка — сладкоежка и она обожает шоколад.
[eyes open] 1. Careful watch or attention; readiness to see. — Usually used with «for». Keep your eyes open for a boy in a red capand sweater. The hunter had his eyes open for rabbits. Theydrove on with their eyes open for a gas station. Syn.: EYE OUT, KEEPONE’S EYES PEELED. 2. Full knowledge; especially … Читать далее
Идиома: get used to someone or something Перевод: привыкать к кому-либо или чему-либо Пример: I am slowly getting used to my new job. Я потихоньку привыкаю к своей новой работе.
[nuts and bolts of] {n. phr.} The basic facts or important detailsof something. «Ted will he an excellent trader,» his millionairegrandfather said, «once he learns the nuts and bolts of theprofession.»
[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] {v. phr.}, {informal} To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. — Used in negative sentences. When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye. Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true. Compare: … Читать далее
[strings attached] {adv. phr.} With some special proviso orcondition that is a handicap. John inherited a large fortune butwith the string attached that he could not touch a penny of it beforehis 28th birthday.
[out of the way] {adv. phr.} 1. Not where people usually go;difficult to reach. When little Tommy comes to visit her, AuntSally puts her lamps and vases out of the way. — Often used withhyphens before a noun. Gold was found in an out-of-the-way villagein the mountains, and soon a good road and airfield were … Читать далее
[gross out] {v.}, {slang} To commit a vulgar act; to repel someoneby saying a disgusting or vulgar thing. You are going to gross outpeople if you continue talking like that.
[hit one’s stride] {v. phr.} 1. To walk or run at your best speed;reach your top speed or game. After walking the first mile, Jim wasjust hitting his stride. The horse began to hit his stride andmoved ahead of the other horses in the race. 2. To do your best work;do the best job you … Читать далее
[make book] {v. phr.} To serve as a bookmaker taking bets on thehorse races. The police were out to prosecute anybody who made bookillegally.
[suck in] {v.} 1. {informal} To pull in by taking a deep breath andtightening the muscles; flatten. «Suck in those stomachs,» the gymteacher said. 2. {slang} To make a fool of; cheat. The uneducatedfarmer was sucked in by a clever crook.
[bosom friend] {n. phr.} A very close friend; an old buddy with whom one has a confidential relationship. Sue and Jane have been bosom friends since their college days.
[face] See: BLUE IN THE FACE, CUT OFF ONE’S NOSE TO SPITE ONE’SFACE, FLY IN THE FACE OF, HATCHET FACE, HIDE ONE’S FACE, IN ONE’SFACE, IN THE FACE OF, LONG FACE, LOOK IN THE EYE or LOOK IN THE FACE, MAKE A FACE, ON THE FACE OF IT, SAVE FACE, SET ONE’S FACE AGAINST, SHOOT … Читать далее