[make up one’s mind] {v. phr.} To choose what to do; decide. They made up their minds to sell the house. Tom couldn’t decidewhether he should tell Mother about the broken window or let her findit herself. Contrast: ON THE FENCE.
[that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York. Susan is agood student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school.
Идиома: under way Перевод: продвигаться, быть в процессе выполнения Пример: The show was under way when we came in. Когда мы зашли, шоу уже шло. The ship has been under way for two days. Корабль находится в пути уже два дня.
Идиома: apple-pie / apple pie Идиома: apple-pie / apple pie разг. Перевод: превосходный, образцовый, примерный Пример: His room was in apple-pie order. В его комнате был образцовый порядок.
[not know which way to turn] or [not know which way to jump] {v. phr} To be puzzled about getting out of a difficulty; not know what todo to get out of trouble. When Jane missed the last bus home, shedidn’t know which way to turn. After Mr. Brown died, Mrs. Brownhad no money to … Читать далее
Идиома: Bible Belt Перевод: Библейский пояс — область США (главным образом, Юг и Средний Запад), где сильны религиозные традиции, и доминирует протестантский фундаментализм Пример: You shouldn’t even try to show a film about sexual perversity in the Bible Belt. Не следует даже пытаться показывать фильм о сексуальных извращениях в Библейском поясе.
[lay on the line] or [put on the line] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Topay or offer to pay. The sponsors had to lay nearly a milliondollars on the line to keep the show on TV. The bank is putting$5,000 on the line as a reward to anyone who catches the robber. Compare: PUT UP. 2. … Читать далее
Идиома: out of one’s hair Перевод: уйти и не беспокоить, волновать, досаждать кому-либо Пример: The woman got her children out of her hair and was able to do some work. Женщина сделала так, чтобы дети ей больше не досаждали, и смогла немного поработать.
Идиома: make a point of doing something Перевод: придавать особое значение чему-либо; взять что-либо за правило; считать что-либо обязательным для себя; стремиться делать что-либо Пример: He always makes a point of visiting his aunt when he is in town. Обычно он старается навестить свою тетю, когда находится в городе.
Идиома: to speak of Перевод: что-либо важное, такое, о чем стоит сказать Пример: We did not do anything to speak of during our summer vacation. Мы не делали ничего такого особенного во время нашего летнего отпуска.
Идиома: get close to someone Перевод: сблизиться с кем-либо, стать близкими друзьями с кем-либо Пример: The woman tried very hard to get close to her youngest daughter. Женщина очень старалась сблизиться со своей младшей дочерью.
Идиома: as the crow flies Перевод: самым прямым путем, как прямая линия между двумя точками, местами Пример: As the crow flies, it is about 6 kilometers between my house and my office. Прямой дорогой от моего дома до моей работы примерно 6 километров.
[crash the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} To enter without a ticket or without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. Bob got into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate. Three boys tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn’t let them in.
[shape up or ship out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To either improveone’s disposition or behavior, or quit or leave. When Paulneglected to carry out his part of the research work that ProfessorBrown had assigned him with for the fifth time, the professor cried,»Shape up, or ship out, Paul. I have lost my patience with you!»
[I’ll tell you what] or [tell you what] {informal} Here is an idea. The hamburger stand is closed, but I’ll tell you what, let’s go tomy house and cook some hot dogs.
[beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush] {v. phr.}, {slang} To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush. He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point. Compare: BESIDE … Читать далее
Идиома: frame of mind Перевод: расположение духа, настроение Пример: «I’m not in the right frame of mind to listen to your poem.» Я не в том расположении духа, чтобы слушать твой стих.
[lay hands on] {v. phr.} 1. To get hold of; find; catch. Thetreasure hunters can keep any treasure they can lay hands on. Ifthe police can lay hands on him, they will put him in jail. Compare:LAY ONE’S HAND ON. 2. To do violence to; harm; hurt. They wereafraid that if they left him alone … Читать далее
[against time] or [against the clock] {adv. phr.} 1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against. 2. As fast as possible; so as to do or finish something before … Читать далее
[to heel] {adj. phr.} 1. Close behind. The dog ran after arabbit, but Jack brought him to heel. 2. Under control; to obedience. When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, buthis father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel.
[make one’s head spin] {v. phr.} To be bewildered; be confused. It makes my head spin to think about the amount of work I still haveto do.
[at most] or [at the most] {adv. phr.} By the largest or most generous guess; at the upper limit; by the maximum account; not more than; at best; at worst. It was a minor offense at most. He had been gone 15 minutes at the most. Their new house lot is a quarter acre at … Читать далее
Идиома: take / knock someone down a peg / a notch (or two) Перевод: сбить с кого-либо спесь, поставить кого-либо на место Пример: The manager took the secretary down a notch or two with his criticism of her work. Менеджер поставила секретаря на место за его критику ее работы.
[mad as a hatter] or [mad as a March hare] {adj. phr.} Not able tothink right; crazy. Anyone who thinks the moon is made of greencheese is mad as a hatter.
[closed shop] {n. phr.} 1. A plant or factory that employs only union workers. Our firm has been fighting the closed shop policy for many years now. 2. A profession or line of work dominated by followers of a certain mode of thinking and behaving that does not tolerate differing views or ideas. Certain groups … Читать далее
[for sure] or [for certain] {adv. phr.} 1. Without doubt;certainly; surely. He couldn’t tell for sure from a distancewhether it was George or Tom. He didn’t know for certain which busto take. I know for certain that he has a car. 2. {slang}Certain. «That car is smashed so badly it’s no good any more.»»That’s for … Читать далее
[on one’s own time] {adv. phr.} During one’s free time; not duringworking or school hours. If you want to play football, you’ll haveto do it on your own time.
[anything but] {adv. phr.} Quite the opposite of; far from being. I don’t mean he’s lazy — anything but! The boys knew they had broken the rules, and they were anything but happy when they were called to the office.
[take turns] {v. phr.} To do something one after another instead ofdoing it all at the same time. In class we should not talk all atthe same time; we should take turns. Jean and Beth took turns onthe swing. The two boys took turns at digging the hole. Thethree men took turns driving so one … Читать далее
[get up the nerve] {v. phr.} To build up your courage until you arebrave enough; become brave enough. Jack got up the nerve to askRuth to dance with him. The hungry little boy got up nerve to askfor another piece of cake.
[stick in one’s throat] {v. phr.} To be something you do not wantto say; be hard to say. Jean wanted to ask the teacher’s pardon, but the words stuck in her throat.
Идиома: at all costs Перевод: любой ценой Пример: The company wants to protect their product designs at all costs. Компания хочет защитить дизайн своего продукта любой ценой.
[labor of love] {n. phr.} Something done for personal pleasure andnot pay or profit. Building the model railroad was a labor of lovefor the retired engineer.
[word] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, AS GOOD AS ONE’S WORD, BY WORD OF MOUTH, EAT ONE’S WORDS, FROM THE WORD «GO», GET A WORD IN, GET THE MESSAGE or GET THE WORD, HANG ON THE WORDS OF, IN BRIEF or INA WORD, IN SO MANY WORDS, LAST WORD, MAN OF FEW WORDS, MAN … Читать далее
[arm and a leg] {n.}, {slang} An exorbitantly high price that must be paid for something that isn’t really worth it. It’s true that to get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg.
[hang fire] {v. phr.} 1. To fail or be slow in shooting or firing. Smith pulled the trigger, but the gun hung fire and the deerescaped. 2. To be slow in beginning; to be delayed; to wait. Theboys’ plans for organizing a scout troop hung fire because they couldnot find a man to be scoutmaster.
[in one fell swoop] or [at one fell swoop] {adv. phr.} 1.{literary} In one attack or accident; in one bad blow. Themillionaire lost his money and his friends at one fell swoop. 2. Atone time; at the same time. Three cars drove into the driveway, andMrs. Crane’s dinner guests all arrived at one fell swoop.
Идиома: cook one’s goose Идиома: cook one’s goose разг. Перевод: погубить кого-либо; потерять шансы на что-либо Пример: The girl cooked her goose and has no chance of getting the new job. Девушка сама себя погубила и потеряла шанс получить новую работу.
[buck up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful; make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. After the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song. Tom was disappointed that he didn’t make the team; but he soon bucked up.
[on a pedestal] {adv. phr.} Lovingly honored and cared for. Mrs. Raymond’s children served her breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day andlater took her out to dinner. She felt on a pedestal. Bill isalways waiting on his fiancee and bringing her flowers and candy. Hehas certainly put her on a pedestal.
[shoo-in] {n.}, {informal} Someone or something that is expected towin; a favorite; sure winner. Chris is a shoo-in to win ascholarship. Do you think he will win the election? He’s ashoo-in. This horse is a shoo-in. He can’t miss winning. Syn.:SURE THING.
[skip out] {v.}, {informal} To leave in a hurry; especially aftercheating or taking money dishonestly; sneak away; leave withoutpermission. The man skipped out of the hotel without paying hisbill. «How did you get out of the house after supper, Harry? » «Iskipped out!»
[blaze a trail] {v. phr.} 1. To cut marks in trees in order to guide other people along a path or trail, especially through a wilderness. Daniel Boone blazed a trail for other hunters to follow in Kentucky. 2. To lead the way; make a discovery; start something new. Henry Ford blazed a trail in … Читать далее
[play tricks on] {v. phr.} To make another the victim of some trickor joke. Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him byhiding his clothes while he was swimming.
Идиома: all-out-effort Перевод: основательное усилие; много усилий Пример: We are making an all-out-effort to finish our work. Мы прилагаем все усилия, чтобы закончить работу.
Идиома: as usual Перевод: как обычно Пример: As usual, the girl forgot to bring her book to class. Как обычно, девочка забыла принести книги на занятия.
Идиома: all systems (are) go Перевод: все готово (часто используется при запуске ракеты) Пример: It was all systems go so we began the installation of the new computer system. Все было готово, так что мы начали установку новой компьютерной системы.
[rattle one’s saber] {v. phr.} To threaten another government orcountry without subsequent acts of war. It is considered an act ofdemagoguery on the part of politicians to rattle their sabers. Compare: YELLOW JOURNALISM.
[blow one’s mind] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}; {originally from the drug culture} 1. To become wildly enthusiastic over something as if understanding it for the first time in an entirely new light. Read Lyall Watson’s book «Supernature», it will simply blow your mind! 2. To lose one’s ability to function, as if due to an … Читать далее
[freak-out ] {n.}, {slang} An act of losing control; a situationthat is bizarre or unusual. The party last night was a regularfreak-out.