[set off] {v.} 1. To decorate through contrast; balance bydifference.
The bright colors of the birds were set off by thewhite snow.
A small gold pin set off her plain dark dress.
2. Tobalance; make somewhat equal.
Her great wealth, as he thought, setoff her plain face.
3a. To begin to go.
They set off for the Westin a covered wagon.
Compare: SET OUT. 3b. To cause to begin.
Aletter from home set off an attack of homesickness.
An atomicexplosion is created by setting off a chain reaction in the atom.
Compare: TOUCH OFF. 3c. To cause to explode.
On July 4 we set offfirecrackers in many places.
Куда я трачу свои деньги.
Problems in family.
Related topics:
- Перевод слова decorateDecorate — украшать Перевод слова To decorate a Christmas tree — наряжать елку to decorate a tale with fictions — приукрасить рассказ выдумками decorate a flat — отделывать квартиру Decorate with orange segments. Украсьте дольками апельсина. I Decorated my apartment in dark colors. Я оформил свою квартиру в темных тонах. They bickered about how to ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы keep one’s balance[keep one’s balance] {v. phr.} To stay even-tempered; not becomeoverexcited. Mike has the best personality to run our office; healways keeps his balance. Contrast: LOSE ONE’S BALANCE....
- Значение идиомы in the dark[in the dark] {adj. phr.} 1. In ignorance; without information. John was in the dark about the job he was being sent to. If thegovernment controls the news, it can keep people in the dark on anytopic it chooses. Mary had a letter from Sue yesterday, but shewas left in the dark about Sue’s plans ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы color[color] See: CHANGE COLOR, GIVE COLOR TO or LEND COLOR TO, HAUL DOWN ONE’S COLORS, HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR, NAIL ONE’S COLORS TO THE MAST, OFF-COLOR or OFF-COLORED, SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS, SEE THE COLOR OF ONE’S MONEY, SHOW ONE’S COLORS, WITH FLYING COLORS....
- Значение идиомы hang in the balance[hang in the balance] {v. phr.} To have two equally possibleresults; to be in doubt; be uncertain. Until Jim scored the winningtouchdown, the outcome of the game hung in the balance. She wasvery sick and her life hung in the balance for several days. Compare:HANG BY A THREAD....
- Значение идиомы heart of gold[heart of gold] {n. phr.} A kind, generous, or forgiving nature. John has a heart of gold. I never saw him angry at anyone. Mrs. Brown is a rich woman with a heart of gold. Compare: GOOD AS GOLD, HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE....
- Значение идиомы show one’s colors[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...
- Значение идиомы off balance[off balance] {adj. phr.} 1. Not in balance; not able to stand upstraight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or falling;unsteady. Never stand up in a canoe; it will get off balance andturn over. Paul was speeding along on his bicycle, when anunexpected hole in the road caught him off balance ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы in secret[in secret] {adv. phr.} In a private or secret way; in a hiddenplace. The miser buried his gold in secret and no one knows whereit is. The robbers went away in secret after dark. Compare: INPRIVATE....
- Значение идиомы measure up[measure up] {v.} To be equal; be of fully high quality; come up. John didn’t measure up to the best catchers but he was a good one. Lois’ school work didn’t measure up to her ability. Compare up: TOPAR. Contrast: FALL SHORT....
- Значение идиомы with flying colors[with flying colors] {adv. phr.} With great or total success;victoriously. Tow finished the race with flying colors. Marycame through the examination with flying colors....
- Значение идиомы haul down one’s colors[haul down one’s colors] or [strike one’s colors] {v. phr.} 1. Topull down a flag, showing you are beaten and want to stop fighting. After a long battle, the pirate captain hauled down his colors. 2.To admit you are beaten; say you want to quit. After losing twosets of tennis, Tom hauled down his color....
- Значение идиомы cop a feel[cop a feel] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To attempt to arouse sexually by manual contact, usually by surprise. John talks big for a 16 year old, but all he’s ever done is cop a feel in a dark movie theater. Compare: FEEL UP. Contrast: COP A PLEA....
- Перевод слова plainPlain — равнина; ясный, совершенный, простой Перевод слова In the open plain — в открытом поле plain articulation — отчетливая артикуляция the meaning is quite plain — значение совершенно ясно His table plentiful, but Plain. Его еда обильная, но простая. The mountain commands the Plain. Гора возвышается над равниной. We fell into a Plain talk. ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы in the know[in the know] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Knowing about things thatmost people do not know about; knowing secrets or understanding aspecial subject. Tina helped Professor Smith make some of the examquestions, and she felt important to be in the know. In a printshop, Mr. Harvey is in the know, but in a kitchen he can’t even ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы dark of the moon[dark of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} A time when the moon is not shining or cannot be seen. It was the dark of the moon when the scouts reached camp and they had to use flashlights to find their tents. Contrast: FULL OF THE MOON....
- Значение идиомы get wise[get wise] {v. phr.}, {slang} To learn about something kept secretfrom you; become alert. One girl pretended to be sick on gym dayswhen she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her goanyway. — Often used with «to». The boys got wise to Jack’sfondness for bubble gum. If you don’t get wise to ... Читать далее...
- Перевод идиомы in plain language / in plain English, значение выражения и пример использованияИдиома: in plain language / in plain English Перевод: простым и понятным языком Пример: My bank explained to me in plain English what the terms of the loan were. В банке мне просто и доходчиво объяснили условия займа....
- Значение идиомы neck and neck[neck and neck] {adj. or adv.}, {informal} Equal or nearly equal ina race or contest; abreast; tied. At the end of the race the twohorses were neck and neck. For months John and Harry seemed to beneck and neck in Alice’s favor. Compare: NIP AND TUCK....
- Значение идиомы catch off balance[catch off balance] {v. phr.} To confront someone with physical force or with a statement or question he or she is not prepared to answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of another. The smaller wrestler caught his opponent off balance and managed to throw him on the float in spite of his greater ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы strike gold[strike gold] {v. phr.} 1. To find gold. Ted struck gold near anabandoned mine in California. 2. To find suddenly the answer to anold puzzle. Professor Brown’s assistant struck gold when he came upwith an equation that explained the irregular motions of a doublestar. See: PAY DIRT....
- Значение идиомы get to[get to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin by chance; begin to. — Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. George meant to save hisdollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste, and he spent it. On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around inthe attic and ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы for the birds[for the birds] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Not interesting; dull; silly;foolish; stupid. I think history is for the birds. I saw thatmovie. It’s for the birds....
- Значение идиомы in hand[in hand] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Under control. The principalwas happy to find that the new teacher had her class in hand. Thebaby-sitter kept the children well in hand. Mabel was frightenedwhen the barking dog ran at her, but she soon got herself in hand andwalked on. Contrast: OUT OF HAND. 2. In your ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы nail one’s colors to the mast[nail one’s colors to the mast] {literary} To let everyone knowwhat you think is right and refuse to change. During the electioncampaign the candidate nailed his colors to the mast on the questionof civil rights....
- Значение идиомы come off[come off] or [through with flying colors] {v. phr.} To succeed; triumph. John came off with flying colors in his final exams at college....
- Значение идиомы get to first base[get to first base] or [reach first base] {v. phr.} To make a goodstart; really begin; succeed, Joe had a long paper to write forhistory class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn’t got tofirst base yet. Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he evenget to first base with her? George ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы sail under false colors[sail under false colors] {v. phr.} 1. To sail a ship, oftenpirate, under the flag of another country. The pirate ship flew theAmerican flag until it got near, then raised the black flag. 1. Topretend to be what you are not; masquerade. The garage hired Jonesas a mechanic, but fired him when they found he ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы tone down[tone down] {v.} To make softer or quieter; make less harsh orstrong; moderate. He toned down the sound of the TV. She wantedthe bright colors in her house toned down. When the ladiesarrived, he toned down his language. The strikers were asked totone down their demands for higher pay so that there might be aquicker ... Читать далее...
- Перевод слова balanceBalance — равновесие, баланс, весы Перевод слова To tip the balance — склонять чашу весов stable balance — устойчивое равновесие to lose one’s balance — выйти из себя, потерять равновесие He Balanced in indecision. Он медлил в нерешительности. One thing Balances another. Одно компенсирует другое. She has a good sense of Balance. У нее хорошее ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы let out[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...
- Перевод идиомы with flying colors, значение выражения и пример использованияИдиома: with flying colors Перевод: с большим успехом, с блеском Пример: I was able to pass my final exams with flying colors. Я смог сдать последние экзамены с блеском....
- Перевод идиомы for the birds, значение выражения и пример использованияИдиома: for the birds Перевод: бесполезный, негодный, ненужный; скучный, неинтересный Пример: Look, this meeting is for the birds. Let’s leave it at once. Послушай, это сборище совершенно бесполезное. Давай уйдем сразу же. This television programs is for the birds. Эта телевизионная передача скучная....
- Значение идиомы pay dirt[pay dirt] {n.}, {slang} 1. The dirt in which much gold is found. The man searched for gold many years before he found pay dirt. 2.{informal} A valuable discovery. — Often used in the phrase «strikepay dirt». When Bill joined the team, the coach struck pay dirt. Jean looked in many books for facts about ... Читать далее...
- Перевод слова brightBright — яркий, блестящий, ясный; умный Перевод слова Bright day — светлый день bright red — ярко-красный bright reply — блестящий ответ I never wear Bright colours. Я никогда не носил яркие цвета. The lighting was too Bright. Освещение было слишком ярким. He’s a Bright specimen! Он большой оригинал!...
- Значение идиомы mix up[mix up] {v.} To confuse; make a mistake about. Jimmy doesn’tknow colors yet; he mixes up purple with blue. Even the twins’mother mixes them up. Compare: MIXED UP....
- Значение идиомы out of kilter[out of kilter] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not balanced right; notin a straight line or lined up right. The scale must be out ofkilter because when I weighed myself on it, it said 300 pounds. The wheels of my bicycle were out of kilter after it hit the tree. Contrast: IN BALANCE. 2. Needing repair; ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы screw up one’s courage[screw up one’s courage] or [pluck up one’s courage] {v. phr.} Toforce yourself to be brave. The small boy screwed up his courageand went upstairs in the dark. When his father came home in a badmood, it took Pete some time to screw up his courage and ask him for adollar. Compare: WHISTLE IN THE ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы do up[do up] {v.} 1a. To clean and prepare for use or wear; launder. Ann asked her mother to do up her dress. 1b. To put in order; straighten up; clean. At camp the girls have to do up their own cabins. 2. To tie up or wrap. Joan asked the clerk to do up her ... Читать далее...
- Значение идиомы take up[take up] {v.} 1. To remove by taking in. Use a blotter to takeup the spilled ink. When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it willnot take up dirt from the rug. 2. To fill or to occupy. All hisevenings were taken up with study. The oceans take up the greaterpart of the earth’s surface. ... Читать далее...
Значение идиомы set off