Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[handle with gloves] or [handle with kid gloves] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. To treat very gently and carefully. * /An atomic bomb is handled with kid gloves./ 2. To treat with great tact and diplomacy. * /Aunt Jane is so irritable that we have to treat her with kid gloves./
[hand-me-down] <n.>, <informal> Something given away after another person has no more use for it; especially, used clothing. * /Alice had four older sisters, so all her clothes were hand-me-downs./
[hand off] <v.> To hand the football to another back. * /The quarterback faked to the fullback and handed off to the halfback./
[hand on] <v.> To pass along to the next person who should have it. * /Everyone in class should read this, so when you have finished, please hand it on./ * /In the early days, news was handed on from one person to another./
[handout] <n.> 1. A free gift of food, clothes, etc. * /The homeless people were standing in a long line for various handouts./ 2. A typed and photocopied sheet or sheets of paper outlining the main points made by a speaker. * /Please look at page three of the handout./
[hand out] <v.>, <informal> To give (things of the same kind) to several people. * /The teacher handed out the examination papers./ * /At the Christmas party Santa Claus handed out the presents under the tree./ * /Handing out free advice to all your friends will not make them like you./ Compare: GIVE OUT(3).
[hand over] <v.> To give control or possession of; give (something) to another person. * /When the teacher saw Johnny reading a comic book in study period, she made him hand over the book./ * /When Mr. Jones gets old, he will hand over his business to his son./ Syn.: FORK OVER, GIVE UP(1), TURN OVER(3).
[hand over fist] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Fast and in large amounts. * /Fred may get a pony for Christmas because his father is making money hand over fist./ * /Business is so bad that the store on the corner is losing money hand over fist./
[hand over hand] <adv. phr.> By taking hold with one hand over the other alternately. * /The only way to climb a rope is hand over hand./
[hand-pick] <v.>, <informal> To choose very carefully. * /This debating team should win because its members are all hand-picked./ * /The political bosses hand-picked a man for mayor who would agree with them./
[hands-down] <adj.>, <informal> 1. Easy. * /The Rangers won a hands-down victory in the tournament./ 2. Unopposed; first; clear. * /Johnny was the hands-down favorite for president of the class./
[hands down] <adv.>, <informal> 1. Without working hard; easily. * /The Rangers won the game hands down./ 2. Without question or doubt; without any opposition; plainly. * /Johnny was bands down the best player on the team./
[hands off] <informal> Keep your hands off or do not interfere; leave that alone.
– Used as a command. * /I was going to touch the machine, but the man cried, "Hands off!" and I let it alone./
[hands-off] <adj.>, <informal> Leaving alone, not interfering; inactive. * /The United States told the European governments to follow a hands-off policy toward Latin America./ * /I did not approve of his actions, but I have a hands-off rule in personal matters, so I said nothing./
[handsome is as handsome does] <informal> A person must act well and generously so that he will be truly worth respecting.
– A proverb. * /Everyone thinks that Bon is a very handsome boy, but he is very mean too. Handsome is as handsome does./ Compare: FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE PINE BIRDS.
[hands up] <informal> Hold up your hands! Put your hands up high and keep them there!
– Used as a command. * /The sheriff pointed his gun at the outlaws and called out, "Hands up!"/ Syn.: REACH FOR THE SKY.
[hand something to someone on a silver platter] <v. phr.> To give a person a reward that has not been earned. * /The lazy student expected his diploma to be handed to him on a silver platter./
[hand to hand] <adv. phr.> Close together, near enough to hit each other. * /The two soldiers fought hand to hand until one fell badly wounded./ * /In modern naval warfare, men seldom fight hand to hand./ Compare: FACE TO FACE.
[hand-to-hand] <adj.> Close to each other; near enough to hit each other. * /The result of the battle was decided in hand-to-hand combat./ * /When the police tried to break up the riot, there was hand-to-hand fighting with fists, stones, and clubs./ Compare: FACE-TO-FACE.
[hand-to-mouth] <adj.> Not providing for the future; living from day to day; not saving for later. * /Many native tribes lead a hand-to-mouth existence, content to have food for one day at a time./ * /John is not a saving boy; he spends his money without thought for the future, and lives a hand-to-mouth life./ See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH.
[handwriting on the wall] <n. phr.> A sign that something bad will happen. * /When Bill's team lost four games in a row, he saw the handwriting on the wall./ * /John's employer had less and less work for him; John could read the handwriting on the wall and looked for another job./
[hang] See: GO HANG, GIVE A HANG or CARE A HANG, GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE, AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF, LEAVE HANGING or LEAVE HANGING IN THE AIR.
[hang around] <v.>, <informal> 1. To pass time or stay near without any real purpose or aim; loaf near or in. * /The principal warned the students not to hang around the corner drugstore after school./ Compare: HANG OUT(1). 2. To spend time or associate, * /Jim hangs around with some boys who live in his neighborhood./
[hang back] or [hang off] or [hang behind] 1. To stay some distance behind or away, be unwilling to move forward. * /Mary offered the little girl candy, but she was shy and hung back./ 2. To hesitate or be unwilling to do something. * /Lou wanted Fred to join the club, but Fred hung off./
[hang behind] See: HANG BACK(1).
[hang by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD.
[hang by a thread] or [hang by a hair] <v. phr.> To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. * /For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread./ * /As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair./ Compare: HANG IN THE BALANCE.