Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[it is an ill wind that blows nobody good] No matter how bad a happening is, someone can usually gain something from it.
– A proverb. * /When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good./
[it never rains but it pours] One good thing or bad thing is often followed by others of the same kind.
– A proverb, * /John got sick, then his brothers and sisters all got sick. It never rains but it pours./
[it's a cinch] <informal sentence> It is very easy. * /"What about the final exam?" Fred asked. "It was a cinch" Sam answered./ Compare: PIECE OF CAKE.
[it's a deal] <informal sentence> Consider it done; OK; it is agreed. * /"How much for this used car?" Bill asked. "Two thousand," the man answered. "I'll give $1,500," Bill said. "It's a deal!" the owner answered as they sealed the transaction./
[it's been ---, it's been real] <informal> Shortened form for "it has been real nice (being with you)" - used colloquially between very close friends.
[itself] See: END IN ITSELF.
[it's high time] <informal sentence> It is overdue. * /It is high time for John Browning to be promoted to full professor; he has written a great deal but his books went unnoticed./
[Ivy League] <n.> A small group of the older and more famous eastern U.S. colleges and universities. * /Several Ivy League teams play each other regularly each year./ * /Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were the original Ivy League./
J
[Jack] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.
[jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK.
[jack of all trades] <n.>, <informal> (Often followed by the words "master of none.") A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation. * /Peter is a jack of all trades; he can survive anywhere!/ * /"How come Joe did such a sloppy job?" Mary asked. "He's a jack of all trades," Sally answered./
[jackpot] See: HIT THE JACKPOT.
[jack-rabbit start] <n.>, <informal> A very sudden start from a still position; a very fast start from a stop. * /Bob made a jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green./
[Jack Robinson] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.
[jack up] <v.> 1. To lift with a jack. * /The man jacked up his car to fit a flat tire./ 2. <informal> To make (a price) higher; raise. * /Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices./
[jailbait] <n.>, <slang> A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; one who tempts you to intimacy which is punishable by imprisonment. * /Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait./
[jailbird] <n.>, <informal> A convict; someone who is in jail or has been recently released from prison. * /Because Harry was a jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being imprisoned./
[jake flake] <n.>, <slang> A boring person whose company is usually not wanted. * /Please don't invite Turner, he is a jake flake./
[jar on] <v. phr.> To irritate. * /The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting./
[jaw] See: GLASS JAW.
[jawbreaker] <n.> 1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum. * /Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and a chocolate bar./ 2. [informal] A word or name that is hard to pronounce. * /His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker./
[jaw drop] or [jaw drop a mile] <informal> Mouth fall wide open with surprise.
– Used with a possessive. * /Tom's jaw dropped a mile when he won the prize./
[jaws tight] <adj.>, <slang>, <informal> Angry; uptight; tense. * /Why are you getting your jaws so tight?/
[jazz up] <v.>, <slang> To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting. * /The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums./
[Jehu] See: DRIVE LIKE JEHU.
[jerk] or [jerker] See: SODA JERK or SODA JERKER.
[jerry-built] <adj.> 1. Built poorly or carelessly of cheap materials; easily broken. * /That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in a strong wind./ 2. Done without careful preparation or thought; planned too quickly. * /When the regular television program didn't come on, a jerry-built program was substituted at the last minute./
[Jesus boots] or [Jesus shoes] <n.>, <slang> Men's sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. * /I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool./
[jig's up] See: GAME'S UP.
[jim-dandy] <n.>, <slang> Something wonderful; something very good. * /Tommy's new boat is really a jim-dandy! I wish I had one like it./
[jink] See: HIGH JINKS.
[job] See: DO A JOB ON, FALL DOWN ON THE JOB, LIE DOWN ON THE JOB, ON THE JOB.
[Joe Doakes] <n.> A name used informally for the average man. * /Let us say that Joe Doakes goes to the movies three times a year./ Compare: MAN IN THE STREET, SO-AND-SO.
[John Doe] <n.> A name used for an unknown person, especially in police and law business. * /The alarm went out for a John Doe who stole the diamonds from the store./
[John Hancock] or [John Henry] <n.>, <informal> Your signature; your name in writing. * /The man said, "Put your John Hancock on this paper."/ * /Joe felt proud when he put his John Henry on his very first driver's license./
[Johnny-come-lately] <n.> Someone new in a place or group; newcomer; also: a new person who takes an active part in group affairs before tlie group has accepted him; upstart. * /Everybody was amazed when a Johnny-come-lately beat the old favorite in the race./ * /When it looked as though Mr. Brown had a good chance of winning, many Johnny-come-latelies began to support him./
[Johnny-on-the-spot] <adj. phr.> At the right place when needed; present and ready to help; very prompt; on time. * /A good waterboy is always Johnny-on-the-spot./ * /The firemen were Johnny-on-the-spot and put out the fire in the house soon after it started./ Compare: ON THE JOB.