Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[chalk] See: WALK THE CHALK.
[chalk up] <v.>, <informal> 1. To write down as part of a score; record. * /The scorekeeper chalked up one more point for the home team./ 2. To make (a score or part of a score); score. * /The team chalked up another victory./ * /Bob chalked up a home run and two base hits in the game./ * /Mary chalked up good grades this term./
[champ at the bit] <v. phr.> To be eager to begin; be tired of being held back; want to start. * /The horses were champing at the bit, anxious to start racing./ * /As punishment John was kept after school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out./
[chance] See: BY CHANCE, FAT CHANCE, STAND A CHANCE, TAKE A CHANCE.
[chance it] <v. phr.> To be willing to risk an action whose outcome is uncertain. * /"Should we take the boat out in such stormy weather?" Jim asked. "We can chance it," Tony replied. "We have enough experience."/
[chance on] also [chance upon] <v.> To happen to find or meet; find or meet by accident. * /On our vacation we chanced upon an interesting antique store./ * /Mary dropped her ring in the yard, and Mother chanced on it as she was raking./ Syn.: HAPPEN ON. Compare: RUN INTO.
[change] See: RING THE CHANGES.
[change color] <v. phr.> 1. To become pale. * /The sight was so horrible that Mary changed color from fear./ * /Bill lost so much blood from the cut that he changed color./ 2. To become pink or red in the face; become flushed; blush. * /Mary changed color when the teacher praised her drawing./ * /Tom got angry at the remark and changed color./
[change hands] <v. phr.> To change or transfer ownership. * /Ever since our apartment building changed hands, things are working a lot better./
[change horses in the middle of a stream] or [change horses in midstream] <v. phr.> To make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity. * /When a new President is to be elected during a war, the people may decide not to change horses in the middle of a stream./
[change off] <v.>, <informal> To take turns doing something; alternate. * /John and Bill changed off at riding the bicycle./ * /Bob painted one patch of wall and then he changed off with Tom./
[change of heart] <n. phr.> A change in the way one feels or thinks about a given task, idea or problem to be solved. * /Joan had a change of heart and suddenly broke off her engagement to Tim./ * /Fred got admitted to medical school, but he had a change of heart and decided to go into the Foreign Service instead./
[change of life] <n. phr.> The menopause (primarily in women). * /Women usually undergo a change of life in their forties or fifties./
[change of pace] <n. phr.> A quick change in what you are doing. * /John studied for three hours and then read a comic book for a change of pace./ * /The doctor told the man he needed a change of pace./
[change one's mind] <v. phr.> To alter one's opinion or judgment on a given issue. * /I used to hate Chicago, but as the years passed I gradually changed my mind and now I actually love living here./
[change one's tune] <v. phr.>, <informal> To make a change in your story, statement, or claim; change your way of acting. * /The man said he was innocent, but when they found the stolen money in his pocket he changed his tune./ * /Bob was rude to his teacher, but she threatened to tell the principal and he changed his tune./ Syn.: SING A DIFFERENT TUNE.
[change up] See: LET UP(4).
[character] See: IN CHARACTER.
[charge] See: CARRYING CHARGE, CHARGE OFF(2), IN CHARGE, IN CHARGE OF, TAKE CHARGE.
[charge account] <n.> An agreement with a store through which you can buy things and pay for them later. * /Mother bought a new dress on her charge account./ * /Mr. Jones has a charge account at the garage on the corner./
[charge off] <v.> 1. To consider or record as a loss, especially in an account book. * /The store owner charged off all of the last season's stock of suits./ Syn.: WRITE OFF(1). 2. or [charge up] <informal> To accept or remember (something) as a mistake and not worry about it any more.
– Often used with "to experience". * /He charged off his mistakes to experience./ Syn.: CHALK UP. Compare: CHARGE TO.
[charge something to something] <v.> 1. To place the blame on; make responsible for. * /John failed to win a prize, but he charged it to his lack of experience./ * /The coach charged the loss of the game to the team's disobeying his orders./ 2. To buy something on the credit of. * /Mrs. Smith bought a new pocketbook and charged it to her husband./ * /Mr. White ordered a box of cigars and had it charged to his account./
[charge up] <v. phr.> 1. To submit to a flow of electricity in order to make functional. * /I mustn't forget to charge up my razor before we go on our trip./ 2. To use up all the available credit one has on one's credit card(s). * /"Let's charge dinner on the Master Card," Jane said. "Unfortunately I can't," Jim replied. "All of my credit cards are completely charged up."/
[charge with] <v. phr.> To accuse someone in a court of law. * /The criminal was charged with aggravated kidnapping across a state line./
[charmed life] <n.> A life often saved from danger; a life full of lucky escapes. * /He was in two airplane accidents, but he had a charmed life./ * /During the war a bullet knocked the gun out of his hand, but he had a charmed life./
[chase] See: GIVE CHASE, GO CHASE ONESELF, LEAD A MERRY CHASE.
[chase after] See: RUN AFTER.
[chase around] See: RUN AROUND.
[cheapskate] <n.>, <informal> A selfish or stingy person; a person who will not spend much.
– An insulting term. * /None of the girls like to go out on a date with him because he is a cheapskate./
[cheat on someone] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be unfaithful (to one's wife or husband, or to one's sweetheart or fiancee). * /It is rumored that Joe cheats on his wife./
[check] See: BLANK CHECK, CLAIM CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK, IN CHECK, RAIN CHECK, RUBBER CHECK, SALES CHECK.