Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[cross up] <v.>, <informal> 1. To block or upset; throw into confusion or disorder. * /We were going to catch him at the gate, but he crossed us up by going in the back way./ * /Father crossed up the surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time./ 2. To deceive or be false to. * /George crossed up his partner by selling a lot of things secretly./
[crow] See: EAT CROW.
[crow before one is out of the woods] <v. phr.> To be glad or brag before you are safe from danger or trouble.
– Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb, "Don't crow before you are out of the woods." * /John thought his team would win because the game was almost over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of the woods./ Often used in a short form, "out of the woods". * /Mary nearly died during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet./
[crown jewels] <n. pl.> The crown, staff, and jewels used for the crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal power and authority. * /The crown jewels are handed down from one king to the next when the new king is crowned./
[crow to pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.
[crust] See: UPPER CRUST.
[crux of the matter] <n. phr.> The basic issue at hand; the core essence that one must face. * /The crux of the matter is that he is incompetent and we will have to fire him./
[cry] See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.
[cry] or [scream bloody murder] <v. phr.> To bitterly and loudly complain against an indignity. * /Pete cried bloody murder when he found out that he didn't get the promotion he was hoping for./
[cry before one is hurt] or [holler before one is hurt] <v. phr.>, <informal> To complain when there is no reason for it; become upset because you are worried or afraid.
– Used in negative sentences. * /When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber cut his hair and his father told him not to cry before he was hurt./ Often used as a proverb. * /John was worried because he would soon have a new boss. His mother said, "Don't cry before you're hurt!"/ Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cry buckets] <v. phr.> To shed an excessive amount of tears. * /Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./
[cry for] or [cry out for] <v.>, <informal> To need badly; be lacking in. * /It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is crying for it./ * /The school is crying out for good teachers./
[cry out] <v.> 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. * /The woman in the water cried out "Help!"/ 2. To complain loudly; protest strongly.
– Used with "against". * /Many people are crying out against the new rule./
[cry out for] See: CRY FOR.
[cry over spilled milk] or [cry over spilt milk] <v. phr.>, <informal> To cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. * /After the baby tore up Sue's picture book, Sue's mother told her there was no use crying over spilled milk./ * /You have lost the game but don't cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
[crystal ball] <n.> A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass) that is used by fortune-tellers. * /The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. * /My crystal ball tells me you'll be making the honor roll./
[crystal gazing] <n.> The attempt to predict future events. * /The magician's specialty was crystal gazing./
[cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.
[cry wolf] <v. phr.> To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there. * /The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)
[cub scout] <n.> A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. * /Jimmie is only seven, too young to be a Cub Scout./
[cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
[cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.
[cudgel one's brains] See: BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT.
[cue in] <v. phr.>, <informal> To add new information to that which is already known. * /Let's not forget to cue in Joe on what has been happening./
[cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.
[culture vulture] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> A person who is an avid cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a town visited, and brags about it. * /Aunt Mathilda is a regular culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European capital going to museums and operas./
[cup] See: IN ONE'S CUPS.
[cup of tea] also [dish of tea] <n. phr.>, <informal> 1. Something you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation. Used with a possessive. * /You could always get him to go for a walk: hiking was just his cup of tea./ Compare: DOWN ONE'S ALLEY. 2. Something to think about; thing; matter. * /That's another cup of tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.
[curb service] <n.> Waiting on customers while they sit in their cars. * /Families with small children often look for hamburger stands that offer curb service./
[curiosity killed the cat] <informal> Getting too nosy may lead a person into trouble.
– A proverb. * /"Curiosity killed the cat," Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just before Christmas./
[curl] See: PIN CURL.
[curl one's hair] <v. phr.>, <slang> To shock; frighten; horrify; amaze. * /Wait till you read what it says about you - this'll curl your hair./ * /The movie about monsters from another planet curled his hair./
[curl up] <v.> 1a. To become curly or wavy. * /Bacon curls up when it is cooked./ 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. * /Tim curled up in bed and was asleep in five minutes./ 2. See: FOLD UP.
[current] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.
[curry favor] <v.> To flatter or serve someone to get his help or friendship. * /Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by doing little services that she didn't really want./ * /Jim tried to curry favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in the class./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.