Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[all wet] <adj.>, <slang> Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken. * /When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, people thought they were all wet./ * /If you think I like baseball, you're all wet./ Compare: OFF ONE'S ROCKER.
[all wool and a yard wide] <adj. phr.> Of fine character; especially, very generous and kind-hearted. * /He's a wonderful brother - all wool and a yard wide./
[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy] Too much hard work without time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone.
– A proverb. * /Bill's mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy./
[all year round] <adv. phr.> Always; all the time; throughout all seasons of the year. * /In California the sun shines all year round./
[alone] See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE or LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
[along] See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG, GET ALONG, GO ALONG, RUN ALONG, STRING ALONG.
[along for the ride] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Being in a group for the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. * /He wants no members in his political party who are just along for the ride./
[along in years] or [on in years] <adj. phr.> Elderly; growing old. * /As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful./ * /Our dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years./
[alongside of] <prep.> 1. At or along the side of. * /We walked alongside of the river./ 2. Together with. * /I played alongside of Tom on the same team./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SIDE BY SIDE. 3. <informal> Compared with or to; measured next to. * /His money doesn't look like much alongside of a millionaire's./
[a lot] <n.>, <informal> A large number or amount; very many or very much; lots. * /I learned a lot in Mr. Smith's class./ * /A lot of our friends are going to the beach this summer./ - Often used like an adverb. * /Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot./ * /Grandfather was very sick last week, but he's a lot better now./ * /You'll have to study a lot harder if you want to pass./ - Also used as an adjective with "more", "less", and "fewer". * /There was a good crowd at the game today, but a lot more will come next week./ - Often used with "whole" for emphasis. * /John has a whole lot of marbles./ * /Jerry is a whole lot taller than he was a year ago./ Compare: GOOD DEAL, GOOD MANY, A NUMBER. Contrast: A FEW, A LITTLE.
[aloud] See: THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.
[alpha wave] <n.> A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second, associated with a state of relaxation and meditation and, hence, free of anxieties. * /Try to produce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel a lot better./
[alter] See: CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.
[always] See: GRASS is ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.
[ambulance chaser] <n.> An attorney who specializes in representing victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank or talent. * /Don't hire Cohen; he's just another ambulance chaser./
[American plan] <n.> A system of hotel management in which meals are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not include meals. * /American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals will be included, because they are used to the American plan./
[amount to] <v.> Signify; add up to. * /John's total income didn't amount to more than a few hundred dollars./
[a must] <n.> 1. An inevitability; a necessity. * /Visas in many foreign countries are a must./ 2. An extremely interesting or memorable event, such as a free concert given by an international celebrity. * /Alfred Brendel's Beethoven master classes are open to the public and are not to be missed; they're a must./
[anchor] See: AT ANCHOR.
[--- and ---] 1.
– And is used between repeated words to show continuation or emphasis. * /When the children saw the beautiful Christmas tree they looked and looked./ * /Old Mr, Bryan has known Grandfather for years and years, since they were boys./ * /Billy dived to the bottom of the lake again and again, looking for the lost watch./ * /Everyone wished the speaker would stop, but he talked on and on./ Compare: THROUGH AND THROUGH. 2.
– When "and" is used between words with opposite meaning, it often emphasizes how much you mean. * /Mr. Jones worked early and late to earn enough to live./ * /The parents hunted high and low for the lost child./ Compare: DAY AND NIGHT, FROM -- TO, INSIDE AND OUT.
[and all] <informal> And whatever goes with it; and all that means. * /We don't go out much nowadays, with the new baby and all./ * /Jack's employer provided the tools and all./
[and how!] <interj.>, <informal> Yes, that is certainly right! Used for emphatic agreement. * /"Did you see the game?" "And how!"/ * /"Isn't Mary pretty?" "And how she is!"/ Syn.: YOU BET, YOU SAID IT. Compare:: BUT GOOD.
[and so forth] or [and so on] And more of the same kind; and further amounts or things like the ones already mentioned. * /The costumes were red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, and so forth./ Compare: WHAT HAVE YOU.
[and the like] <n. phr.> Things of a similar nature. * /I like McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the like./ * /When I go out to the beach flake towels, a mat, suntan lotion, and the like./
[and then some] And a lot more; and more too. * /It would cost all the money he had and then some./ * /Talking his way out of this trouble was going to take all his wits and then some./
[and what not] See: WHAT NOT.
[angel dust] <n.>, <slang> Phencyclidine, an addictive hallucinatory narcotic drug extremely dangerous to the users' health, also called PCP. * /Mike has gone from grass to angel dust; he will end up in the morgue./
[another] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.
[answer back] See: TALK BACK.
[answer for] <v.> 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. * /The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family./ 2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. * /When people thought Ray had stolen the money, the principal said, "Ray is no thief. I'll answer for him."/ 3. Take the blame or punishment for. * /When Mother found out who ate the cake, Tom had to answer for his mischief./