Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[master of ceremonies] or [M.C.] or [emcee]{n.} The person in charge of introducing the various participants in a show or entertainment. •/Bob Hope was the M.C. of many memorable shows./
[mat] See: WELCOME MAT IS OUT.
[matter] See: FOR THAT MATTER, LAUGHING MATTER, NO MATTER, THE MATTER.
[matter of course]{n. phr.} Something always done; the usual way; habit; rule. •/A was a matter of course for John to dress carefully when he was meeting his wife./ •/Bank officers ask questions as a matter of course when someone wants to borrow money./
[matter of fact]{n. phr.} Something that is really true; something that can be proved. •/The town records showed that it was a matter of fact that the two boys were brothers./ •/It is a matter of fact that the American war against England was successful./ — Often used for emphasis in the phrase "as a matter of fact". •/I didn’t go yesterday, and as a matter of fact, f didn’t go all week./ •/Mary wasn’t wearing a blue dress. As a matter of fact, she hasn’t got a blue dress./ Compare: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT. Contrast: MATTER OF OPINION.
[matter-of-fact]{adj.} 1. Simply telling or showing the truth; not explaining or telling more. •/The newspaper gave a matter-of-fact account of the murder trial./ 2. Showing little feeling or excitement or trouble; seeming not to care much. •/When Mary’s father died she acted in a very matter-of-fact way./ •/He was a very matter-of-fact person./
[matter of opinion]{n. phr.} Something that may or may not be true; something that people do not all agree on. •/Whether or not he was a good general is a matter of opinion./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.
[matter of record]{n. phr.} A fact or event that is kept officially as a legal record. •/If you are convicted of speeding it becomes a matter of record./ •/A birth certificate or a marriage license is a matter of record./
[may] See: BE THAT AS IT MAY, COME WHAT MAY, LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
[M.C.] or [emcee]{v.} To act as master of ceremonies at a show. •/The famous actor emceed the entire television show./
[me] See: DEAR ME, PICK-ME-UP, SO HELP ME.
[mean business]{v. phr.}, {informal} To decide strongly to do what you plan to do; really mean it; be serious. •/The boss said he would fire us if we didn’t work harder and he means business./ •/When she went to college to study, she meant business./ •/He just liked the company of the other girls he dated, but this time he seems to mean business./
[means] See: BY ALL MEANS, BY MEANS OF, BY NO MEANS, WAYS AND MEANS.
[means to an end]{n. phr.} An action leading to some end or purpose. •/Money for him was just a means to an end; actually he wanted power./
[mean well]{v. phr.} To have good intentions. •/Fred generally means well, but he has a tendency to be tactless./
[measure] See: BEYOND MEASURE, FOR GOOD MEASURE, MADE-TO-MEASURE, TAKE ONE’S MEASURE or TAKE THE MEASURE OF.
[measure off]{v. phr.} To mark by measuring. •/She measured off three yards with which to make the new dress./
[measure up]{v.} To be equal; be of fully high quality; come up. •/John didn’t measure up to the best catchers but he was a good one./ •/Lois' school work didn’t measure up to her ability./ Compare up: TO PAR. Contrast: FALL SHORT.
[meatball]{n.}, {slang} A dull, boring, slow-witted, or uninteresting person. •/You’ll never get an interesting story out of that meatball — stop inviting him./
[medicine] See: TAKE ONE’S MEDICINE.
[medium] See: STRIKE A HAPPY MEDIUM.
[meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET.
[meet halfway] See: GO HALFWAY.
[meeting] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.
[meet one’s death]{v. phr.} To die. •/Algernon met his death in a car accident./
[meet one’s eye]{v. phr.} To be in plain view or come into plain view; appear clearly or obviously. •/When John rounded the bend, a clear blue lake met his eye./ •/On a first reading the plan looked good, but there was more to it than met the eye./
[meet one’s match]{v. phr.} To encounter someone as good as oneself. •/The champion finally met his match and lost the game./
[meet one’s Waterloo]{v. phr.} To be defeated; lose an important contest. •/After seven straight victories the team met its Waterloo./ •/John fought instead of running, and the bully met his Waterloo./ (After Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo.)
[meet up with]{v. phr.} To meet by accident; come upon without planning or expecting to. •/When he ran around the tree, Bob suddenly meet up with a large bear./ •/The family would have arrived on time, but they met up with a flat tire./
[meet with]{v.} 1. To meet (someone), usually by accident. •/In the woods he met with two strangers./ Syn.: COME UPON. 2. To meet together, usually by plan; join; have a meeting with. •/The two scouts met with the officers to talk about plans for the march./ 3. To experience (as unhappiness); suffer (as bad luck); have (as an accident or mishap). •/The farmer met with misfortune; his crops were destroyed by a storm./ •/The traveler met with an accident on the road./