Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
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[on-again, off-again] See: OFF-AGAIN, ON-AGAIN.
[on air] See: WALK ON AIR.
[on a limb] See: OUT ON A LIMB.
[on all four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR.
[on all fours]{adv. phr.} 1. On all four legs; on hands and knees. •/Fido sat up to "beg" but dropped down on all fours to eat the dog biscuit Sam gave him./ •/Billy’s father got down on all fours and gave the baby a ride./ 2. {informal} On a level of equality; of the same value. •/Wigs may be widely used, but they are still not on all fours with beautiful natural hair./
[on an average] or [on the average]{adv. phr.} In most cases; usually. •/On an average Dan’s mother has to ask him three times before he helps with the dishes./ •/On the average, Mr. Blank trades in his car for a new one every three years./
[on and off] See: OFF AND ON.
[on an even keel]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In a well-ordered way or condition; orderly. •/When the football rally seemed almost ready to become a riot, the principal stepped to the platform and got things back on an even keel./
[on a pedestal]{adv. phr.} Lovingly honored and cared for. •/Mrs. Raymond’s children served her breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day and later took her out to dinner. She felt on a pedestal./ •/Bill is always waiting on his fiancee and bringing her flowers and candy. He has certainly put her on a pedestal./
[on approval]{adv. phr.} With the understanding that the thing may be refused. •/Mr. Grey bought his camera on approval./ •/The company offered to send a package of stamps on approval./
[on a scratched horse] See: PUT ONE’S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE.
[on a shoestring]{adv. phr.} With little money to spend; on a very low budget. •/The couple was seeing Europe on a shoestring./
[on a volcano] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.
[on behalf of] See: IN BEHALF OP.
[on board(1)]{prep.} On (a ship). •/Joan was not on board the ship when it sailed./
[on board(2)]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} On a ship. •/The captain was not on board when the S.S. Flandre sailed./ •/A ship was leaving the harbor, and we saw the people on board waving./
[on borrowed time] See: LIVE ON BORROWED TIME.
[on call]{adj. phr.} 1. Having to be paid on demand. •/Jim didn’t have the money ready even though he knew the bill was on call./ 2. Ready and available. •/This is Dr. Kent’s day to be on call at the hospital./ •/The nurse is on call for emergency cases./
[once] See: AT ONCE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
[once and for all]{adv. phr.} 1. One time and never again; without any doubt; surely; certainly; definitely. •/Let me say, for once and for all, you may not go to the party Saturday./ •/For once and for all, I will not go swimming with you./ 2. Permanently. •/Bill and Tom asked the teacher to settle the argument once and for all./ •/The general decided that two bombs would destroy the enemy and end the war once and for all./
[once bitten, twice shy] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.
[once for all] See: ONCE AND FOR ALL.
[once in a blue moon]{adv. phr.} Very rarely; very seldom; almost never. •/Coin collecting is interesting, hut you find a valuable coin only once in a blue moon./ •/Once in a blue moon someone grows a very pale marigold, but no truly white marigolds have been raised./
[once in a while]{adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally. •/We go for a picnic in the park once in a while./ •/Once in a while the puppy would run away, but usually he stayed in the yard./ Syn.: AT TIMES, FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND THEN.
[once-over]{n.}, {slang} 1. A quick look; a swift examination of someone or something. — Usually used with "give" or "get". •/The new boy got the once-over from the rest of the class when he came in./ •/Bob gave his paper the once-over before handing it in./ 2. or [once-over-lightly] A quick or careless job, especially of cleaning or straightening; work done hastily for now. •/Ann gave her room a quick once-over-lightty with the broom and dust cloth./ •/"Just give my hair the once-over," Al said to the barber./ Compare: LICK AND A PROMISE.
[once upon a time]{adv. phr.} Sometime before now, long ago. •/Once upon a time she was thought to be the most talented actress in the country./ — Often used at the beginning of fairy stories. •/Once upon a time there lived a king who had an ugly daughter./
[on cloud nine]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Too happy to think of anything else; very happy. •/Ada has been on cloud nine since the magazine printed the story she wrote./ •/We were on cloud nine when our team won the state championship./ Compare: ON TOP OF THE WORLD, WALK ON AIR.
[on condition that]{conj.} Providing that; if. •/I will lend you the money on condition that you pay it back in one month./ •/She agreed to act in the play on condition that she could keep her costumes./
[on deck]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. On a floor of a ship open to the outdoors. •/The passengers were playing shufflehoard on deck./ •/The sailors kept busy cleaning and painting on deck./ 2. {informal} Ready to do something; present. •/The scout leader told the boys to be on deck at 8:00 Saturday morning for the hike./ •/Dick was at bat, and Bob was on deck./