Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
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[on die money]{adv. phr.} Exactly right; exactly accurate. •/Algernon won the lottery; the numbers he picked were right on the money./ Compare: ON THE NOSE.
[on the move]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Moving around from place to place; in motion. •/It was a very cold day, and the teacher watching the playground kept on the move to stay warm./ •/It was vacation time, and the highways were full of families on the move./ 2. Moving forward; going somewhere. •/The candidate promised that if people would make him president, he would get the country on the move./
[on the nose]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Just right; exactly. •/Stanley hit the ball on the nose./ •/The airplane pilot found the small landing field on the nose./
[on the other foot] See: SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT.
[on the other hand]{adv. phr.} Looking at the other side; from another point of view. — Used to introduce an opposite or different fact or idea. •/Jim wanted to go to the movies; his wife, on the other hand, wanted to stay home and read./ •/Mr. Harris may still want a boy to mow his lawn; on the other hand, he may have found someone to do it./ Compare: ON ONE HAND.
[on the outs]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not friendly; having a quarrel. •/Mary and Sue were on the outs./ •/Being on the outs with a classmate is very upsetting./ Syn.: AT ODDS.
[on the point of]{prep.} Ready to begin; very near to. — Usually used with a verbal noun. •/The coach was on the point of giving up the game when our team scored two points./ •/The baby was on the point of crying when her mother finally came home./ Compare: ABOUT TO, AT THE POINT OF.
[on the Q.T.]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly; without anyone’s knowing. •/George and Paul formed a club on the Q.T./ •/The teachers got the principal a present strictly on the Q.T./ (from quiet.)
[on the road]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Traveling; moving from one place to another. •/When we go on vacation, we take a lunch to eat while on the road./ •/Mr. Smith is on the road for his insurance company./ 2. Changing; going from one condition to another. •/Mary was very sick for several weeks, but now she is on the road to recovery./ •/Hard study in school put John on the road to success./
[on the rocks]{adj. phr.} 1. {informal} Wrecked or ruined. •/Mr. Jones' business and marriage were both on the rocks./ 2. With ice only. •/At the restaurant, Sally ordered orange juice on the rocks./
[on the ropes]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Against the ropes of a boxing ring and almost not able to stand up. •/The fighter was on the ropes and could hardly lift his gloves./ 2. Almost defeated; helpless; near failure. •/The new supermarket took most of the business from Mr. Thomas’s grocery, and the little store was soon on the ropes./
[on the run]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In a hurry; hurrying. •/Jane called "Help!" and Tom came on the run./ •/Modern mothers are usually on the run./ 2. Going away from a fight; in retreat; retreating. •/The enemy soldiers were on the run./
[on the safe side]{adv. phr.} Provided for against a possible emergency; well prepared. •/"Please double-check these proofs, Mr. Brown," the printer said, "just to be on the safe side."/
[on the shelf]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Laid aside; not useful anymore. •/When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on the shelf./ •/Mr. Myron’s company put him on the shelf when he reached the age of 65./
[on the side]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In addition to a main thing, amount or quantity; extra. •/He ordered a hamburger with onions and French fries on the side./ •/His job at the hospital did not pay much, so he found another on the side./ •/The cowboys in the rodeo competed for prize money and also made bets on the side./ 2. or [on the --- side] Tending toward; rather. •/Grandmother thought Jane’s new skirt was on the short side./
[on the sly]{adv. phr.} So that other people won’t know; secretly. •/The boys smoked on the sly./ •/Mary’s mother did not approve of lipstick, but Mary used it on the sly./
[on the spot]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. or [upon the spot] At that exact time and at the same time or place; without waiting or leaving. •/The news of important events is often broadcast on the spot over television./ •/When Tom ruined an expensive machine, his boss fired him on the spot./ Compare: AT ONCE, IN ONE’S TRACKS, THEN AND THERE. 2. {informal} also [in a spot] In trouble, difficulty, or embarrassment. •/Mr. Jones is on the spot because he cannot pay back the money he borrowed./ •/Bill is on the spot; he invited George to visit him, but Bill’s parents said no./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL. 3. {slang} In danger of murder; named or listed for death. •/After he talked to the police, the gangsters put him on the spot./
[on the spur of the moment]{adv. phr.} On a sudden wish or decision; suddenly; without thought or preparation. •/John had not planned to take the trip; he just left on the spur of the moment./ •/Mary saw a help-wanted advertisement and applied for the job on the spur of the moment./
[on the stage]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In or into the work of being an actor or actress. •/John’s brother is on the stage./ •/Mary went on the stage./
[on the strength of]{prep.} With faith or trust in; depending upon; with the support of. •/On the strength of Jim’s promise to guide us, we decided to climb the mountain./ •/Bill started a restaurant on the strength of his experience as a cook in the army./
[on the string] or [on a string]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Under your influence or control; obedient to every wish. •/The baby had his mother on a string./ •/She was pretty and popular, with two or three boys on the string all the time./