Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
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[on the take]{adv. phr.} Bribable; corrupt. •/Officer O’Keefe was put on three months' probation because it was alleged that he was on the take./
[on the tip of one’s tongue]{adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. •/"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute."/
[on the town]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into a town to celebrate; having a good time or enjoying the amusements in a town. •/When the sailors got off their ship they went out on the town./ Compare: PAINT THE TOWN RED.
[on the track of] or [on the trail of] Hunting or looking for; trying to find; following. •/The hunter is on the track of a deer./ •/The lawyer is on the trail of new proof in the case./ •/Jim collects old stamps; he is on the track of one in Midville this afternoon./
[on the trail of] See: ON THE TRACK OF.
[on the trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[on the up and up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Honest; trustworthy; sincere. •/We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This information is on the up and up./ Compare: ON THE LEVEL.
[on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE.
[on the wagon]{adv. phr.} Participating in an alcohol addiction program; not touching any alcoholic beverage. •/Jim’s doctor and his family finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on the wagon./ Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.
[on the wane and on the wax]{adv. phr.} Decreasing and increasing. — Said of the moon. •/The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax at regular intervals lasting half a month./
[on the warpath]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very angry. •/When Mother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath./ •/Betty has been on the warpath ever since she found out she was not invited to the party./ 2. Making an attack; fighting. •/The government is on the warpath against narcotics./ •/The police are on the warpath against speeders./
[on the watch]{adj. phr.} Alert; watchful. •/The customs inspector was on the watch for diamond smugglers./ •/Mary was on the watch for bargains at the auction./ Compare: EYE OUT, LOOK OUT(2).
[on the way] or [on one’s way]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Coming; going toward a place or goal; started. •/Help was on the way./ •/The train left and Bill was on his way to New York./ •/He is well on the way to becoming a fine mechanic./
[on the whole]{adv. phr.} 1. In the most important things; in most ways. •/On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year./ •/Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show./ Syn.: IN ALL(2), FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. •/On the whole, men are stronger than women./ •/On the whole, children begin walking when they are about one year old./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, IN GENERAL.
[on the wing]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the air; while flying. •/The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing./ 2. {informal} In constant motion; always very busy. •/Susan was on the wing doing things to get ready for her trip./ •/Mr. Jones had a busy schedule and his secretary had to catch him on the wing to sign the letters./ Syn.: ON THE FLY. 3. {informal} Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere. •/Mary’s husband is a traveling salesman and he’s always on the wing./ •/They stayed in France for a week and then they were on the wing again./ Syn.: ON THE GO, ON THE MOVE.
[on the words] See: HANG ON THE WORDS OF.
[on the wrong foot] See: GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.
[on the wrong side of the bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.
[on the wrong track]{adv. phr.} Lost; pursuing the wrong lead. •/Professor MacAlister confessed that his chemical experiments were on the wrong track./ Contrast: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE.
[on time]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. At the time arranged; not late; promptly. •/The train left on time./ •/Mary is always on time for an appointment./ Contrast: AHEAD OF TIME, BEHIND TIME. 2. On the installment plan; on credit, paying a little at a time. •/John bought a car on time./ •/You can buy things at the department store on time./
[on top]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In the lead; with success; with victory. •/The horse that everyone had expected would be on top actually came in third./ •/Although John had been afraid that he was not prepared for the exam, he came out on top./
[on top of]{prep.}. 1. On the top of; standing or lying on; on. •/When the player on the other team dropped the ball, Bill fell on top of it./ •/That high hill has a tower on top of it./ 2. {informal} Very close to. •/The elevator was so crowded that everybody was on top of each other./ •/I couldn’t find my umbrella and then I realized I was almost on top of it./ 3. {informal} In addition to; along with. •/Mrs. Lane had many expenses and on top of everything else, her baby became ill./ •/Mary worked at the store all day and on top of that she had to baby-sit with her brother./ 4. {informal} Managing very well; in control of. •/Although his new job was very complicated, John was on top of it within a few weeks./ •/No matter what goes wrong, Mary always stays on top of it./ 5. Knowing all about; not falling behind in information about; up-to-date on. •/Mary stays on top of the news by reading newspapers and magazines./ •/When he was in California, Mr. Jones kept on top of things in his office by telephoning every day./
[on top of the world] or [sitting on top of the world] also (Southern) [sitting on high cotton]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Feeling pleased and happy; feeling successful. •/John was on top of the world when he found out that he got into college./ •/When Ruth won first prize in the contest, she felt as though she was sitting on top of the world./ •/The girls were sitting on high cotton because their basketball team had won the trophy./ Compare: FLYING HIGH, WALK ON AIR.