Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
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[power behind the throne]{n. phr.} The person with the real power backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of public figures). •/It is rumored that the First Lady it the power behind the throne in the White House./
[practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF, OUT OF PRACTICE.
[presence of mind]{n. phr.} Effective and quick decision-making ability in times of crisis. •/When Jimmy fell into the river, his father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from drowning./
[present] See: AT PRESENT.
[press box]{n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that is for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. •/In baseball the official scorer sits in the press box./
[press conference]{n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. •/The reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press conference./ •/The press conference with the senator was broadcast on television./
[press one’s luck] or [push one’s luck]{v. phr.} To depend too much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. •/When John won his first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased his bets./ •/If you’re lucky at first, don’t press your luck./
[press the flesh]{v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one’s popularity during political elections. •/Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER.
[pressure group]{n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. •/Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aims./
[pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY.
[pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[pretty penny]{n. phr.} A large amount of money. •/Their new house is so big and modern that we’re sure it must have cost them a pretty penny./
[prevail upon] or [prevail on]{v.} To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. •/He prevailed upon the musician to entertain instead of the absent speaker./ •/He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence./
[prey on] or [prey upon]{v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. •/Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. •/Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. •/Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. •/Ill health had preyed on him for years./ •/Business worries preyed on his mind./
[prey on one’s mind]{v. phr.} To afflict; worry. •/He couldn’t sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./
[price on one’s head]{n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who catches a thief or a murderer. •/The hotel manager learned that the quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a price on his head./
[prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.
[prick up one’s ears]{v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. •/The woman pricked up her ears when she heard them talking about her./
[pride] See: SWALLOW ONE’S PRIDE.
[pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and hardships one encounters while being made pretty. — A proverb. •/"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don’t you know that pride must take a pinch?"/
[pride oneself on]{v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in; be much pleased by. •/She prided herself on her beauty./ •/He prided himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF.
[print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT.
[private] See: IN PRIVATE.
[private eye]{n.}, {colloquial} A private investigator; a detective. •/Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/
[progress] See: IN PROGRESS.
[promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE’S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE.
[promise the moon]{v. phr.} To promise something impossible. •/A politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters' respect./ •/I can’t promise you the moon, but I’ll do the best job I can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON.
[proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual experience can the value of something be tested. — A proverb. •/He was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars. "Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."/
[prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES.
[psyched up]{adj.}, {informal} Mentally alert; ready to do something. •/The students were all psyched up for their final exams./
[psych out]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To find out the real motives of (someone). •/Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go berserk; to lose one’s nerve. •/Joe says he doesn’t ride his motorcycle on the highway anymore because he’s psyched out./ •/Jim psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and wants!/