Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[put up or shut up]{v. phr.}{informal} 1. To bet your money on what you say or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude. •/The man from out of town kept saying their team would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up."/ 2. To prove something or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude. •/George told Al that he could run faster than the school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up./
[put upon]{v.} To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. — Used in the passive or in the past participle. •/Martha was put upon by the bigger girls./ •/Arthur was a much put-upon person./
[put up to]{v. phr.}, {informal} To talk to and make do; persuade to; get to do. •/Older boys put us up to painting the statue red./ Compare: EGG ON.
[put up with]{v.} To accept patiently; bear. •/We had to put up with Jim’s poor table manners because he refused to change./ •/The mother told her children, "I refuse to put up with your tracking in mud!"/ Compare: STAND FOR.
[put wise]{v.}, {slang} To tell (someone) facts that will give him an advantage over others or make him alert to opportunity or danger. •/The new boy did not know that Jim was playing a trick on him, so I put him wise./ — Often used with "to". •/Someone put the police wise to the plan of the bank robbers, and when the robbers went into the bank, the police were waiting to catch them./ Compare: TIP OFF.
[put words into one’s mouth]{v. phr.} To say without proof that another person has certain feelings or opinions; claim a stand or an idea is another’s without asking; speak for another without right. •/When he said "John here is in favor of the idea." I told him not to put words in my mouth./
Q
[q] See: MIND ONE’S P’S AND Q’S.
[Q.T.] See: ON THE Q.T.
[qualms] See: HAVE (NO) QUALMS ABOUT.
[quantity] See: UNKNOWN QUANTITY.
[quarterback sneak]{n.} A football play in which the quarterback takes the ball from the center and dives straight ahead in an attempt to gain a very short distance. •/Johnson took the ball over on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown./
[queen] See: HOMECOMING QUEEN.
[queer fish]{n.} A strange or unusual person who does odd things. •/Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a queer fish./
[queer oneself]{v. phr.} To act in such a manner as to offend others and thus one’s own chances or position. •/Phil has queered himself with many girls by his erratic behavior./
[quest] See: IN SEARCH OF also IN QUEST OF.
[question] See: BEG THE QUESTION, BESIDE THE POINT or BESIDE THE QUESTION, BEYOND QUESTION also WITHOUT QUESTION, CALL IN QUESTION, IN QUESTION, INTO QUESTION, OUT OF THE QUESTION, POP THE QUESTION.
[quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[quick on the draw] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[quick on the trigger] or [trigger happy]{adj. phr.} Ready to shoot without warning; fast with a gun. •/He’s a dangerous criminal quick on the trigger./ 2. {informal} Fast at answering questions or solving problems. •/In class discussions John is always quick on the trigger./
[quick on the uptake]{adj. phr.} Smart; intelligent. •/Eleanor is very witty and quick on the uptake./
[quick study]{n. phr.} One who acquires new skills and habits in record time. •/Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in her because she is a quick study./
[quit] See: CALL IT QUITS.
[quite a bit] See: QUITE A LITTLE.
[quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal}[not a few]{n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. •/Quite a few went to the game./ •/The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./ — The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". •/Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night./ — Sometimes used like an adverb. •/We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York./ Syn.: GOOD MANY, NOT A FEW. Compare: A FEW, A NUMBER.
[quite a little] or {informal}[quite a bit] also {formal}[not a little]{n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large amount; rather much; more than a little. •/We are not finished; quite a little is left to do./ •/Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work./ — The phrase "quite a bit" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". •/Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming tonight./ — Sometimes used like an adverb. •/Harry was sick quite a little last winter./ Compare: A LITTLE, A LOT, QUITE A PEW.