Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[brain trust]{n.} A group of specially trained, highly intelligent experts in a given field. •/Albert Einstein gathered a brain trust around himself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies./
[brake] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.
[branch off]{v.} To go from something big or important to something smaller or less important; turn aside. •/At the bridge a little road branches off from the highway and follows the river./ •/Martin was trying to study his lesson, but his mind kept branching off onto what girl he should ask to go with him to the dance./
[branch out]{v.} To add new interests or activities; begin doing other things also. •/First Jane collected stamps; then she branched out and collected coins, too./ •/John started a television repair shop; when he did well, he branched out and began selling television sets too./
[brand-new] also [bran-new]{adj.} As new or fresh as when just made and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. •/He had taken a brand-new car from the dealer’s floor and wrecked it./ •/In Uncle Tom’s trunk, we found a wedding ring, still in its little satin-lined box, still brand-new./
[brass] See: DOUBLE IN BRASS, GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.
[brass hat]{n.}, {slang} 1. A high officer in the army, navy, or air force. •/The brass hats In Washington often discuss important secrets./ 2. Any person who has a high position in business, politics, or other work. •/Mr. Woods, the rich oil man, is a political brass hat./
[brass tacks] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.
[brave it out]{v. phr.} To endure something difficult or dangerous through to the end; keep on through trouble or danger. •/It was a dangerous ocean crossing in wartime, but captain and crew braved it out./
[brazen it out]{v. phr.} To pretend you did nothing wrong; be suspected, accused, or scolded without admitting you did wrong; act as if not guilty. •/The teacher found a stolen pen that the girl had in her desk, but the girl brazened it out; she said someone else must have put it there./
[bread] See: HALF A LOAF is BETTER THAN NONE, KNOW WHICH SIDE ONE’S BREAD IS BUTTERED ON, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH.
[bread and butter(1)]{n. phr.} The usual needs of life; food, shelter, and clothing. •/Ed earned his bread and butter as a bookkeeper, but added a little jam by working with a dance band on weekends./
[bread and butter(2)]{adj.} Thanking someone for entertainment or a nice visit; thank-you. •/After spending the weekend as a guest in the Jones' home, Alice wrote the Joneses the usual bread-and-butter letter./ See: BREAD AND BUTTER LETTER.
[bread and butter(3)]{interj.}, {informal} Spoken to prevent bad luck that you think might result from some action. •/We’d say "Bread and butter!" when we had passed on opposite sides of a tree./
[bread-and-butter letter]{n.} A written acknowledgment of hospitality received. •/Jane wrote the Browns a bread-and-butter letter when she returned home from her visit to them./
[breadbasket]{n.}, {slang} The stomach. •/John is stuffing his breadbasket again./
[break] See: COFFEE BREAK.
[break away] or [break loose]{v. phr.} To liberate oneself from someone or something. •/Jane tried to break loose from her attacker, but he was too strong./
[break camp]{v. phr.} To take down and pack tents and camping things; take your things from a camping place. •/The scouts broke camp at dawn./
[break down]{v.} (stress on "down") 1. To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force. •/The firemen broke down the door./ 2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. •/By helpful kindness the teacher broke down the new boy’s shyness./ •/Advertising breaks down a lot of stubbornness against change./ 3. To separate into elements or parts; decay. •/Water is readily broken down into hydrogen and oxygen./ •/After many years, rocks break down into dirt./ 4. To become unusable because of breakage or other failure; lose power to work or go. •/The car broke down after half an hour’s driving./ •/His health broke down./ •/When the coach was sick in bed, the training rules of the team broke down./ Compare: GO BACK ON(2).
[breakdown] See: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
[breaker] See: JAW-BREAKER.
[break even]{v. phr.}, {informal} (stress on "even") To end a series of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; have expenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. •/The storekeeper made many sales, but his expenses were so high that he just broke even./ •/If you gamble you are lucky when you break even./
[break-even]{n.} The point of equilibrium in a business venture when one has made as much money as one had invested, but not more — that would be "profit." •/"We’ve reached the break-even point at long last!" — Max exclaimed with joy./
[break ground]{v. phr.} To begin a construction project by digging for the foundation; especially, to turn the formal first spadeful of dirt. •/City officials and industrial leaders were there as the company broke ground for its new building./ See: BREAK NEW GROUND.