Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[build up]{v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; construct from parts. •/Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow./ •/Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or fill up with buildings. •/The fields where Tom’s father played as a boy are all built up now./ •/A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up./ 3a. To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow. •/John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ •/The noise built up until Mary couldn’t stand it any longer./ 3b. To make stronger or better or more effective. •/Fred exercised to build up his muscles./ •/Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./ 3c. {informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. •/The press agent built up the young actress./ •/The movie company spent much money building up its new picture./
[build up to]{v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a culmination point. •/The clouds were building up to a violent storm./ •/Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./
[bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[bullet lane]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} The passing lane. •/Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler is moving too slow./
[bull in a china shop]{n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. •/We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk made the teacher say no./
[bull session]{n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something by a group of persons. •/After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bull session until the lights went out./
[bullshit]{n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some} Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. •/"Joe, this is a lot of bullshit!"/
[bullshit]{v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to make yourself seem impressive. •/"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can’t believe a word of what you’re saying."/
[bullshit artist]{n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in social acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely flattering speeches designed to impress others. •/Joe is a regular bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of everyone else./
[bum around]{v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no definite direction, like a vagabond. •/Jim had been bumming around in the desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he got there in the first place./
[bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS.
[bump into]{v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting to; happen to meet; come upon by accident. •/Mary was walking down the street, when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ •/Ed was surprised to bump into John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO.
[bump off]{v.}, {slang} To kill in a violent way; murder in gangster fashion. •/Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with Tommy guns./
[bum’s rush]{n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing or pushing someone out from where he is not wanted. •/When John tried to go to the party where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum’s rush./ •/Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum’s rush./ 2. To hurry or rush (someone). •/The salesman tried to give me the bum’s rush./
[bum steer]{n.} Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on purpose. •/Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me to go north on the highway; you should have sent me south!/
[bundle of laughs]{n. phr.} A very amusing person, thing, or event. •/Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that he is a bundle of laughs./
[bundle up] See: WRAP UP(1).
[burn] See: EARS BURN, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MONEY TO BURN.
[burn a hole in one’s pocket]{v. phr.} To make you want to buy something; be likely to be quickly spent. •/Money burns a hole in Linda’s pocket./ •/The silver dollar that Don got for his birthday was burning a hole in his pocket, and Don hurried to a dime store./
[burn down]{v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by fire. •/The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could get to it./
[burn in effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY.
[burn one’s bridges] also [burn one’s boats]{v. phr.} To make a decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave yourself no way to escape a position. •/Bob was a good wrestler but a poor boxer. He burned his boats by letting Mickey choose how they would fight./ •/When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges behind her./
[burn one’s fingers]{v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. •/He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn’t want to try again./ •/Some people can’t be told; they have to burn their fingers to learn./
[burn out]{v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. •/Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car./ 2. To destroy someone’s house or business by fire so that they have to move out. •/Three racists burned out the Black family’s home./ 3a. To go out of order; cease to function because of long use or overheating. •/The light bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one./ •/The electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out a fuse./ 3b. To break, tire, or wear out by using up all the power, energy, or strength of. •/Bill burned himself out in the first part of the race and could not finish./ •/The farmer burned out his field by planting the same crop every year for many years./