Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[caught short]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not having enough of something when you need it. •/Mrs. Ford was caught short when the newspaper boy came for his money a day early./ •/The man was caught short of clothes when he had to go on a trip./
[cause eyebrows to raise]{v. phr.} To do something that causes consternation; to shock others. •/When Algernon entered Orchestra Hall barefoot and wearing a woman’s wig, he caused eyebrows to raise./
[cause tongues to wag] See: TONGUES TO WAG.
[caution] See: THROW CAUTION TO THE WINDS.
[cave in]{v.} 1. To fall or collapse inward. •/The mine caved in and crushed three miners./ •/Don’t climb on that old roof. It might cave in./ 2. {informal} To weaken and be forced to give up. •/The children begged their father to take them to the circus until he caved in./ •/After the atomic bomb, Japan caved in and the war ceased./
[cease fire]{v.} To give a military command ordering soldiers to stop shooting. •/"Cease fire!" the captain cried, and the shooting stopped./
[cease-fire]{n.} A period of negotiated nonaggression, when the warring parties involved promise not to attack. •/Unfortunately, the cease-fire in Bosnia was broken many times by all parties concerned./
[ceiling] See: HIT THE CEILING or HIT THE ROOF.
[cent] See: TWO CENTS, WORTH A CENT.
[center] See: FRONT AND CENTER, OFF-CENTER, SHOPPING CENTER.
[century] See: TURN OF THE CENTURY.
[C.E.O.]{n.} Abbreviation of "Chief Executive Officer." The head of a company, factory, firm, etc. •/We are very proud of the fact that our C.E.O. is a young woman./
[ceremony] See: STAND ON CEREMONY.
[certain] See: FOR SURE or FOR CERTAIN.
[chain gang]{n.} A group of convicts or slaves in the old South who were chained together. •/Chain gangs are no longer an acceptable way of punishment, according to modem criminologists./
[chain letter]{n.} A letter which each person receiving it is asked to copy and send to several others. •/Most chain letters die out quickly./
[chain-smoke]{v.} To smoke cigarettes or cigars one after another without stopping. •/Mr. Jones is very nervous. He chain-smokes cigars./ [chain smoker]{n.} •/Mr. Jones is a chain smoker./ [chain-smoking]{adj.} or {n.} •/Chain smoking is very dangerous to health./
[chain stores]{n.} A series of stores in different locations, joined together under one ownership and general management. •/The goods in chain stores tend to be more uniform than in independent ones./
[chained to the oars]{adj. phr.} The condition of being forced to do strenuous and unwelcome labor against one’s wishes for an extended period of time. •/Teachers in large public schools frequently complain that they feel as if they had been chained to the oars./
[chair] See: MUSICAL CHAIRS.
[chalk] See: WALK THE CHALK.
[chalk up]{v.}, {informal} 1. To write down as part of a score; record. •/The scorekeeper chalked up one more point for the home team./ 2. To make (a score or part of a score); score. •/The team chalked up another victory./ •/Bob chalked up a home run and two base hits in the game./ •/Mary chalked up good grades this term./
[champ at the bit]{v. phr.} To be eager to begin; be tired of being held back; want to start. •/The horses were champing at the bit, anxious to start racing./ •/As punishment John was kept after school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out./
[chance] See: BY CHANCE, FAT CHANCE, STAND A CHANCE, TAKE A CHANCE.
[chance it]{v. phr.} To be willing to risk an action whose outcome is uncertain. •/"Should we take the boat out in such stormy weather?" Jim asked. "We can chance it," Tony replied. "We have enough experience."/
[chance on] also [chance upon]{v.} To happen to find or meet; find or meet by accident. •/On our vacation we chanced upon an interesting antique store./ •/Mary dropped her ring in the yard, and Mother chanced on it as she was raking./ Syn.: HAPPEN ON. Compare: RUN INTO.
[change] See: RING THE CHANGES.
[change color]{v. phr.} 1. To become pale. •/The sight was so horrible that Mary changed color from fear./ •/Bill lost so much blood from the cut that he changed color./ 2. To become pink or red in the face; become flushed; blush. •/Mary changed color when the teacher praised her drawing./ •/Tom got angry at the remark and changed color./
[change hands]{v. phr.} To change or transfer ownership. •/Ever since our apartment building changed hands, things are working a lot better./
[change horses in the middle of a stream] or [change horses in midstream]{v. phr.} To make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity. •/When a new President is to be elected during a war, the people may decide not to change horses in the middle of a stream./