Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[close down] or [shut down]{v.} To stop all working, as in a factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in. •/The factory closed down for Christmas./ •/The company shut down the condom plant for Easter./
[closed shop]{n. phr.} 1. A plant or factory that employs only union workers. •/Our firm has been fighting the closed shop policy for many years now./ 2. A profession or line of work dominated by followers of a certain mode of thinking and behaving that does not tolerate differing views or ideas. •/Certain groups of psychologists, historians, and linguists often behave with a closed-shop mentality./ Contrast: OPEN SHOP.
[close in]{v.} To come in nearer from all sides. •/We wanted the boat to reach shore before the fog closed in./ — Often used with "on". * /The troops were closing in on the enemy.
[close its doors]{v. phr.} 1. To keep someone or something from entering or joining; become closed. •/The club has closed its doors to new members./ 2. To fail as a business; go bankrupt. •/The fire was so damaging that the store had to close its doors./ •/Business was so poor that we had to close our doors after six months./ Compare: CLOSE THE DOOR. Contrast: OPEN ITS DOORS.
[close-knit]{adj.} Closely joined together by ties of love, friendship, or common interest; close. •/The Joneses are a close-knit family./ •/The three boys are always together. They form a very close-knit group./
[close one’s eyes] or [shut one’s eyes]{v. phr.} To refuse to see or think about. •/The park is beautiful if you shut your eyes to the litter./ •/The ice was very thin, but the boys shut their eyes to the danger and went skating./ Compare: OPEN ONE’S EYES.
[dose out]{v.} To sell the whole of; end (a business or a business operation) by selling all the goods; also, to sell your stock and stop doing business. •/The store closed out its stock of garden supplies./ •/Mr. Jones closed out his grocery./ •/Mr. Randall was losing money in his shoe store, so he decided to close out./
[close quarters]{n. phr.} Limited, cramped space. •/With seven boy scouts in a tent, they were living in very close quarters./
[close ranks]{v. phr.} 1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting. •/The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge./ 2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together. •/The Democrats and Republicans closed ranks to win the war./ •/The leader asked the people to close ranks and plan a new school./
[close shave] See: CLOSE CALL.
[closet] See: SKELETON IN THE CLOSET.
[close the books]{v. phr.} To stop taking orders; end a bookkeeping period. •/The tickets were all sold, so the manager said to close the books./ •/The department store closes its books on the 25th of each month./
[close the door] or [bar the door] or [shut the door]{v. phr.} To prevent any more action or talk about a subject. •/The President’s veto closed the door to any new attempt to pass the bill./ •/Joan was much hurt by what Mary said, and she closed the door on Mary’s attempt to apologize./ •/After John makes up his mind, he closes the door to any more arguments./ Contrast: OPEN THE DOOR.
[close to home]{adv. phr.} Too near to someone’s personal feelings, wishes, or interests. •/When John made fun of Bob’s way of walking, he struck close to home./ •/When the preacher spoke about prejudice, some people felt he had come too close to home./
[close-up]{n.} A photograph, motion picture, or video camera shot taken at very close range. •/Directors of movies frequently show close-ups of the main characters./
[close up shop]{v. phr.} 1. To shut a store at the end of a day’s business, also, to end a business. •/The grocer closes up shop at 5 o’clock./ •/After 15 years in business at the same spot, the garage closed up shop./ 2. {informal} To stop some activity; finish what you are doing. •/After camping out for two weeks, the scouts took down their tents and closed up shop./ •/The committee finished its business and closed up shop./ Compare: CALL IT A DAY.
[clothes] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.
[clothing] See: WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING.
[cloud] See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, IN THE CLOUDS, ON CLOUD NINE, UNDER A CLOUD.
[clover] See: FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, IN CLOVER or IN THE CLOVER.
[club] See: CHRISTMAS CLUB.
[cluck and grunt]{n.}, {slang}, {avoid it in restaurants} The familiar restaurant dish of ham and eggs; since ham is made of pork (and pigs grunt) and eggs come from hens (which cluck.) •/"I am sorry I can’t fix you an elaborate meal, but I can give you a quick cluck and grunt."/
[clutch] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.
[coal] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE, HAUL OVER THE COALS or RAKE OVER THE COALS, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE’S HEAD.
[coast is clear] No enemy or danger is in sight; there is no one to see you. •/When the teacher had disappeared around the corner, John said, "Come on, the coast is clear."/ •/The men knew when the night watchman would pass. When he had gone, and the coast was clear, they robbed the safe./ •/When Father stopped the car at the stop sign, Mother said, "The coast is clear on this side."/