Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[broth] See: SCOTCH BROTH.

[brow] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW.

[brown] See: DO UP BROWN.

[brown-bagger] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> A person who does not go to the cafeteria or to a restaurant for lunch at work, but who brings his homemade lunch to work in order to save money. * /John became a brown-bagger not because he can't afford the restaurant, but because he is too busy to go there./

[brown-nose] <v.>, <slang>, <avoidable>, <though gaining in acceptance> To curry favor in a subservient way, as by obviously exaggerated flattery. * /Max brown-noses his teachers, that's why he gets all A's in his courses./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[brown paper bag] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> An unmarked police car. * /The beaver got a Christmas card because she didn't notice the brown paper bag at her back door./ See: PLAIN WHITE WRAPPER.

[brown study] <n. phr.> A time of deep thought about something; a deep thoughtful mood. * /When his wife found him, he had pushed away his books and was in a brown study./

[brush] See: BEAT THE BUSHES or BEAT THE BRUSH.

[brush aside] <v. phr.> To ignore; give no reply. * /Brushing aside the editor's comments, the young novelist proceeded with his story, which was subsequently rejected by the publisher./

[brush back] <v.> To throw a baseball pitch close to. * /The pitcher threw a high inside pitch to brush the batter back./ Syn.: DUST OFF.

[brushoff] See: GET THE BRUSHOFF, BRUSH OFF or GIVE THE BRUSHOFF.

[brush off] or [give the brush off] <v. phr.> 1. To refuse to hear or believe; quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important. * /John brushed off Bill's warning that he might fall from the tree./ * /I said that it might rain and to take the bus, but Joe gave my idea the brushoff./ * /Father cut his finger but he brushed it off as not important and kept working./ 2. <informal> To be unfriendly to; not talk or pay attention to (someone); get rid of. * /Mary brushed off Bill at the dance./ * /I said hello to Mr. Smith, but he gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET THE BRUSH OFF.

[brush up] or [brush up on] <v.> To refresh one's memory of or skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. * /She spent the summer brushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall./ * /He brushed up his target shooting./

[bubble gum music] <n.>, <slang> The kind of rock'n'roll that appeals to young teenagers. * /When will you learn to appreciate Mozart instead of that bubble gum music?/

[bubble trouble] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> Tire trouble, flat tire. * /The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to have bubble trouble./

[buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.

[bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.

[bucket of bolts] <n.>, <slang> A very old and shaky car that barely goes. * /When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of bolts?/

[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.

[buckle down] or [knuckle down] <v.> To give complete attention (to an effort or job); attend. * /They chatted idly for a few moments then each buckled down to work./ * /Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his father told him to buckle down./

[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.

[buck up] <v. phr.>, <informal> To make or become more cheerful; make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. * /After the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song./ * /Tom was disappointed that he didn't make the team; but he soon bucked up./

[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[bug-eyed] <adj.>, <slang> Wide-eyed with surprise. * /He stood there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./

[buggy-whip] <n.>, <slang> An unusually long, thin radio antenna on a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. * /He's very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./

[bughouse(1)] <n.>, <slang> An insane asylum. * /They took Joe to the bughouse./

[bughouse(2)] <adj.>, <slang> Crazy, insane. * /Joe's gone bughouse./

[bug in one's ear] <n. phr.>, <informal> A hint; secret information given to someone to make him act; idea. * /I saw Mary at the jeweler's admiring the diamond pin; I'll put a bug in Henry's ear./

[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.

[build a fire under] <v. phr.> To urge or force (a slow or unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. * /The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./

[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] <v. phr.> To make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that are unlikely. * /He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded in anything./ * /To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their wishes./

[build on sand] <v. phr.> To lay a weak or insufficient foundation for a building, a business, or a relationship. * /"I don't want to build my business on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give me that loan I requested."/

[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./

[burn-out] <n.> A point of physical or emotional exhaustion. * /There are so many refugees all over the world that charitable organizations as well as individuals are suffering from donor burn-out./

[burn rubber] <v. phr.>, <slang> 1. To start up a car or a motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark on the road. * /The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber - look at the marks on the road!/ 2. To leave in a hurry. * /I guess I am going to have to burn rubber./

[burnt child dreads the fire] or [once bitten, twice shy] A person who has suffered from doing something has learned to avoid doing it again. - A proverb. * /Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary stays close to her mother when they are downtown./

[burn the candle at both ends] <v. phr.> To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired. * /He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends./

[burn the midnight oil] <v. phr.> To study late at night. * /Exam time was near, and more and more pupils were burning the midnight oil./

[bum to a crisp] <v. phr.> To burn black; burn past saving or using especially as food. * /While getting breakfast, Mother was called to the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned to a crisp./

[burn up] <v.> 1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by fire. * /Mr. Scott was burning up old letters./ * /The house burned up before the firemen got there./ 2. <informal> To irritate, anger, annoy. * /The boy's laziness and rudeness burned up his teacher./ * /The breakdown of his new car burned Mr. Jones up./

[burn up the road] <v. phr.>, <informal> To drive a car very fast. * /In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up the road on his way to see her./ * /Speed demons burning up the road often cause accidents./

[burst at the seams] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be too full or too crowded. * /John ate so much he was bursting at the seams./ * /Mary's album was so full of pictures it was bursting at the seams./

[burst into] <v. phr.> 1. To enter suddenly. * /Stuart burst into the room, screaming angrily./ 2. To break out. * /The crowd burst out cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue./

[burst into flames] <v. phr.> To begin to burn suddenly. * /The children threw away some burning matches and the barn burst into flames./

[burst into tears] <v. phr.> To suddenly start crying. * /Mary burst into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in a car accident./

[burst with joy] or [pride] <v. phr.> To be so full of the feeling of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing one's exuberant feelings. * /Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when they stepped out on the moon in July, 1969./

[bury one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.

[bury the hatchet] <v. phr.>, <informal> To settle a quarrel or end a war; make peace. * /The two men had been enemies a long time, but after the flood they buried the hatchet./ Compare: MAKE UP(5).

[bus] See: MISS THE BOAT or MISS THE BUS.

[bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.

[bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.

[bushes] See: BEAT THE BUSHES.

[business] See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND-OFFICE BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS.

[bust up] <v. phr.>, <slang> To terminate a partnership, a relationship, a friendship, or a marriage. * /If Jack keeps drinking the way he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue./

[busy work] <n.> Work that is done not to do or finish anything important, but just to keep busy. * /When the teacher finished all she had to say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she gave the class a test for busy work./

[but for] See: EXCEPT FOR.

[but good] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Very much so; thoroughly completely; forcefully. - Used for emphasis. * /Jack called Charles a bad name, and Charles hit him, but good./ * /Tom fell and broke his leg. That taught him but good not to fool around in high trees./ Compare: AND HOW.

[but not least] See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

[butter] See: BREAD AND BUTTER.

[butterflies in one's stomach] <n. phr.> A queer feeling in the stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or anxiety in the stomach. * /When Bob walked into the factory office to ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach./

[butter up] <v.>, <informal> To try to get the favor or friendship of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. * /He began to butter up the boss in hope of being given a better job./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] <informal> You act very polite and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to people but are not sincere. * /The new secretary was rude to the other workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth./

[butt in] <v.>, <slang> To join in with what other people are doing without asking or being asked; interfere in other people's business; meddle. * /Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when Barbara butted in./ Often used with "on". * /John butted in on Bill and Tom's fight, and got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN.

[button] See: HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON.

[button down] <v.>, <slang> (stress on "down") To state precisely, to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. * /First let's get the facts buttoned down, then we can plan ahead./

[button-down] <attrib. adj.>, <slang> (stress on "button") Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. * /Joe is a regular button-down type./

[buttonhole] <v.> To approach a person in order to speak with him or her in private. * /After waiting for several hours, Sam managed to buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building./

[button one's lip] also [zip one's lip] <v. phr.>, <slang> To stop talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be quiet. * /The man was getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip./ * /John wanted to talk, but Dan told him to keep his lip buttoned./ Syn.: KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, SHUT UP.

[buy for a song] <v. phr.> To buy something very cheaply. * /Since the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it for a song./

[buy off] <v.> To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. * /When the police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them off./ * /The Indians were going to burn the cabins, but the men bought them off with gifts./ Compare: PAY OFF.

[buy out] <v.> 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase the stock of. * /He bought out several small stockholders. 2. To buy all the goods of; purchase the merchandise of./ * /Mr. Harper bought out a nearby hardware store./ Contrast: SELL OUT.

[buy up] <v. phr.> To purchase the entire stock of something. * /The company is trying to buy up all the available shares./

[buzz] See: GIVE A RING also GIVE A BUZZ.

[buzz word] <n.> A word that sounds big and important in a sentence but, on closer inspection, means little except the speaker's indication to belong to a certain group. * /The politician's speech was nothing but a lot of misleading statements and phony promises hidden in a bunch of buzz words./

[by] See: TOO --- BY HALF.

[by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR

[by] or [in my book] <adv. phr.> In my opinion; as far as I am concerned; in my judgment. * /By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very good department head./