Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] <adv. phr.> To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. * /He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards./ * /He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards./ * /I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was./

[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.

[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE'S BAD GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON ONE'S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.

[bad actor] <n.>, <informal> A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. * /The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him./

[bad blood] <n.>, <informal> Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. * /There's a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they'll never talk to each other again./ Compare: BAD SHIT.

[bad egg] <n.>, <slang> A ne'er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender. * /The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./ Contrast: GOOD EGG.

[bad mouth (someone)] <v.>, <slang> To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another's reputation. * /It's not nice to had mouth people./

[bad news] <n.>, <slang> An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. * /What's the new professor like? - He's all bad news to me./

[bad paper] <n.>, <slang> 1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. * /Why are you so mad? - I was paid with some bad paper./

[bad shit] <n.>, <vulgar>, <avoidable> An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. * /There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year./ Compare: BAD BLOOD.

[bad trip] <n.>, <slang>, <also used colloquially> A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general. * /Why's John's face so distorted? - He had a bad trip./ * /How was your math exam? - Don't mention it; it was a bad trip./

[bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

[bag and baggage] <adv.>, <informal> With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. * /If they don't pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage./

[baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

[bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

[bail out(1)] <v.> 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. * /When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out./ 2. <informal> To free from trouble by giving or lending money. * /He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times./

[bail out(2)] <v.> To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute. * /When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out./

[bail out(3)] <v.> To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. * /Both men were kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak./

[bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

[bake] See: HALF-BAKED.

[baker's dozen] <n.>, <informal> Thirteen. * /"How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker's dozen."/

[balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.

[ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THE BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUND BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL. ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.

[ball game] <n.>, <slang>, also <informal> The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. * /You said we can get a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That's a whole new ball game./

[ball of fire] <n.>, <informal> A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. * /He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ * /The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.

[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

[ball up] <v.>, <slang> To make a mess of; confuse. * /Don't ball me up./ * /Hal balled up the business with his errors./ - Often used in the passive. * /He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going./ Compare: MIXED UP.

[baloney] <n.>, <informal> Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. * /John brags that he's won the $10 million lottery, and I think it's just a lot of baloney./ * /"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look./ * /Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./

[banana oil] <n.>, <slang> Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. * /Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/

[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.

[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

[band together] <v. phr.> To join a group to exert united force. * /The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks./

[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[bandy about] <v. phr.> To spread rumors or whisper secrets. * /The news of Jim and Mary's divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office had heard it./

[bang up] <adj.>, <informal> Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. * /The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./ * /John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.

[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.

[bank on] <v.>, <informal> To depend on; put one's trust in; rely on. * /He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work./ * /The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.

[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.

[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.

[bargain for] or [bargain on] <v.> To be ready for; expect. * /When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for./ * /The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.

[barge in] <v. phr.>, <informal> To appear uninvited at someone's house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. * /I'm sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./ * /I'm sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/

[bark up the wrong tree] <v. phr.>, <informal> To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. * /If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ * /He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ * /The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./

[bark worse than one's bite] <informal> Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. * /The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ * /The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ * /She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite./

[barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.

[base on balls] <n.> First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. * /He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls./

[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

[basket case] <n.>, <slang>, <also informal> 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. * /Stop drinking, or else you'll wind up a basket case!/

[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] <v. phr.>, <informal> To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. - Used in negative sentences. * /When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ * /Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

[bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

[bats in one's belfry] or [bats in the belfry] <n. phr.>, <slang> Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. * /When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry./

[bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

[batting average] <n. phr.> Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). * /Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations./

[battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.

[battle of nerves] <n. phr.> A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. * /It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university./ See: WAR OF NERVES.

[bawl out] <v.>, <informal> To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. * /The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

[be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.

[beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[beach bunny] <n.>, <slang> An attractive girl seen on beaches mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn't get into the water and swim. * /What kind of a girl is Susie? - She's a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen's Surf on Waikiki but I've never seen her swim./

[bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

[be a fly on the wall] <v. phr.> To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. * /How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance's parents are saying about me!/

[be a good hand at] <v. phr.> To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. * /Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building./

[beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

[bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE'S HEAD or USE ONE'S BEAN.

[be an item] <v. phr.> To be a couple; belong to one another. * /No one is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized that they are an item./

[be a poor hand at] <v. phr.> To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. * /Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.

[be at pains] <v. phr.> To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. * /The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats./

[bear] See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.

[bear a grudge] <v. phr.> To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. * /Come on, John, be a good sport and don't bear a grudge because I beat you at golf./ Contrast: BURY THE HATCHET.

[bear a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

[beard] See: LAUNCH UP ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE'S BEARD.

[bear down] <v.> 1. To press or push harder; work hard at; give full strength and attention. * /She is bearing down in her studies to win a scholarship./ * /The baseball pitcher is bearing down./ * /The pitcher bore down on the star batter./ * /Teachers of the deaf bear down on English./ * /The sergeant bears down on lazy soldiers./ Contrast: LET UP(2b). 2. To move toward in an impressive or threatening way. - Often used with "on". * /While he was crossing the street a big truck bore down on him./ * /The little ship tried to escape when the big pirate ship bore down./ * /After the boys threw the snowballs they saw a large lady bearing down upon them from across the street./

[bear down on] or [upon] <v. phr.> To draw constantly nearer with great speed and force. * /The police cars were bearing down on the bank robbers' get-away car./

[bear fruit] <v. phr.> To yield results. * /We hope that the company's new investment policy will bear fruit./

[bear in mind] See: IN MIND.

[bear in the air] or [bear in the sky] <n. phr.>, <slang>, <citizen's band jargon> A police helicopter flying overhead watching for speeders. * /Slow down, good buddy, there's a bear in the air./

[bear off the palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM.

[bear one's cross] See: CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

[bear out] <v.> To show to be right; prove; support. * /Modern findings do not bear out the old belief that the earth is flat./ * /Seward's faith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out, even though it was once called "Seward's Folly."/

[bear trap] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> A police radar unit designed to catch speeders. * /Watch the bear trap at exit 101./

[bear up] <v.> 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. * /The old bridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more./ * /He was borne up by love of country./ 2. To keep up one's courage or strength; last. Often used with "under". * /This boat will bear up under hurricane winds./ * /She bore up well at the funeral./ Syn.: STAND UP. Compare: CARRY ON.

[bear watching] <v. phr.> 1. To be worth watching or paying attention to; have a promising future. * /That young ball player will bear watching./ 2. To be dangerous or untrustworthy. * /Those tires look badly worn; they will bear watching./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.

[bear with] <v.>, <formal> To have patience with; not get angry with. * /Your little sister is sick. Try to bear with her when she cries./ * /It is hard to bear with criticism./ Syn.: PUT UP WITH. Compare: CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

[beat] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

[beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush] <v. phr.>, <slang> To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. * /He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush./ * /He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point./ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: COME TO THE POINT.

[beat all] or [beat the Dutch] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be strange or surprising. * /John found a box full of money buried in his garage. Doesn't that beat all!/ * /It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a basket./

[beat all hollow] also [beat hollow] <v. phr.>, <slang> To do much better than; to beat very badly. * /We beat their team all hollow./ * /As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./

[beat a retreat] <v. phr.> 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat./ 2. To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming./ Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.

[beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

[beat down] <v.> 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over; conquer. * /All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks./ 2. <informal> a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. * /Can we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a lower price or easier payments. * /He tried to beat us down, so we did not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. * /At noon the sun beat down on our heads as we walked home./

[beaten path] <n. phr.> The usual route or way of operating that has been conventionally established, * /If we always follow the beaten path, we'll never have the courage to try something new./

[beaten track] <n.> See: BEATEN PATH.

[beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.

[beat into one's head] <v. phr.>, <informal> To teach by telling again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to be cross and punish often. * /Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten into his head./ * /I cannot beat it into his head that he should take off his hat in the house./