Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц) - неизвестен Автор

[shy] See: ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY and BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

[shy away] or [shy off] <v.> To avoid; seem frightened or nervous. * /The boys shied away from our questions./ * /The horse shied off when Johnny tried to mount it./

[sick] See: TAKE ILL or TAKE SICK.

[sick and tired] <adj.> 1. Feeling strong dislike for something repeated or continued too long; exasperated; annoyed. * /Jane was sick and tired of always having to wait for Bill, so when he didn't arrive on time she left without him./ * /John is sick and tired of having his studies interrupted./ * /I've been studying all day, and I'm sick and tired of it./ Compare: FED UP.

[side] See: CHOOSE UP SIDES, FROM SIDE TO SIDE, GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH, ON ONE'S BAD SIDE, ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE, ON THE SIDE, SUNNY-SIDE UP, TAKE SIDES, THORN IN THE FLESH or THORN IN THE SIDE.

[side against] <v.> To join or be on the side that is against; disagree with; oppose. * /Bill and Joe sided against me in the argument./ * /We sided against the plan to go by plane./ Contrast: SIDE WITH.

[side by side] <adv.> 1. One beside the other in a row. * /Alice's dolls were lined up side by side on the window seat./ * /Charles and John are neighbors; they live side by side on Elm Street./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. 2. Close together. * /The two boys played side by side all afternoon./

[sidekick] <n.> A companion; a close friend of lesser status. * /Wherever you see Dr. Howell, Dr. Percy, his youthful sidekick is sure to be present as well./

[side of the tracks] See: THE TRACKS.

[side street] <n.> A street that runs into and ends at a main street. * /The store is on a side street just off Main Street./ * /The Spellmans bought a house on a side street that runs off Broad Street./ Compare: BACK STREET, CROSS STREET.

[side with] <v.> To agree with; help. * /Alan always sides with Johnny in an argument./ * /Gerald sided with the plan to move the club./ Contrast: SIDE AGAINST.

[sight] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT, AT SIGHT or ON SIGHT, CATCH SIGHT OF, HEAVE IN SIGHT, LOSE SIGHT OF, ON SIGHT, SET ONE'S SIGHTS.

[sight for sore eyes] <n. phr.>, <informal> A welcome sight. * /After our long, dusty hike, the pond was a sight for sore eyes./ * /"Jack! You're a sight for sore eyes!"/

[sight-read] <v.> To be able to play music without memorization by reading the sheet music and immediately playing it. * /Experienced, good musicians are expected to be able to sight-read./

[sight unseen] <adv. phr.> Before seeing it; before seeing her, him, or them. * /Tom read an ad about a car and sent the money for it sight unseen./

[sign] See: HIGH SIGN, INDIAN SIGN, ROAD SIGN.

[sign in] <v.> To write your name on a special list or in a record book to show that you are present. * /Every worker must sign in when coming back to work./ * /Teachers go to the office and sign in each morning before going to their classrooms./ Contrast SIGN OUT.

[sign off] <v.> 1. To end a program on radio or television. * /That TV newscaster always signs off by saluting./ 2. To stop broadcasting for the day. * /That TV station always signs off after the late movie./

[sign of the times] <n. phr.> A characteristic of the times in which one lives. * /It is a sad sign of the times that all the major lakes and rivers are badly polluted and fish in them are poisoned./

[sign on] <v. phr.> 1. To sign an agreement to become an employee. * /The new cowboys signed on with the wealthy rancher in Nevada./ 2. To start a radio or television broadcast. * /Station WLAK signs on every morning at 6 A.M./ Contrast: SIGN OFF.

[sign one's own death warrant] <v. phr.> To cause your own death or the loss of something you want very much. * /Mr. Carter had lung trouble, and the doctor told him he would sign his own death warrant if he didn't stop smoking./ * /When Jim's fiancee saw him on a date with another girl, he signed his own death warrant./

[sign on the dotted line] <v. phr.> To attach one's signature on an important document, such as a contract, a bill of sales, etc. * /The seller said to the buyer, "All you need to do is sign on the dotted line."/

[sign out] <v.> To write your name on a special list or in a record book to show that you are leaving a place. * /Most of the students sign out on Friday./ Contrast SIGN IN.

[sign over] <v.> To give legally by signing your name. * /He signed his house over to his wife./

[sign up] <v.> 1. To promise to do something by signing your name; join; sign an agreement. * /We will not have the picnic unless more people sign up./ * /John wants to sign up for the contest./ * /Miss Carter has signed up to be the chaperone at the dance./ 2. To write the name of (a person or thing) to be in an activity; also, to persuade (someone) to do something. * /Betty decided to sign up her dog for obedience training./ * /The superintendent has signed up three new teachers for next year./

[signed, sealed, and delivered] <adj. phr.> Finished; completed; in a state of completion. * /"How is the campus renovation plan for the governor's office coming along?" the dean of the college asked. "Signed, sealed, and delivered," his assistant answered./ Compare: CUT AND DRIED; HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

[silence gives consent] If you say nothing or do not say no to something, it means that you agree. - A proverb. * /Don't be afraid to say, if you don't like something. Silence gives consent./

[silent majority] <n.>, <informal> The large majority of people who, unlike the militants, do not make their political and social views known by marching and demonstrating and who, presumably, can swing an election one way or the other. * /Sidney Miltner is a member of the silent majority./

[silver] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH, EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER.

[silver anniversary] or [wedding] <n. phr.> The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of a couple; the twenty-fifth anniversary of a business or an association, etc. * /"The day after tomorrow is Mom and Dad's silver anniversary," Sue said to her brother. "I hope you have a nice present picked out."/

[simmer down] <v.>, <informal> To become less angry or excited; become calmer. * /Tom got mad, but soon simmered down./

[Simon Legree] <n.>, <informal> A strict person, especially a boss, who makes others work very hard. * /Don't talk on the job; the boss is a real Simon Legree./ * /Everybody avoids the foreman. He acts like a Simon Legree./

[simple] See: PURE AND SIMPLE.

[sing a different tune] or [whistle a different tune] also [sing a new tune] <v. phr.>, <informal> To talk or act in the opposite way; contradict something said before. * /Charles said that all smokers should be expelled from the team but he sang a different tune after the coach caught him smoking./ Syn.: CHANGE ONE'S TUNE, DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE. Compare: LAUGH OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH.

[sing for one's supper] <v. phr.>, <informal> To have to work for what one desires. * /I realized a long time ago that I had to sing for my supper if I wanted to get ahead in my profession./

[sing in tune] See: IN TUNE.

[single] See: EVERY SINGLE.

[single out] <v. phr.> To select or choose one from among many. * /There were a lot of pretty girls at the high school prom but Don immediately singled out Sally./

[sing one's praises] <v. phr.> To extol or praise continuously. * /The audience left the concert with everyone singing the praises of the young piano virtuoso./

[sing out of tune] See: OUT OF TUNE.

[sink] See: HEART SINKS.

[sinker] See: HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

[sink in] or [soak in] <v.>, <informal> To be completely understood; be fully realized or felt. * /Everybody laughed at the joke but Joe; it took a moment for it to sink in before he laughed too./ * /When Frank heard that war had started, it didn't sink in for a long time until his father was drafted into the army./ Compare: BRING HOME.

[sink one's teeth into] See: GET ONE'S TEETH INTO.

[sink or swim] <v. phr.> To succeed or fail by your own efforts, without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don't work hard to succeed. * /When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by himself to sink or swim./ * /Tom's new job was confusing and no one had time to help him learn, so he had to sink or swim./

[sit] See: GO SIT ON A TACK, ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTING.

[sit back] <v.> 1. To be built a distance away; stand away (as from a street). * /Our house sits back from the road./ 2. To relax; rest, often while others are working; take time out. * /Sit back for a minute and think about what you have done./

[sit by] <v.> 1. To stay near; watch and care for. * /The nurse was told to sit by the patient until he woke up./ * /Mother sat by her sick baby all night./ 2. To sit and watch or rest especially while others work. * /Don't just sit idly by while the other children are all busy./

[sit down] <v.> To sit on a seat or resting place. * /After gym class Jim was tired and was glad to sit down and rest./

[sit in] <v.> 1. To be a member; participate. * /We're having a conference and we'd like you to sit in./ also [sit in on]: To be a member of; participate in. * /We want you to sit in on the meeting./ 2. To attend but not participate. Often used with "on". * /Our teacher was invited to sit in on the conference./ Compare: LOOK ON.

[sit on] <v.> 1. To be a member of (a jury, board, commission), etc. * /Mr. Brown sat on the jury at the trial./ 2. <informal> To prevent from starting or doing something; squelch. * /The teacher sat on Fred before he could get started with the long story./ * /The teacher sat on Joe as soon as he began showing off./

[sit on a bomb] or [bombshell] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be in possession of anything that is potentially disastrous or dangerous. * /The finance department will be sitting on a bomb unless it finds a way to cut overhead expenses./

[sit on a volcano] <v.>, <informal> 1. To be in a place where trouble may start or danger may come suddenly. * /Bob was in that part of South America before the revolution began. He knew he was sitting on a volcano./ * /The policemen who patrolled the big city slum area that summer were sitting on a volcano./

[sit on one's hands] <v. phr.>, <informal> To do nothing; fail or refuse to do anything. * /We asked Bill for help with our project, but he sat on his hands./

[sit on the fence] See: ON THE FENCE.

[sit out] <v.> To not take part in. * /The next dance is a polka. Let's sit it out./ * /Toby had to sit out the last half of the game because his knee hurt./

[sitter] See: ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTER.

[sitting on a powder keg] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.

[sit through] <v.> To watch or listen until (something) is finished. * /The show was so boring that we could hardly sit through the first act./ * /Elaine liked the movie so much that she sat through three showings./

[sit tight] <v. phr.>, <informal> To make no move or change; stay where you are. - Often used as a command. * /Sit tight; I'll be ready to go in a few minutes./ * /The doctor said to sit tight until he arrived./ * /The gangsters sat tight in the mountains while the police looked for them./ Compare: STAND PAT.

[sitting on top of the world] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

[sitting pretty] <adj.>, <slang> To be in a lucky position. * /The new library is sitting pretty because a wealthy woman gave it $10,000 worth of reference books./ * /Mr. Jones was sitting pretty until his $25,000-a-year job was dropped by the company./

[sit up] <v.> 1. To move into a sitting position. * /Joe sat up when he heard the knock on his bedroom door./ 2. To stay awake instead of going to bed. * /Mrs. Jones will sit up until both of her daughters get home from the dance./ * /We sat up until two A.M. hoping for news from Alaska./ 3. <informal> To be surprised. * /Janice really sat up when I told her the gossip about Tom./

[sit-up] <n.> A vigorous exercise in which the abdominal muscles are strengthened by locking one's feet in a fastening device and sitting up numerous times. * /Do a few sit-ups if you want to reduce your waist./

[sit up and take notice] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be surprised into noticing something. * /Grace had never impressed her teachers. Hearing that she had won the essay contest made them sit up and take notice./ * /George's sudden success made the town sit up and take notice./

[sit up for] <v. phr.> To wait until after the usual bedtime for someone's return. * /Mrs. Smith always sits up for her two daughters, no matter how late it is./

[sit up with] <v. phr.> To be with; particularly to keep someone ill company. * /Mrs. Brown sat up with her sick husband all night in the hospital room./

[sit well (with)] <v.> Find favor with; please. * /The reduced school budget did not sit well with the teachers./

[sit with] <v.>, <informal> To be accepted by; affect. - Used in interrogative sentences and in negative sentences modified by "well". * /How did your story sit with your mother?/ * /Bob's poor sportsmanship doesn't sit well with the coach./

[six] See: AT SIXES AND SEVENS, DEEP-SIX.

[six bits] <n.>, <slang> Seventy-five cents. * /"Lend me six bits till Friday, Sam," said Jim. "I've spent all my allowance."/ Compare: TWO BITS.

[six of one and half-a-dozen of the other] <n. phr.> Two things the same; not a real choice; no difference. * /Which coat do you like better, the brown or the blue? It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other./ * /Johnny says it's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other whether he does the job tonight or tomorrow night./

[size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE, PINT-SIZE.

[size up] <v.>, <informal> To decide what one thinks about (something); to form an opinion about (something). * /Give Joe an hour to size up the situation and he'll tell you what to do next./ * /Our coach went to New York to size up the team we'll face in our homecoming game./ Compare: TAKE STOCK(2).

[skate] See: CHEAP SKATE.

[skate on thin ice] <v. phr.> To take a chance; risk danger, disapproval or anger. * /You'll be skating on thin ice if you ask Dad to increase your allowance again./ * /John knew he was skating on thin ice, but he could not resist teasing his sister about her boyfriend./

[skating rink] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> Slippery road. * /Attention all units - there's a skating rink ahead!/

[skeleton in the closet] <n. phr.> A shameful secret; someone or something kept hidden, especially by a family. * /The skeleton in our family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he drank too much./