Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц) - неизвестен Автор

[Sweeney] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES or TELL IT TO SWEENEY.

[sweep] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.

[sweep off one's feet] <v. phr.> To make (someone) have feelings (as love or happiness) too strong to control; overcome with strong feeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by (someone) through the feelings. * /The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feet when he said so many things to her at the dance./ * /Joan was swept off her feet when the football captain started flirting with her./ * /Mary is swept off her feet whenever she hears a band start playing./ * /John was swept off his feet when he won the contest./ Compare: BOWL OVER (2), CARRY AWAY.

[sweep out of] <v. phr.> To leave in an impressive, majestic manner. * /Offended by Tim's remark, Mary swept out of the room with her head high in the air./

[sweep the city] or [country] or [nation] or [world] <v. phr.> To gain great attention or popularity throughout the city, country, etc. * /Pavarotti's unmatched tenor voice swept the world in an unprecedented manner./

[sweep under the rug] <v. phr.> To hide or dismiss casually (something one is ashamed of or does not know what to do about). * /In many places, drug abuse by school children is swept under the rug./

[sweet] See: SHORT AND SWEET.

[sweetie pie] <n.>, <informal> A person who is loved; darling; sweetheart. * /Arnold blushed with pleasure when Annie called him her sweetie pie./ * /Nancy is Bill's sweetie pie./

[sweet on] <adj. phr.>, <informal> In love with; very fond of. * /John is sweet on Alice./

[sweet talk] 1. <n.>, <informal> Too much praise; flattery. * /Sometimes a girl's better judgment is overcome by sweet talk./ 2. <v.>, <informal> To get what you want by great praise; flatter. * /Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything./

[sweet tooth] <n. phr.> A great weakness or predilection for sweets. * /Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything else but cake./

[swelled head] <n.>, <informal> A feeling that you are very important or more important than you really are. * /When John won the race, he got a swelled head./ * /Pretty girls shouldn't get a swelled head about it./ - [swell-headed] <adj. phr.> * /After he was elected captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed./ Compare: BIG HEAD.

[swell-headed] See: SWELLED HEAD.

[swim] See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM.

[swim against the current] or [swim against the stream] <v. phr.> To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. * /The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./

[swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.

[swing] See: IN FULL SWING.

[swing one's weight] <v. phr.> To use your personal power to get something done * /The President swings his weight to get laws passed./ * /Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company./

[switch] See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.

[switched on] <adj.>, <slang> 1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. * /I dig Sarah, she is really switched on./ 2. Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. * /How come you're talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?/

[swoop] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.

[sword] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD.

[sword rattling] See: SABER RATTLING.

[sworn enemies] <n. phr.> People or groups or nations that have a long-standing dislike for each other. * /The Israelis and the Arabs used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace accord./

[syllable] See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

[system] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.

T

[T] See: TO A T.

[tab] See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON.

[table] See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES, WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

[tack] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A TACK.

[tackle] See: FLYING TACKLE

[tack on] <v. phr.> To append; add. * /We were about to sign the contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil that was not acceptable to us./

[tag end] or [tail end] <n.>, <informal> The end, farthest to the rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. * /John was at the tail end of his class./ * /Mary's part in the play came at the tag end, and she got bored waiting./ * /Bill waited at the crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by./

[tail] See: COW'S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, TURN TAIL.

[tail between one's legs] <n. phr.> State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. * /The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs./ * /The boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they went home with their tails between their legs./ (So called because a beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks away.)

[tail end] See: TAG END.

[taillight] <n.> The rear red light of a car. * /My father was fined $15 for driving without a taillight./

[tailor-made] See: MADE-TO-MEASURE.

[tailspin] See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN.

[tail wags the dog] Said of situations in which a minor part is in control of the whole. * /He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog./

[take] See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.

[take aback] See: TAKEN BACK.

[take a back seat] <v. phr.>, <informal> To accept a poorer or lower position; be second to something or someone else. * /During the war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs./ * /She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive./ Compare: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.

[take a bath] <v. phr.>, <informal> To come to financial ruin. * /Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc./

[take a bow] <v. phr.> To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped for or praised for success. * /The audience shouted for the author of the play to take a bow./ * /The basketball team should take a bow for fine work this season./

[take a break] <v. phr.> To have a brief rest period during the course of one's work. * /"You've worked hard. It's time to take a break," the boss said./

[take a chance] <v. phr.> To accept the risk of failure or loss. * /We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors./

[take a crack at] <v. phr.> To try doing something. * /It was a difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the resident architect decided to take a crack at it./

[take a dig at] <v. phr.> To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. * /If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be a short one./

[take a dim view of] <v. phr.> 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure or anxious about. * /Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the exam./ * /Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of the weather./ 2. To be against; disapprove. * /John's father took a dim view of his wanting to borrow the car./ * /The teacher took a dim view of the class's behavior./

[take a dislike to] Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a drop] <v. phr.> 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. * /Aunt Liz doesn't really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then./ 2. To lose value; decrease in price. * /Stocks took a big drop yesterday due to the international crisis./

[take advantage of] <v. phr.> 1. To make good use of. * /The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird./ * /Jean took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework./ 2. To treat (someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. * /He took advantage of his friend's kindness./ * /The little children did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage of them./ Syn.: IMPOSE ON.

[take after] <v.> To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). * /He takes after his father in mathematical ability./ * /She takes after her father's side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; RUN IN THE FAMILY.

[take a fancy to] <v. phr.> To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. * /Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture./

[take a flop] <v. phr.> To fall heavily. * /I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk./

[take aim] <v. phr.> To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. * /When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ * /Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./

[take a hand in] <v. phr.> To assist in the direction of; participate. * /The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees./

[take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.

[take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE.

[take a hint] <v. phr.> To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said. "Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/

[take a joke] <v. phr.> Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. * /My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./

[take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a load off one's feet] <v. phr.> To alleviate one's fatigue

by sitting down during some taxing work. * /"You've been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your feet?"/

[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.

[take amiss] or [the wrong way] <v. phr.> To become offended due to a misunderstanding. * /"I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/

[take a new turn] <v. phr.> To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. * /The company took a new turn under Jack's directorship./

[take a nose dive] <v. phr.> To plummet; fall sharply. * /The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart attack./

[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD.

[take apart] <v. phr.> To dismantle; disassemble. * /Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again./

[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.

[take a powder] <v. phr.>, <slang> To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. * /All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived./

[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] <v. phr.> To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. * /Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred./ * /Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ * /I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./

[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.

[take a shine to] <v. phr.>, <slang> To have or show a quick liking for. * /He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./ Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a shot at] <v. phr.> To try casually; attempt to do. * /"Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/

[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

[take a spill] <v. phr.> To fall down; tip over. * /During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill./

[take at one's word] <v. phr.> To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. * /If you say you don't want this coat, I'll take you at your word and throw it away./ * /When the king said he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and murdered the councillor./

[take a stand] <v. phr.> To assert one's point. of view; declare one's position. * /It is time for American society to take a stand against crime./

[take a turn] <v. phr.> To become different; change. * /Mary's fever suddenly took a bad turn./ * /The story took an odd turn./ Often used with "for the better" or "for the worse". * /In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better./ * /Suddenly the battle took a turn for the worse./

[take a turn for the better] <v. phr.> To start improving; start to get better. * /Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better./

[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER.

[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.

[take back] <v.> To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated; admit to making a wrong statement. * /I take back my offer to buy the house now that I've had a good look at it./ * /I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./

[take by storm] <v. phr.> 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. * /The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. * /The comic took the audience by storm./ * /John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.

[take by surprise] <v. phr.> 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. * /The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ * /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. * /Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ * /When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise./

[take by the scruff] <v. phr.> 1. To assert authority over a person. * /Tim's mother took him by the scruff and told him to get cleaned up./ 2. To punish a person. * /The boss took us by the scruff when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine./ 3. To assume firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some difficulty. * /Someone had better take the post office by the scruff; there are too many customer complaints pouring in./

[take care] <v. phr.> To be careful; use wisdom or caution. * /Take care that you don't spill that coffee!/ * /We must take care to let nobody hear about this./

[take care of] <v. phr.> 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. * /She stayed home to take care of the baby./ Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON(2), LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE(2). 2. <informal> To deal with; do what is needed with. * /I will take care of that letter./ * /The coach told Jim to take care of the opposing player./ Compare: SEE TO.