Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц) - неизвестен Автор

[fill up] or [fill it up] or [fill her up] <v. phr.> To fill entirely. (Said by the driver of a car to a gas station attendant). * /When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in the tank, Andrew replied, "Fill her up."/

[filthy lucre] <n.>, <informal> Money, especially when thought of as bad or shameful. * /When the rich gambler tried to make Sarah marry him, she said, "Keep your filthy lucre - I shall marry the man I love."/ - Sometimes used in a joking way. * /"Come and let's get rid of some filthy lucre."/

[filthy rich] <adj. phr.> Extremely rich but without cultural refinement; nouveau riche. * /"The Murgatroyds are filthy rich," Ted complained. "They are rolling in money but they never learned how to behave properly at a dinner table."/

[finders keepers] or [finders keepers, losers weepers] <informal> Those who find lost things can keep them. - Used usually by children to claim the right to keep something they have found. * /I don't have to give it back; it's finders keepers./ * /Finders keepers, losers weepers! It's my knife now!/

[find fault] <v. phr.> To find something wrong; complain; criticize. * /She tries to please him, but he always finds fault./ * /They found fault with every box I made./ Compare: JUMP ON, PICK AT(3).

[find it in one's heart] <v. phr.> To be able or willing because of your nature. * /He could not find it in his heart to tell her about her mother's death./ * /Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?/ * /He could never find it in his heart to be mean to a dog./

[find one's ---] <v. phr.> To become able to use (some power of the body or mind.) * /In the program for the parents, John was nervous and could not speak at first; then he found his tongue./ * /The young bird had just found its wings./ * /The baby was just beginning to find his feet./ * /The question surprised him, and it was a minute before he found his tongue./

[find oneself] <v. phr.> To find out what one is fitted for and succeed in that. * /Mary tried several lines of work, but at last found herself as a teacher./ * /Sometimes young people move around a long time from job to job before they find themselves./

[find] or [get one's bearings] <v. phr.> To know where one is or where one is headed. * /"Without a compass," the sergeant warned the enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert."/

[find out] <v.> 1. To learn or discover (something you did not know before.) * /One morning the baby found out for the first time that she could walk./ * /I don't know how this car works, but I'll soon find out./ * /He watched the birds to find out where they go./ * /Mary was angry when Jane found out her secret./ 2. To get facts; to get facts about. * /He wrote to find out about a job in Alaska./ * /She found out how much the house would cost./ 3. To discover (someone) doing wrong; catch. * /Some children are bad when no one is watching them, but they are usually found out./ * /The boy knew that if he cheated on the test the teacher would find him out./

[find out the hard way] See: HARD WAY.

[fine feathers do not make fine birds] <literary> A person who wears fine clothes may not be as good as he looks. - A proverb. * /Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she is very mean. Fine feathers do not make fine birds./ Compare: HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES.

[fine kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.

[fine-tooth comb] <n. phr.> Great care; careful attention so as not to miss anything. * /The police searched the scene of the crime with a fine-tooth comb for clues./ * /My room is so clean you couldn't find dirt if you went over it with a fine-tooth comb./ Compare: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

[finger] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS, CROSS ONE'S FINGERS or KEEP ONE'S FINGERS CROSSED, LAY A FINGER ON, LIFT A FINGER, PUT ONE'S FINGER ON also LAY ONE'S FINGER ON, SLIP THROUGH ONE'S FINGERS, SNAP ONE'S FINGERS AT, STICKY FINGERS, TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER, WORK ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE.

[finger in the pie] <n. phr.>, <informal> Something to do with what happens; part interest or responsibility. * /When the girls got up a Christmas party, I felt sure Alice had a finger in the pie./ * /The Jones Company was chosen to build the new hospital and we knew Mr. Smith had a finger in the pie./ * /Jack is a boy with a finger in every pie at school, from dramatics to football./ Compare: HAVE A HAND IN, TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.

[fingertip] See: AT ONE'S FINGERTIPS.

[finish up] See: END UP(4).

[fire] See: BALL OF FIRE, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA or BETWEEN TWO FIRES, BUILD A FIRE UNDER, BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE, CATCH FIRE, DRAW FIRE, FAT'S IN THE FIRE, FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, HANG FIRE, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD, HOLD ONE'S FIRE or HOLD FIRE, IRON IN THE FIRE, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, LINE OF FIRE, ON FIRE, OPEN FIRE, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE, PLAY WITH FIRE, PULL ONE'S CHESTNUTS OUT OF THE FIRE, SET FIRE TO, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED, UNDER FIRE.

[firebug] <n.> An arsonist; one who willfully sets fire to property. * /The police caught the firebug just as he was about to set another barn ablaze in the country./

[firing squad] <n.> A group of soldiers chosen to shoot a prisoner to death or to fire shots over a grave as a tribute. * /A dictator often sends his enemies before a firing squad./ * /The dead general was honored by a firing squad./

[first] See: AT FIRST BLUSH, AT FIRST SIGHT, CAST THE FIRST STONE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF THE FIRST WATER.

[firsthand] <adj.> Fresh; genuine; from the original source. * /John says he got the information firsthand from the president himself./

[first and foremost] <adv. phr.> As the most important thing; first. * /First and foremost they needed food./ * /I want you to remember to pay that bill first and foremost./ * /First and foremost, we must keep America free./

[first and last] <adv. phr.> Most noticeably; all the time; chiefly. * /He was first and last a school teacher./ * /Steven joined the army because first and last he wanted to help his country./ Syn.: ABOVE ALL.

[first base] <n. phr.> 1. The base that must be touched first by a baseball player after batting. * /He got to first base on four balls./ 2. See: GET TO FIRST BASE.

[first class] <n.> 1. The first rank; the highest class; the best group. * /The pianist was quite good but he was not in the first class./ 2. The most expensive or comfortable class of travel; the best or one of the best groups in which to travel, especially by ship, train, or airplane. * /Most people can't afford the first class when they take a long journey by ship./ 3. The way of sending all mail that includes letters and post cards, anything written by hand or typewriter, and anything sealed so that it cannot be inspected, and that is the most expensive class of mail but receives the best treatment. * /The usual way to send a letter is by first class./ Compare: SECOND CLASS, THIRD CLASS.

[first-class(1)] <adj.> 1. Of the highest class or best kind; excellent; first-rate. * /Jane did a first-class job of repairing the coat./ * /It was a first-class TV program./ Compare: TOP-NOTCH. 2. Of the best or most expensive class of travelling. * /Mr. Jones bought a first-class plane ticket to Chicago./ 3. Belonging to the class of mail for sending letters, post cards, and handwritten or typewritten mail that is sealed. * /It is expensive to send a heavy letter by first-class mail./

[first-class(2)] <adv.> With the best material; in the best or most expensive way. * /When Mr. Van Smith goes anywhere he always travels first-class./ * /"How did you send the package?" "First-class."/

[first come, first served] <truncated sent.>, <informal> If you arrive first, you will be served first; people will be waited on in the order they come; the person who comes first will have his turn first. * /Get in line for your ice cream, boys. First come, first served./ * /The rule in the restaurant is first come, first served./ * /The team's owners announced that tickets for the World Series would be sold on a first come, first served basis only./ * /There are only a few seats left so it's first come, first served./ Compare: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM.

[first cousin] <n.> The child of your aunt or uncle. * /Tom's only first cousin was Ralph, the son of his Uncle John./

[first of all] <adv. phr.> Chiefly; primarily; as the first thing. * /After we get to Chicago, we will, first of all, try to find a reliable used car./

[first off] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Before anything else; first. * /First off, I want you to mow the lawn./

[first-run] <adj. phr.> Shown for the first time; new. * /The local theater showed only first-run movies./

[first stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE.

[first string(1)] <n.>, <informal> 1. The best group of players on a team; first team; A team. * /Dick loved basketball and practiced hard until he was put on the first string./ 2. The best group of workers. * /Tom learned his trade so well that his boss soon called him one of his first string./

[first-string] <adj.>, <informal> 1. On the starting team or A team. * /He was the first-string quarterback./ 2. Of the best quality; foremost. * /He was the least expensive of the city's first-string lawyers./

[first thing off the bat] <adv. phr.> Immediately; at once. * /He called home from Paris first thing off the bat as he stepped off the plane./

[first things first] Other things must wait until the most important and necessary things are done. * /Study your lessons before you go out to play. First things first./

[fish] See: COLD FISH, KETTLE OF FISH, NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL, NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, OTHER FISH TO FRY.

[fish-and-chips] <n. phr.> Fried fish and french fried potatoes. * /The family went to a drive-in restaurant and had fish-and-chips./

[fish for] <v.>, <informal> To try to get or to find out (something), by hinting or by a roundabout way to try to lead someone else to give or tell you what you want by hinting. * /Jerry was always fishing for an invitation to Bob's house./ * /Near examination time, some of the students fish for information./

[fish for a compliment] <v, phr.> To try to make someone pay a compliment. * /When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he was fishing for a compliment./

[fish fry] <n.> An outdoor party or picnic at which fish are fried and eaten. * /The guests at the fish fry caught and cooked their own fish./

[fish in muddy] or [troubled waters] <v. phr.> To take advantage of a troubled or confusing situation; seek personal advantage. * /With the police disorganized after the collapse of communism in Europe, many criminals started to fish in troubled waters./

[fish or cut bait] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. Decide what you want to do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance or turn. * /Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait./ * /"Buy the kind of ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or cut bait!"/ Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND. 2. Either try hard and do your best, or quit. * /Frank missed football practice so often that the coach told him to fish or cut bait./

[fish out of water] <n. phr.> A person who is out of his proper place in life; someone who does not fit in. * /Because Ed could not swim, he felt like a fish out of water at the beach./ * /She was the only girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a fish out of water./ Compare: OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT, OUT OF PLACE.

[fish story] <n. phr.> An unlikely or improbable tale. * /Hunters and fishermen often exaggerate their successes by telling fish stories./

[fist] See: HARD-FISTED.

[fit] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, GIVE PITS, HAVE A FIT or HAVE FITS, IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT, SEE FIT also THINK FIT, SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

[fit as a fiddle] <adj. phr.> In very good health. * /The man was almost 90 years old but fit as a fiddle./ * /Mary rested at home for a few weeks after her operation; then she felt fit as a fiddle./

[fit for] <v. phr.> To be suited for; be prepared for. * /"What kind of job is Ted fit for?" the social worker asked./

[fit in with] <v. phr.> To fall into agreement or accord with. * /His plans to take a vacation in early July fit in perfectly with the university schedule./

[fit like a glove] <v. phr.> To fit perfectly. * /Her new dress fits her like a glove./

[fit out] or [fit up] <v.> To give things needed; furnish. * /The soldiers were fitted out with guns and clothing./ * /The government fitted out warships and got sailors for them./ * /The house was fitted out very nicely./ * /He fitted his room up as a photographic laboratory./

[fit the bill] See: FILL THE BILL.

[fit to a T] See: TO A T.

[fit to be tied(1)] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Very angry or upset. * /She was fit to be tied when she saw the broken glass./

[fit to be tied(2)] <adv. phr.>, <substandard> Very hard. - Used for emphasis. * /Uncle Willie was laughing fit to be tied at the surprised look on Mother's face./

[five o'clock shadow] <n. phr.> A very short growth of beard on a man's face who did shave in the morning but whose beard is so strong that it is again visible in the afternoon. * /"You have a five o'clock shadow, honey," Irene said, "and we're going to the opera. Why don't you shave again quickly?"/

[fix] See: GET A FIX or GIVE SOMEONE A FIX, GET A FIX ON.

[fix someone's wagon] or [fix someone's little red wagon] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. (Said to a child as a threat) to administer a spanking. * /Stop that right away or I'll fix your (little red) wagon!/ 2. (Said of an adult) to thwart or frustrate another, to engineer his failure. * /If he sues me for slander, I will counter-sue him for malicious prosecution. That will fix his wagon!/

[fix someone up with] <v. phr.>, <informal> To help another get a date with a woman or man by arranging a meeting for the two. * /Say Joe, can you possibly fix me up with someone this weekend? I am so terribly lonesome!/

[fix up] <v. phr.> 1. To repair. * /The school is having the old gym fixed up./ 2. To arrange. * /I think I can fix it up with the company so that John gets the transfer he desires. /3. To arrange a date that might lead to a romance or even to marriage. * /Mary is a great matchmaker; she fixed up Ron and Betty at her recent party./

[fizzle out] <v.>, <informal> 1. To stop burning; die out. * /The fuse fizzled out before exploding the firecracker./ 2. To fail after a good start; end in failure. * /The power mower worked fine for a while but then it fizzled out./ * /The party fizzled out when everyone went home early./

[flag down] <v.>, <informal> To stop by waving a signal flag or as if waving a signal flag. * /The signalman flagged down the freight train./ * /A policeman flagged down the car with his flashlight./