Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц) - неизвестен Автор

[left-wing] <adj.> That which is or belongs to a group of people in politics that favors radical change in the direction of socialism or communism. * /The left-wing faction called for an immediate strike./

[leg] See: ON ONE'S LAST LEGS, PULL ONE'S LEG, SHAKE A LEG, TAIL BETWEEN ONE'S LEGS.

[legal age] or [lawful age] The age at which a person is allowed to do a certain thing or is held responsible for an action. * /In most states the legal age for voting is 27./ * /He could not get a driver's license because he was not of lawful age./

[leg man] <n.>, <informal> 1. An errand boy; one who performs messenger services, or the like. * /Joe hired a leg man for the office./ 2. <slang>, <semi-vulgar>, <avoidable> A man who is particularly attracted to good looking female legs and pays less attention to other parts of the female anatomy. * /Herb is a leg man./

[leg-pulling] See: PULL ONE'S LEG.

[Legree] See: SIMON LEGREE.

[leg to stand on] <n. phr.> A firm foundation of facts; facts to support your claim. - Usually used in the negative. * /Jerry's answering speech left his opponent without a leg to stand on./ * /Amos sued for damages, but did not have a leg to stand on./

[leg work] <n.>, <informal> The physical end of a project, such as the typing of research reports; the physical investigating of a criminal affair; the carrying of books to and from libraries; etc. * /Joe, my research assistant, does a lot of leg work for me./

[leisure] See: AT LEISURE or AT ONE'S LEISURE.

[lend a hand] or [give a hand] also [bear a hand] <v. phr.> To give help; make yourself useful; help. * /The stage manager asked some of the boys to lend a hand with the scenery./ * /Dick saw a woman with a flat tire and offered to give her a hand with it./ Compare: LIFT A FINGER.

[lend an ear to] See: GIVE AN EAR TO.

[lend color to] See: GIVE COLOR TO.

[lend itself to] <v. phr.> To give a chance for or be useful for; to be possible or right for. * /Bob was sick and did not go to Jane's party, but his absence lent itself to misunderstanding./ * /The teacher's paperweight was a heavy piece of metal which sometimes lent itself to use as a hammer./ * /This poem lends itself to our program very well./ Compare: LEND ONESELF TO.

[lend oneself to] <v. phr.> To give help or approval to; encourage; assist. * /Alice wouldn't lend herself to the plot to hide the teacher's chalk./

[length] See: AT LENGTH, GO TO ANY LENGTH, KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM'S LENGTH.

[less] See: MORE OR LESS, MUCH LESS.

[lesson] See: TEACH A LESSON.

[less than] <adv.> Not; little. * /We were busy and less than delighted to have company that day./ * /The boys were less than happy about having a party./ Contrast: MORE THAN.

[less than no time] <n. phr.>, <informal> Very quickly. * /We can be ready to go in less than no time./ * /It took Sally less than no time to get dinner ready./

[let] See: LIVE AND LET LIVE.

[let alone] <conj. phr.> 1. Even less; certainly not. - Used after a negative clause. * /I can't add two and two, let alone do fractions./ * /Jim can't drive a car, let alone a truck./ Compare: MUCH LESS, NOT TO MENTION. 2. [let alone] or [leave alone] <v.> To stay away from; keep hands off; avoid. * /When Joel gets mad, just let him alone./ * /Little Patsy was warned to leave the birthday cake alone./ Compare: LET BE.

[let be] <v.> To pay no attention to; disregard; forget. * /Let her be; she has a headache./ Compare: LET ALONE.

[let bygones be bygones] <v. phr.> To let the past be forgotten. * /After a long, angry quarrel the two boys agreed to let bygones be bygones and made friends again./ * /We should let bygones be bygones and try to get along with each other./ Syn.: FORGIVE AND FORGET. Compare: BURY THE HATCHET, LIVE AND LET LIVE.

[letdown] <n.> A disappointment; a heartbreak. * /It was a major letdown for John when Mary refused to marry him./

[let down] <v. phr.> 1. To allow to descend; lower. * /Harry let the chain saw down on a rope and then climbed down himself./ 2. To relax; stop trying so hard; take it easy. * /The horse let down near the end of the race and lost./ * /The team let down in the fourth quarter because they were far ahead./ Compare: LET GO. 3. To fail to do as well as (someone) expected; disappoint. * /The team felt they had let the coach down./

[let down easy] <v. phr.> To refuse or say no to (someone) in a pleasant manner; to tell bad news about a refusal or disappointment in a kindly way. * /The teacher had to tell George that he had failed his college examinations, but she tried to let him down easy./ * /The boss tried to let Jim down easy when he had to tell him he was too young for the job./

[let down one's hair] See: LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN.

[let drop] <v. phr.> 1. To cease to talk about; set aside; forget. * /This is such an unpleasant subject that I suggest we let it drop for a few days./ 2. To disclose; hint. * /He unexpectedly let drop that he was resigning and joining another firm./

[let fall] See: LET DROP.

[let George do it] <v. phr.>, <informal> To expect someone else to do the work or take the responsibility. * /Many people expect to let George do it when they are on a committee./ Compare: PASS THE BUCK.

[let go] <v.> 1a. To stop holding something; loosen your hold; release. * /The boy grabbed Jack's coat and would not let go./ - Often used with "of". * /When the child let go of her mother's hand, she fell down./ Compare: GIVE UP(1a), LET LOOSE. 1b. To weaken and break under pressure. * /The old water pipe suddenly let go and water poured out of it./ Syn.: GIVE WAY. Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 2. To pay no attention to; neglect. * /Robert let his teeth go when he was young and now he has to go to the dentist often./ * /After she was married, Jane let herself go and was not pretty anymore. / 3. To allow something to pass; do nothing about. * /When Charles was tardy, the teacher scolded him and let it go at that./ * /The children teased Frank, but he smiled and let it go./ Compare: LET OFF(2), LET RIDE. 4. To discharge from a job; fire. * /Mr. Wilson got into a quarrel with his boss and was let go./ 5. To make (something) go out quickly; shoot; fire. * /The soldiers let go a number of shots./ * /Robin Hood let go an arrow at the deer./ * /Paul was so angry that he let go a blow at the boy./ * /The truck driver saw the flat tire and let go a loud curse./ * /The pitcher let go a fast ball and the batter swung and missed./ Compare: CUT LOOSE, LET OUT. 6. or [let oneself go] <informal> To be free in one's actions or talk; relax. * /Judge Brown let go at the reunion of his old class and had a good time./ * /The cowboys worked hard all week, but on Saturday night they went to town and let themselves go./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET LOOSE(3), LET OFF STEAM(2).

[let go hang] See: GO HANG.

[let go of] <v. phr.> To release one's grasp. * /As soon as Sally let go of the leash, her dog ran away./

[let go of one's mother's apron strings] See: TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.

[let grass grow under one's feet] <v. phr.> To be idle; be lazy; waste time. - Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. * /The new boy joined the football team, made the honor roll, and found a girlfriend during the first month of school. He certainly did not let any grass grow under his feet./

[let it all hang out] <v. phr.>, <slang>, <informal> Not to disguise anything; to let the truth be known. * /Sue can't deceive anyone; she just lets it all hang out./

[let it lay] <v. phr.>, <used imperatively>, <slang> Forget it; leave it alone; do not be concerned or involved. * /Don't get involved with Max again - just let it lay./

[let it rip] <v. phr.>, <used imperatively>, <slang> Don't be concerned; pay no attention to what happens. * /Why get involved? Forget about it and let it rip./ 2. (Imperatively) Do become involved and make the most of it; get in there and really try to win. * /Come on man, give it all you've got and let it rip!/

[let know] <v. phr.> To inform. * /Please let us know the time of your arrival./

[let loose] <v.> 1a. or [set loose] or [turn loose] To set free; loosen or give up your hold on. * /The farmer opened the gate and let the bull loose in the pasture./ * /They turned the balloon loose to let it rise in the air./ 1b. or [turn loose] To give freedom (to someone) to do something; to allow (someone) to do what he wants. * /Mother let Jim loose on the apple pie./ * /The children were turned loose in the toy store to pick the toys they wanted./ 1c. To stop holding something; loosen your hold. * /Jim caught Ruth's arm and would not let loose./ Compare: LET GO, LET OUT. 2a. <informal> To let or make (something) move fast or hard; release. * /The fielder let loose a long throw to home plate after catching the ball./ 2b. <informal> To release something held. * /Those dark clouds are going to let loose any minute./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET GO. 3. <informal> To speak or act freely; disregard ordinary limits. * /The teacher told Jim that some day she was going to let loose and tell him what she thought of him./ * /Mother let loose on her shopping trip today and bought things for all of us./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET GO.

[let me see] or [let us see] <informal> 1. Let us find out by trying or performing an action. * /Let me see if you can jump over the fence./ 2. Give me time to think or remember. * /I can't come today. Let me see. How about Friday?/ * /Let's see. Where did I put the key?/

[let off] <v.> 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. * /Willie accidentally let off his father's shotgun and made a hole in the wall./ Syn.: GO OFF, LET LOOSE(2). 2. To permit to go or escape; excuse from a penalty, a duty, or a promise. * /Two boys were caught smoking in school but the principal let them off with a warning./ * /Mary's mother said that she would let Mary off from drying the supper dishes./ * /The factory closed for a month in the summer and let the workers off./ Compare: LET GO. 3. or <informal> [let off the hook] To miss a chance to defeat or score against, especially in sports or games. * /We almost scored a touchdown in the first play against Tech but we let them off the hook by fumbling the ball./ * /The boxer let his opponent off the hook many times./

[let off steam] or [blow off steam] <v. phr.> 1. To let or make steam escape; send out steam. * /The janitor let off some steam because the pressure was too high./ 2. <informal> To get rid of physical energy or strong feeling through activity; talk or be very active physically after forced quiet. * /After the long ride on the bus, the children let off steam with a race to the lake./ * /When the rain stopped, the boys let off steam with a ball game./ * /Bill's mother was very angry when he was late in coming home, and let off steam by walking around and around./ * /Bill had to take his foreman's rough criticisms all day and he would blow off steam at home by scolding the children./ Compare: BLOW ONE'S TOP, LET GO(6).

[let off the hook] See: LET OFF(3).

[let on] <v.>, <informal> 1. To tell or admit what you know. Usually used in the negative. * /Frank lost a quarter but he didn't let on to his mother./ 2. To try to make people believe; pretend. * /The old man likes to let on that he is rich./

[let one have it] <v. phr.> 1a. <slang> To hit hard. * /He drew back his fist and let the man have it./ * /Give him a kick in the pants; let him have it!/ Syn.: GIVE IT TO. 1b. <slang> To use a weapon on; to shoot or knife. * /The guard pulled his gun and let the robber have it in the leg./ Compare: OPEN UP. 1c. or [let one have it with both barrels] <slang> To attack with words; scold; criticize. * /Mary kept talking in class until the teacher became angry and let her have it./ Syn.: LIGHT INTO(2). 2. <informal> To tell about it. - Used in the imperative phrase, "let's have it". * /Now, Mary, let's have it from the beginning./ * /We will take turns reading; John, let's have it from page one./

[let one in on] <v. phr.> To reveal a secret to; permit someone to share in. * /If I let you in on something big we're planning, will you promise not to mention it to anyone?/

[let oneself go] See: LET GO(6).

[let one's hair down] or [let down one's hair] <v. phr.>, <informal> Act freely and naturally; be informal; relax. * /Kings and queens can seldom let their hair down./ * /After the dance, the college girls let their hair down and compared dates./ Compare: LET GO(6).

[let one's left hand know what one's right hand is doing] <v. phr.> 1. To make a show of your kindness or help to others. - Used in the negative. * /The Bible tells us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when we give to the poor./ 2. <informal> To let everyone taking part in something know what each is doing; encourage cooperation in working. * /Tom told Fred and Bill to meet him in town, but he forgot to tell them where. Next time he'll let his left hand know what his right hand is doing./ - Often used in the negative. * /Our team lost today because the coach and captain did not let the left hand know what the right was doing, and the players were all mixed up./

[let out] <v.> 1a. To allow to go out or escape. * /The guard let the prisoners out of jail to work in the garden./ * /Mother won't let us out when it rains./ Compare: LET LOOSE. 1b. <informal> To make (a sound) come out of the mouth; utter. * /A bee stung Charles. He let out a yell and ran home./ * /Father told Betty to sit still and not let out a peep during church./ 2. To allow to be known; tell. * /I'll never tell you another secret if you let this one out./ Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 3. To make larger (as clothing) or looser; allow to slip out (as a rope). * /Mary's mother had to let out her dress because Mary is growing so tall./ * /Father hooked a big fish on his line. He had to let the line out so the fish wouldn't break it./ Compare: PIECE OUT. Contrast: TAKE IN. 4. <informal> To allow to move at higher speed. * /The rider let out his horse to try to beat the horse ahead of him./ 5. <informal> To free from blame, responsibility, or duty. - Often used with "of". * /Last time I let you out of it when you were late. I'll have to punish you this time./ * /Frank has shoveled the snow from the sidewalk. That lets me out./ Compare: LET GO, LET OFF. 6, <informal> To discharge from a job; fire. * /The shop closed down and all the men were let out./ 7. <informal> To dismiss or be dismissed. * /The coach let us out from practice at 3 o'clock./ * /I'll meet you after school lets out./

[let pass] <v. phr.> To disregard; overlook. * /Herb may have overheard what was said about him, but he decided to let it pass./

[let ride] <v. phr.>, <informal> To allow to go on without change; accept (a situation or action) for the present. * /The committee could not decide what to do about Bob's idea, so they let the matter ride for a month or so./ * /The class was rather noisy but the teacher let it ride because it was near Christmas./ * /Ruth's paper was not very good, but the teacher let it ride because she knew Ruth had tried./ Compare: LET GO(3), LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.