1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний - [2]

бросать камень (в кого-л.)

to throw stones at someone

Many politicians seem to spend too much time throwing stones at each other.

бросать на произвол судьбы (кого-л.)

to leave someone in the lurch

Soon after their son was born he went off and left her in the lurch.

бросать перчатку

to throw down the gauntlet

He threw down the gauntlet by challenging my conclusions.

бросаться в глаза (кому-л.)

to catch someone’s eye; to stick out like a sore thumb

His shiny black car caught my eye.

The dinner is formal; if you wear old jeans you’ll stick out like a sore thumb among all the well-dressed guests.

бряцать оружием

to rattle one’s sabre

He may rattle his sabre at his enemies in public, but then will bend over backwards to agree behind closed doors.

буква закона

the letter of the law

There was the danger that the judge may follow the letter of the law rather than its spirit.

буря в стакане воды

a storm in a teacup

This isn’t a serious problem – just a storm in a teacup.

была не была

here goes

‘Well, here goes!’ shouted the parachutist and jumped out of the plane.

быть беде

the fat is in the fire

The fat’s in the fire now that she has discovered about her husband’s lover.

быть на высоте

to give a good account of oneself

John gave a good account of himself during the match.

быть навеселе

to have had one too many; to have had a few (too many)

He looks as if he has had one too many.

She’s jad a few; you should take her home and put her to bed.

быть на побегушках (у кого-л.)

to fetch and carry (for someone ); to be at someone’s beck and call

She is so lazy because her husband is always there to fetch and carry for her.

I had to be at his beck and call 24 hours a day.

быть нечистым на руку

to have light fingers

The employee on the till had light fingers and got fired.

в бегах

on the run

The jail-breakers were on the run from the police.

в глубине души

in one’s heart of hearts

In her heart of hearts, she knew that she wasn’t cut out to be a surgeon.

в здравом уме

in one’s right mind

No one in his right mind would go there.

в интересном положении

in the family way

I’ve heard that Martin’s wife is in the family way.

в кулаке (у кого-л.)

under someone’s thumb; in the palm of someone’s hand; in someone’s pocket

My sister is completely under her husband’s thumb.

The mayor had the local press in the palm of his hand and was never criticised by any of them.

Most of the officials in that country are in the pocket of a few very rich businessmen.

в курсе дела

in the know

Let’s ask Paul. He’s in the know.

в лицо (кому-л.)

to someone’s face

He wouldn’t dare say it to my face!

в лучшем случае

at best

The buses were all late and at best I could only hope to be home before midnight.

в любом случае

in any case/event; at any rate

In any event, I’ll see him on Tuesday.

At any rate we must go tomorrow.

в мгновение ока

in the twinkling of an eye

The new machine can do all the calculations in the twinkling of an eye.

в общем и целом

on the whole; all in all; first and last

On the whole, this was a very good journey.

All in all we haven’t done badly.

She is, first and last, a hard worker.

в объятиях Морфея

in the land of Nod

She was in the land of Nod and I didn’t want to wake her.

в одно ухо входит, а в другое выходит

to go in one ear and out the other

Everything she says to her son seems to go in one ear and out the other.

в одной лодке

in the same boat

When I told her that I was broke she said that she was in the same boat.

в первую очередь

in the first place

In the first place, I don’t have enough money to buy a new house.

в подметки не годиться (кому-л.)

cannot hold a candle to someone

She can’t hold a candle to her mother when it comes to cooking.

в полном разгаре

in full swing

The party was in full swing.

в порядке вещей

all in a day’s work

Dealing with complaints from quests is all in a day’s work to anyone working in a hotel.

в поте лица

by the sweat of one’s brow

I can proudly say that whatever I achieved was by the sweat of my brow.

в своей стихии

in one’s element

She is in her element when she’s singing.

в своем уме

in one’s right mind

You’re not in your right mind! That sounds crazy!

в стельку пьяный

as drunk as a lord

When he came home last night, he was as drunk as a lord.

в ус не дуть

not to give a damn

She was unemployed, but she didn’t give a damn.

в форме

on form

John was back on form and nobody could beat him.

в хороших руках

in good hands

This hospital is excellent – your mother will be in good hands.

в худшем случае

if the worst comes to the worst

If the worst comes to the worst, we’ll have to stay in the hotel for another night.

в чем мать родила

in one’s birthday suit; in the buff/altogether/raw

I used to go down to the beach and swim in my birthday suit.

He always sleeps in the raw.

в шкуре (кого-л.)

in someone’s skin

I wouldn’t want to be in your skin.

важная птица

a big cheese/gun/noise/shot/wheel

She is one of the directors of our company – a big noise.

валится из рук (у кого-л.)

to be all fingers and thumbs

I’m all fingers and thumbs today. Can you thread this needle for me?

валить с ног (кого-л.)

to lay