Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[John Q. Public] <n.> A name used informally for the average citizen. * /It is John Q. Public's duty to vote at each election./ Compare: JOE DOAKES.
[join forces] or [join hands] <v. phr.> To get together for the same aim; group together for a purpose; unite. * /The students and the graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym burned down./ * /The American soldiers joined hands with the British in the war against Germany./ Compare: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.
[join hands] See: JOIN FORCES.
[joint] See: CLIP JOINT, PUT ONE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.
[joke] See: CRACK A JOKE.
[joking apart] See: JOKING ASIDE.
[joking aside] or [joking apart] <v. phr.>, <informal> No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously. * /Joking aside, although the conditions were not very comfortable, we had a wonderful time./ * /Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred people in the room./
[Jones] See: KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.
[jot down] <v. phr.> To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something. * /Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe./
[judgment seat] <n.> A place where you are judged; a place where justice and punishment are given out. * /Mrs. Smith is so bossy, she always acts as though she is in the judgment seat./
[jug-eared] <adj.> With ears that stick out like the handles of a jug. * /Tommy was a redheaded, freckle-faced, jug-eared boy./
[juice] See: STEW IN ONE'S OWN JUICE.
[juice dealer] <n.>, <slang> An underworld money lender who charges exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently collects payment by physical force. * /No matter how broke you are, never go to a juice dealer./
[jump] See: GET THE JUMP ON or HAVE THE JUMP ON, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN or NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.
[jump all over] See: JUMP ON.
[jump at] <v.> To take or accept quickly and gladly. * /Johnny jumped at the invitation to go swimming with his brother./ Compare: TAKE UP(7).
[jump bail] or [skip bail] <v. phr.>, <informal> To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come. * /The robber paid $2000 bail so he wouldn't be put in jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped to Mexico./ * /The man skipped bail because he was afraid the court might put him in jail for a long time./
[jump ball] <n.> The starting of play in basketball by tossing the ball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps and tries to hit the ball to a member of his own team. * /Two players held onto the ball at the same time and the referee called a jump ball./
[jump down one's throat] <v. phr.> To suddenly become very angry at someone; scold severely or angrily. * /The teacher jumped down Billy's throat when Billy said he did not do his homework./
[jump from the frying pan into the fire] See: OUT OP THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[jumping-off place] <n. phr.> 1. A place so far away that it seems to be the end of the world. * /Columbus' sailors were afraid they would arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west./ * /So you visited Little America? That sounds like the jumping-off place!/ 2. The starting place of a long, hard trip or of something difficult or dangerous. * /The jumping-off place for the explorer's trip through the jungle was a little village./
[jump on] or [jump all over] or [land on] or [land all over] <v. phr.>, <informal> To scold; criticize; blame. * /Tom's boss jumped all over Tom because he made a careless mistake./ * /Janice landed on Robert for dressing carelessly for their date./ * /"I don't know why Bill is always jumping on me; I just don't understand him," said Bob./ Compare: FIND FAULT, GET ON, LAY OUT(7).
[jump on the bandwagon] or [get on the bandwagon] <v. phr.>, <informal> To join a popular cause or movement. * /At the last possible moment, the senator jumped on the winning candidate's bandwagon./
[jump out of one's skin] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be badly frightened; be very much surprised. * /The lightning struck so close to Bill that he almost jumped out of his skin./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[jump pass] <n.> A pass (as in football or basketball) made by a player while jumping. * /The Bruins scored when the quarterback tossed a jump pass to the left end./
[jump the gun] also [beat the gun] <v. phr.> 1. To start before the starter's gun in a race. * /The runners were called back because one of them jumped the gun./ 2. <informal> To start before you should; start before anyone else. * /The new students were not supposed to come before noon, but one boy jumped the gun and came to school at eight in the morning./ * /The students planned to say happy birthday to the principal when the teacher raised her hand, but Sarah jumped the gun and said it when he came into the room./
[jump the traces] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES.
[jump the track] <v. phr.> 1. To go off rails; go or run the wrong way. * /The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident./ * /The pulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother's washing fell down./ 2. <informal> To change from one thought or idea to another without plan or reason; change the thought or idea you are talking about to something different. * /Bob didn't finish his algebra homework because his mind kept jumping the track to think about the new girl in class./ Compare: OFF THE TRACK.
[jump through a hoop] <v. phr.>, <informal> To do whatever you are told to do; obey any order. * /Bob would jump through a hoop for Mary./ Compare: TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER, UNDER ONE'S THUMB.
[jump to a conclusion] <v. phr.> To decide too quickly or without thinking or finding the facts. * /Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot./ Contrast: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
[junked up] <adj.> or <v. phr.>, <slang>, <drug culture> To be under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. * /You can't talk to Billy, he's all junked up./