Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.
[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] <n. phr.> An unimportant person in a large group or organization. * /In a large company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a big pond./ * /When Bill transferred to a larger high school, he found himself a small frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.
[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect they would notice.
– A proverb. * /Be especially careful not to swear in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears./
[little theater] <n.> A theater, usually with nonprofessional actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure and practice than for profit. * /Little theater groups are active in all parts of the United States./ * /Many famous actors began in little theaters./
[lit up like a Christmas tree] <adj. phr.>, <informal> To be drunk. * /On New Year's Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.
[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you learn by experience.
– A proverb. * /"Live and learn," said Mother. "I never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ * /Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it shrank and was too little. Live and learn./
[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others live as they wish without being bothered by you. * /Father scolds Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it's her hair and his pipe; live and let live./ Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.
[live down] <v.> To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter) by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or forgotten by not repeating it. * /John's business failure hurt him for a long time, but in the end he lived it down./ * /Frank was rather a bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up./ * /Sandra called her principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she thought she would never live it down./
[live from hand to mouth] <v. phr.> To live on little money and spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have just enough. * /Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand to mouth when he had no job./ * /These Indians live from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots./
[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.
[live in] or [room in] <v.>, <informal> To live in the school you attend or the place where you work. * /Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college./ * /Many women advertise for mother's helpers to room in with families and help take care of children./
[live in a fool's paradise] <v. phr.> To deceive oneself; tell oneself unreal stories. * /His information is based on a lot of misunderstanding - the poor guy is living in a fool's paradise./
[live in an ivory tower] <v. phr.> To be blind to real life; live an unrealistically sheltered existence. * /Professor Nebelmacher has no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower./
[live in the fast lane] <v. phr.>, <informal> To live a full and very active life pursuing wealth and success. * /They have been living in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City./
[live it up] <v. phr.>, <informal> To pursue pleasure; enjoy games or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. * /Joe had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it up./ * /The western cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live it up./
[live off someone] <v. phr.> To be supported by someone. * /Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to live off his elderly parents./
[live off the fat of the land] See: FAT OF THE LAND.
[live on borrowed time] <v. phr.> To live or last longer than was expected. * /Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on borrowed time./ * /Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a year ago the doctors had told him he would only live six months./
[live out] <v.> 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. * /Smith lived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to the South again./ * /After retiring, John and his wife lived out their lives in Florida./ 2. To last through; endure to the end of. * /We lived out the winter on short ration./ * /He lived out the earthquake, but his house was destroyed./
[live out of a suitcase] <v. phr.> To have no permanent residence or a permanent place to hang one's clothes. * /When Jennifer accepted her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a suitcase for six months./
[live up to] <v.> To act according to; come up to; agree with; follow. * /So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the example he saw in Lincoln./ * /Bob was a man who lived up to his promises./ * /The new house didn't live up to expectations./
[live wire] <n. phr.> 1. An electrically charged wire, usually uninsulated. * /The electrician was severely burned by the live wire./ 2. An alert or energetic person. * /To sell the new merchandise, our company needs several salespeople who are live wires./
[living daylights] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF, KNOCK THE --- OUT OF.
[living end] <adj.>, <slang> Great; fantastic; the ultimate. * /That show we saw last night was the living end./
[load] See: GET A LOAD OF.
[loaded for bear] <adj. phr.>, <slang> Ready for action; prepared and eager. * /Frank liked the new merchandise and as he set out on his rounds as a salesman, he felt really loaded for bear./ * /The football team arrived Friday noon, loaded for bear./