Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[made-to-measure] or [tailor-made] <adj.> Made to fit a special set of measurements or needs. * /John has a new made-to-measure suit./ * /The club is tailor-made for Jane./ Syn.: MADE TO ORDER.
[made to order] <adj. phr.> 1. Made specially in the way the buyer wants instead of all the same in large amounts; made especially for the buyer. * /Mr. Black's clothes were all made to order./ Compare: MADE-TO-MEASURE. 2. Just right. * /The weather was made to order for the hike./
[made up out of whole cloth] See: OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
[magic carpet] <n.> 1. A rug said to be able to transport a person through the air to any place he wishes. * /The caliph of Baghdad flew on his magic carpet to Arabia./ 2. Any form of transportation that is comfortable and easy enough to seem magical. * /Flying the Concord from Dallas to London seemed like boarding the magic carpet./ * /Mr. Smith's new car drove so smoothly it seemed like a magic carpet./
[maiden speech] <n. phr.> One's first public speech, usually before some legislative body. * /It was the new congressman's maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly./
[maiden voyage] <n. phr.> The first voyage of a boat. * /The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage to America from England./
[mail order] <n. phr.> A purchase made by mail. * /If you don't have a chance to go to a store, you can sometimes make a purchase by mail order./
[main] See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[main drag] <n.>, <colloquial> 1. The most important street or thoroughfare in a town. * /Lincoln Avenue is the main drag of our town./ 2. The street where the dope pushers and the prostitutes are. * /Wells Street is the main drag of Chicago, actionwise./
[main squeeze] <n.>, <slang> 1. The top ranking person in an organization or in a neighborhood; an important person, such as one's boss. * /Mr. Bronchard is the main squeeze in this office./ 2. The top person in charge of an illegal operation, such as drug sales, etc. * /Before we can clean up this part of town, we must arrest the main squeeze./ 3. One's principal romantic or sexual partner. * /The singer's main squeeze is a member of the band./
[majority leader] <n.> The leader of the political party with the most votes in a legislative house. * /The majority leader of the House of Representatives tried to get the members of his party to support the bill./ Compare: MINORITY LEADER.
[make] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, HAVE IT MADE, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, ON THE MAKE.
[make a beeline for] <v. phr.> To go in a straight line toward. * /The runner made a beeline for first base./ * /When the bell rang Ted made a beeline for the door of the classroom./
[make a big deal about] <v. phr.>, <informal> To exaggerate an insignificant event. * /Jeff said, "I'm sorry I banged into you in the dark. Don't make a big deal out of it."/
[make a clean breast of] <v. phr.> To admit (your guilt); tell all about (your wrong doing); confess everything. * /The police caught the hit-and-run driver and he made a clean breast of his crime./ * /Arthur worried because he cheated on the test, and finally he went to the teacher and made a clean breast of it./ Compare: OFF ONE'S CHEST.
[make a clean sweep of] <v. phr.> 1. Achieve a complete victory. * /In 7980 the Reagan Republicans made a clean sweep of the western states./ 2. To eliminate thoroughly and completely. * /The new attorney general is expected to make a clean sweep of all the old administrative personnel./
[make a clown of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a day of it] <v. phr.>, <informal> To do something all day. * /When they go to the beach they take a picnic lunch and make a day of it./ Compare: MAKE A NIGHT OF.
[make a dent in] <v. phr.>, <informal> To make less by a very small amount; reduce slightly.
– Usually used in the negative or with such qualifying words as "hardly" or "barely". * /John shoveled and shoveled, but he didn't seem to make a dent in the pile of sand./ * /Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework./
[make a difference] or [make the difference] <v. phr.> To change the nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. * /John's good score on the test made the difference between his passing or failing the course./ * /It doesn't make a bit of difference if you are late to my party. I just want you to come./
[make a face] <v. phr.>, <informal> To twist your face; make an ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue). * /The boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back./ * /The sick boy swallowed the medicine and made a face./
[make a fast buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a federal case out of] See: MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.
[make a fool of] or (informal) [make a monkey of] <v. phr.> To make (someone) look foolish. * /The boy made a fool of himself./ * /Mary's classmates made a fool of her by telling her the party was to be a masquerade./
[make after] <v. phr.> To chase something; run after something. * /The mouse escaped from the kitchen corner and the cat made after it./
[make a fuss over] <v. phr.> 1. To quarrel about something or someone. * /I want you kids to stop fussing about who gets the drumstick./ 2. To he excessively concerned about someone or something; worry. * /Let's not fuss over such an insignificant problem!/ 3. To show exaggerated care or preoccupation about a person or an animal. * /Aunt Hermione is constantly fussing over her old lapdog./
[make a go of] <v. phr.> To turn into a success. * /He is both energetic and highly skilled at trading; he is sure to make a go of any business that holds his interest./