Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[nature] See: SECOND NATURE.
[naught] See: GO FOR NOTHING also GO FOR NAUGHT.
[near] See: FAR AND NEAR.
[near at hand] See: AT HAND.
[necessity] See: MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY, OF NECESSITY.
[neck] See: BREATHE DOWN ONE'S NECK, BREAK ONE'S NECK, CATCH IT IN THE NECK or GET IT IN THE NECK, PAIN IN THE NECK, SAVE ONE'S NECK, STICK ONE'S NECK OUT.
[neck and neck] <adj. or adv.>, <informal> Equal or nearly equal in a race or contest; abreast; tied. * /At the end of the race the two horses were neck and neck./ * /For months John and Harry seemed to be neck and neck in Alice's favor./ Compare: NIP AND TUCK.
[neck of the woods] <n. phr.>, <informal> Part of the country; place; neighborhood; vicinity. * /We visited Illinois and Iowa last summer; in that neck of the woods the corn really grows tall./ * /We were down in your neck of the woods last week./
[necktie party] <n.>, <slang> A hanging by a mob; lynching. * /Cattle thieves were stealing the rancher's cattle, but the cowboys caught them and had a necktie party./ Compare: STRING UP.
[ned] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.
[needle] See: ON PINS AND NEEDLES.
[needle in a haystack] <n. phr.>, <informal> Something that will be very hard to find. * /"I lost my class ring somewhere in the front yard," said June. Jim answered, "Too bad. That will be like finding a needle in a haystack."/
[neither fish nor fowl] also [neither fish, flesh, nor fowl] Something or someone that does not belong to a definite group or known class; a strange person or thing; someone or something odd or hard to understand. * /The man is neither fish nor fowl; he votes Democrat or Republican according to which will do him the most good./ * /Mrs. Harris bought a piece of furniture that was both a table and a chair. Mr. Harris said it was neither fish nor fowl./ * /The movie is neither fish nor fowl; it is a funny love story./
[neither here nor there] <adj. phr.> Not important to the thing being discussed; off the subject; not mattering. * /Perhaps you did stay up late finishing your homework. That's neither here nor there. You still must come to school on time./ * /The boys all like the coach but that's neither here nor there; the question is, "Does he know how to teach football?"/ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: HAVE TO DO WITH, COME TO THE POINT.
[neither hide nor hair] See: HIDE OR HAIR.
[neither rhyme nor reason] <n. phr.> No emotional or intellectual substance. * /As far as I am concerned, his proposal makes no sense; it has neither rhyme nor reason./
[Nellie] See: NICE NELLY or NICE NELLIE, NERVOUS NELLIE.
[Nelly] See: NICE NELLY or NICE NELLIE, NERVOUS NELLIE.
[nerve] See: GET ON ONE'S NERVES, GET UP THE NERVE.
[nervous breakdown] <n.> A mild or severe attack of mental illness; a collapse of a person's ability to make decisions and solve problems because of overwork, great mental strain, or the like. * /When the mother saw her baby run over, she suffered a nervous breakdown./
[Nervous Nellie] <n.>, <informal> A timid person who lacks determination and courage. * /I say we will never win if we don't stop being Nervous Nellies!/
[nervous prostration] <n.> An illness of the mind that makes you feel very tired, worried, and bored, and that often causes headaches, upset stomach, and other sickness. * /Aunt Jane said that taking care of us children all day was enough to give any woman nervous prostration./
[nest] See: FEATHER ONE'S NEST, STIR UP A HORNET'S NEST.
[nest egg] <n.> Savings set aside to be used in the future. * /Herb says he doesn't have to worry about his old age because he has a nest egg in the bank./
[never] See: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.
[never mind] <v. phr.> Don't trouble about it; don't worry about it; forget it; skip it.
– Usually used in speaking or when writing dialogue. * /Never mind preparing a picnic lunch; we'll find a lunchstand when we get to the beach./ * /"What did you say?" "Oh, never mind."/ * /"What about money?" "Never mind that. I'll take care of it."/
[never say die] <v. phr.> Don't quit; don't be discouraged. * /"Never say die!" John said, as he got on his feet and tried to ice skate again./
[new] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
[new blood] <n.> Something or someone that gives new life or vigor, fresh energy or power. * /New blood was brought into the company through appointment of younger men to important positions./
[new broom sweeps clean] A new person makes many changes.
– A proverb. * /The new superintendent has changed many of the school rules. A new broom sweeps clean./
[Newcastle] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE.
[new deal] <n.>, <informal> 1. A complete change; a fresh start. * /People had been on the job too long; a new deal was needed to get things out of the old bad habits./ 2. Another chance. * /The boy asked for a new deal after he had been punished for fighting in school./
[newfangled] <adj.> Newly invented or contrived; excessively complex. * /Dorothy felt that many newfangled gadgets in Kate's all-electric kitchen weren't really necessary./
[new leaf] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
[new lease on life] <n. phr.> A new chance to live; an improved manner of living. * /After his illness and his retirement, living in Hawaii was a new lease on life./
[new man] <n.> A person who has become very much better. * /Diet and exercise made a new man of him./
[new money] <n. phr.> People who have become rich recently. * /Since Bobby's father invented a new computer component, Bobby and his family are new money./ Contrast: OLD MONEY.