Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[on one's head] or [upon one's head] <adv. phr.> On one's self. * /When the school board fired the superintendent of schools, they brought the anger of the parents upon their heads./ * /Billy had been naughty all day, but he really brought his parents' anger down on his head by pushing his little sister into a mud puddle./ Compare: ABOUT ONE'S EARS.
[on one's heel] See: TURN ON ONE'S HEEL.
[on one's high horse] <adj. phr.>, <informal> 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. * /Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do./ * /Mrs. Jones asked to see a less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high horse and said the shop did not sell cheap merchandise./ 2. Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper. * /Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn't giving him enough attention./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.
[on one's honor] <adj. phr.> Bound by one's honesty; trusted. * /The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on their honor not to cheat./ * /The house father put the boys on their honor not to smoke in the dormitory./
[on one's knees] <adj. phr.> 1. Pleading; begging very hard. * /The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ * /The Jacksons won't contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. * /When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close./
[on one's last legs] <adj. phr.> Failing; near the end. * /The blacksmith's business is on its last legs./ * /The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs./ Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE'S KNEES(2).
[on one's mind] <adv. phr.> In one's thoughts. * /I'm glad you want to talk about this. It's been on my mind for weeks./ * /What's on your mind?/ Compare: IN MIND.
[on one's nerves] See: GET ON ONE'S NERVES.
[on one's own] <adj. phr.> With no help from others. * /It is a happy day when you're allowed to drive a car on your own./ * /Being on your own may be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2).
[on one's own account] or <informal> [on one's own hook] <adv. phr.> 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. * /After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account./ 2. See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD.
[on one's own feet] See: STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET.
[on one's own hook] See: ON ONE'S OWN ACCOUNT.
[on one's own time] <adv. phr.> During one's free time; not during working or school hours. * /If you want to play football, you'll have to do it on your own time./
[on one's part] or [on the part of one] <adj. phr.> 1. Of or by you; of someone's. * /When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part./ * /The other team blamed their defeat on unfairness on the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE'S PART.
[on one's shoulders] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> In your care; as your responsibility. * /The success of the program rests on your shoulders./ * /He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders./
[on one's toes] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Alert; ready to act. * /The successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare: HEADS-UP, ON THE BALL.
[on one's uppers] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Very poor. * /Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK.
[on one's way] See: ON THE WAY.
[on pain of] also [under pain of] <prep.>, <formal> At the risk of; under penalty of. * /The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs./ * /The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding./
[on paper] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. * /On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War./ * /The football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper./
[on pins and needles] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Worried; nervous. * /Jane's mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school./ * /Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play./
[on purpose] <adv. phr.> For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. * /Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose./ * /The clown fell down on purpose./
[on record] <adj. phr.> 1. An official or recorded statement or fact; said for everyone to know. * /We do not know when the famous writer was born, but the date of his death is on record./ * /The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record./ 2. Known to have said or done a certain thing.
– Usually used with "as". * /The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise./ * /The governor is on record as favoring the new highway./ * /That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste in government./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.
[on sale] <adj. phr.> Selling for a special low price. * /Tomato soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents./ * /John and Mary couldn't sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup./
[on schedule(1)] <adv. phr.> As planned or expected; at the right time. * /The school bus arrived at school on schedule./ * /The four seasons arrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME.
[on schedule(2)] <adj. phr.> Punctual; as planned. * /The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition./
[on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.
[on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT.
[on sight] See: AT SIGHT.
[on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.
[on the air] <adj.> or <adv. phr.> Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. * /His show is on the air at six o'clock./ * /The ball game is on the air now./
[on the alert] <adj. phr.> Alert; watchful; careful. * /Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ * /Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE'S TOES.