Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE.
[on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK.
[on the ball] <adj. phr.>, <informal> 1. Paying attention and doing things well.
– Used after "is" or "get". * /Ben is really on the ball in school./ * /The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE'S EYE ON THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. Used after "have". * /John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball./ * /The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball./
[on the bandwagon] <adj. phr.>, <informal> In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it.
– Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". * /When all George's friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.
[on the beam] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. * /A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam./ 2. <slang> Doing well; just right; good or correct. * /Kenneth's answer was right on the beam./ Contrast: OFF THE BEAM.
[on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. * /Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning./ 2. Sitting among the substitute players. * /The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle./ Compare: BENCH WARMER.
[on the blink] <adj. phr.> Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. * /I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again./
[on the block] <adj. phr.> To be sold; for sale. * /The vacant house was on the block./ * /Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placed on the block./
[on the brain] <adj. phr.>, <slang> Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. * /Mary Ann has boys on the brain./ * /Joe's hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time./
[on the brink of] <adv. phr.> Facing a new event that's about to happen. * /"I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced./
[on the button] <adv., adj.>, <slang> At the right place; at the heart of the matter. * /John's remark was right on the button./ Compare: ON THE DOT.
[on the cards] See: IN THE CARDS.
[on the carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET.
[on the cheap] <adv. phr.> Inexpensively; on a tight budget. * /She buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores./
[on the chin] See: TAKE IT ON THE CHIN.
[on the contrary] <adv. phr.> Exactly the opposite; rather; instead. * /The principal thought that the children went to the zoo; on the contrary, they went to the bakery./ * /"You don't like football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very much."/ Compare: TO THE CONTRARY.
[on the cuff] <adj.> or <adv. phr.>, <informal> Agreeing to pay later; to be paid for later; on credit. * /Peter lost the money that Mother gave him to buy meat, and the store would not let him have meat on the cuff./ * /Many people buy cars and television sets on the cuff./
[on the dole] <adv. phr.> Drawing unemployment benefits. * /When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./
[on the dot] also [on the button] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Exactly on time; not early and not late. * /Susan arrived at the party at 2:00 P.M. on the dot./ * /Ben's plane arrived on the dot./
[on the double!] <adv. phr.> Hurry up! * /"Let's go! On the double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the engine of the small plane./
[on the eve of] <prep.> Just before (an event). * /On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes./
[on the face of it] <adv. phr.> Apparently; as it seems. * /On the face of it, Joe's claim that he can swim five miles is true./ * /His statement that he is a millionaire is, on the face of it, false./
[on the fence] <adj.> or <adv. phr.> Not able, or not wanting to choose; in doubt; undecided.
– Often used with "sit". * /Jack sat on the fence for a week last spring before he finally joined the track team instead of the baseball team./ * /Mrs. Jones has decided to vote for the Democrats, but Mr. Jones is still on the fence./ See: FENCE-SITTER or FENCE-SITTING.
[on the fly(1)] <adv. phr.> 1. While in the air; in flight. * /The bird caught a bug on the fly./ * /Joe was called out because the catcher caught the ball on the fly./ 2. <informal> Between other activities; while busy with many things. * /The president was so busy that he had to dictate letters on the fly./ * /John is very busy, and people who want to talk to him have to catch him on the fly./ Compare: ON THE GO, ON THE WING(2).
[on the fly(2)] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Busy; going somewhere in a hurry; going about doing things. * /Getting the house ready for the visitors kept Mother on the fly all day./ * /The housekeeper of our school is always on the fly./
[on the go] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Active and busy. * /Successful businessmen are on the go most of the time./ * /Healthy, happy people are usually on the go./ Compare: ON THE MOVE.
[on the heels of] <prep.> Just after; following (something, especially an event).
– Often used with "hard" for emphasis. * /Hard on the heels of the women's liberation parade, homosexuals declared a "gay pride week."/
[on the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG or EAT HIGH ON THE HOG.
[on the hour] <adv. phr.> Each time the hour has zero minutes and zero seconds. * /The uptown bus goes past the school on the hour./ * /The woman must take her pill on the hour./
[on the house] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Paid for by the owner. * /At the opening of the new hotel, the champagne was on the house./ * /Oscar was the first customer at the diner, so his lunch was on the house./
[on the increase] See: ON THE WAX. Contrast: ON THE DECREASE, ON THE WANE.