Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[on the sly] <adv. phr.> So that other people won't know; secretly. * /The boys smoked on the sly./ * /Mary's mother did not approve of lipstick, but Mary used it on the sly./
[on the spot] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. or [upon the spot] At that exact time and at the same time or place; without waiting or leaving. * /The news of important events is often broadcast on the spot over television./ * /When Tom ruined an expensive machine, his boss fired him on the spot./ Compare: AT ONCE, IN ONE'S TRACKS, THEN AND THERE. 2. <informal> also [in a spot] In trouble, difficulty, or embarrassment. * /Mr. Jones is on the spot because he cannot pay back the money he borrowed./ * /Bill is on the spot; he invited George to visit him, but Bill's parents said no./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL. 3. <slang> In danger of murder; named or listed for death. * /After he talked to the police, the gangsters put him on the spot./
[on the spur of the moment] <adv. phr.> On a sudden wish or decision; suddenly; without thought or preparation. * /John had not planned to take the trip; he just left on the spur of the moment./ * /Mary saw a help-wanted advertisement and applied for the job on the spur of the moment./
[on the stage] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> In or into the work of being an actor or actress. * /John's brother is on the stage./ * /Mary went on the stage./
[on the strength of] <prep.> With faith or trust in; depending upon; with the support of. * /On the strength of Jim's promise to guide us, we decided to climb the mountain./ * /Bill started a restaurant on the strength of his experience as a cook in the army./
[on the string] or [on a string] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Under your influence or control; obedient to every wish. * /The baby had his mother on a string./ * /She was pretty and popular, with two or three boys on the string all the time./
[on the take] <adv. phr.> Bribable; corrupt. * /Officer O'Keefe was put on three months' probation because it was alleged that he was on the take./
[on the tip of one's tongue] <adv. phr.> About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. * /"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute."/
[on the town] <adv.> or <adj. phr.>, <informal> In or into a town to celebrate; having a good time or enjoying the amusements in a town. * /When the sailors got off their ship they went out on the town./ Compare: PAINT THE TOWN RED.
[on the track of] or [on the trail of] Hunting or looking for; trying to find; following. * /The hunter is on the track of a deer./ * /The lawyer is on the trail of new proof in the case./ * /Jim collects old stamps; he is on the track of one in Midville this afternoon./
[on the trail of] See: ON THE TRACK OF.
[on the trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[on the up and up] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Honest; trustworthy; sincere. * /We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This information is on the up and up./ Compare: ON THE LEVEL.
[on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE.
[on the wagon] <adv. phr.> Participating in an alcohol addiction program; not touching any alcoholic beverage. * /Jim's doctor and his family finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on the wagon./ Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.
[on the wane and on the wax] <adv. phr.> Decreasing and increasing.
– Said of the moon. * /The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax at regular intervals lasting half a month./
[on the warpath] <adj. phr.>, <informal> 1. Very angry. * /When Mother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath./ * /Betty has been on the warpath ever since she found out she was not invited to the party./ 2. Making an attack; fighting. * /The government is on the warpath against narcotics./ * /The police are on the warpath against speeders./
[on the watch] <adj. phr.> Alert; watchful. * /The customs inspector was on the watch for diamond smugglers./ * /Mary was on the watch for bargains at the auction./ Compare: EYE OUT, LOOK OUT(2).
[on the way] or [on one's way] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Coming; going toward a place or goal; started. * /Help was on the way./ * /The train left and Bill was on his way to New York./ * /He is well on the way to becoming a fine mechanic./
[on the whole] <adv. phr.> 1. In the most important things; in most ways. * /On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year./ * /Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show./ Syn.: IN ALL(2), FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. * /On the whole, men are stronger than women./ * /On the whole, children begin walking when they are about one year old./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, IN GENERAL.
[on the wing] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. In the air; while flying. * /The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing./ 2. <informal> In constant motion; always very busy. * /Susan was on the wing doing things to get ready for her trip./ * /Mr. Jones had a busy schedule and his secretary had to catch him on the wing to sign the letters./ Syn.: ON THE FLY. 3. <informal> Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere. * /Mary's husband is a traveling salesman and he's always on the wing./ * /They stayed in France for a week and then they were on the wing again./ Syn.: ON THE GO, ON THE MOVE.
[on the words] See: HANG ON THE WORDS OF.
[on the wrong foot] See: GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.
[on the wrong side of the bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.
[on the wrong track] <adv. phr.> Lost; pursuing the wrong lead. * /Professor MacAlister confessed that his chemical experiments were on the wrong track./ Contrast: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE.
[on time] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. At the time arranged; not late; promptly. * /The train left on time./ * /Mary is always on time for an appointment./ Contrast: AHEAD OF TIME, BEHIND TIME. 2. On the installment plan; on credit, paying a little at a time. * /John bought a car on time./ * /You can buy things at the department store on time./
[on top] <adv.> or <adj. phr.>, <informal> In the lead; with success; with victory. * /The horse that everyone had expected would be on top actually came in third./ * /Although John had been afraid that he was not prepared for the exam, he came out on top./
[on top of] <prep>. 1. On the top of; standing or lying on; on. * /When the player on the other team dropped the ball, Bill fell on top of it./ * /That high hill has a tower on top of it./ 2. <informal> Very close to. * /The elevator was so crowded that everybody was on top of each other./ * /I couldn't find my umbrella and then I realized I was almost on top of it./ 3. <informal> In addition to; along with. * /Mrs. Lane had many expenses and on top of everything else, her baby became ill./ * /Mary worked at the store all day and on top of that she had to baby-sit with her brother./ 4. <informal> Managing very well; in control of. * /Although his new job was very complicated, John was on top of it within a few weeks./ * /No matter what goes wrong, Mary always stays on top of it./ 5. Knowing all about; not falling behind in information about; up-to-date on. * /Mary stays on top of the news by reading newspapers and magazines./ * /When he was in California, Mr. Jones kept on top of things in his office by telephoning every day./