Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[play the game] <v. phr.>, <informal> To obey the rules; do right; act fairly. * /"That's not playing the game," we told him when he wanted to desert his wife./ * /"Oh, let's play the game," he said, when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their debts./ * /Your parents want you to play the game in life./
[play the market] <v. phr.> To try to make money on the stock market by buying and selling stocks, * /John lost all his savings playing the market./ * /Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when he plays the market, and sometimes he loses./
[play to the gallery] <v. phr.> To try to get the approval of the audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF.
[play tricks on] <v. phr.> To make another the victim of some trick or joke. * /Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by hiding his clothes while he was swimming./
[play up] <v.> To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. * /The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our weaknesses./ * /The director played up the woman's glamor to conceal her lack of acting ability./
[play upon] See: PLAY ON.
[play up to] <v. phr.>. <slang> 1. To try to gain the favor of, especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to please. * /He played up to the boss./ 2. To use (something) to gain an end; to attend to (a weakness). * /He played up to the old lady's vanity to get her support./
[play with fire] <v. phr.> To put oneself in danger; to take risks. * /Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire./ * /The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn't want to play with fire./ Compare: SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[plough] or [plow through] <v. phr.> Pass through laboriously. * /Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to get ready for his test./
[plow] See: PUT ONE'S HAND TO THE PLOW.
[plow into] <v.> 1. To attack vigorously. * /He plowed into his work and finished it in a few hours./ 2. To crash into with force. * /A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender./
[pluck up] <v.> 1. To have (courage) by your own effort; make yourself have (courage). * /In spite of failure, he plucked up heart to continue./ * /He plucked up courage when he saw a glimmer of hope./ 2. To become happier; feel better; cheer up. * /He plucked up when his wife recovered./
[pluck up one's courage] See: SCREW UP ONE'S COURAGE.
[plug away] See: PEG AWAY.
[plug in] <v. phr.> To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power wire by putting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /The integrated circuit has multiplied the number of small radios that need not be plugged in./
[plug into] <v.> To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power wire by inserting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /He thought he had left the lamp plugged into the wall, and so was puzzled when it wouldn't light that night./
[plume oneself] <v. phr.>, <literary> To be proud of yourself; boast. * /He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as his date./ * /He plumed himself on his successful planning in the election./ * /She plumed herself on the grace with which she sat on a horse./ Compare: PRIDE ONESELF.
[plunk down] <v.>, <informal> 1. To drop down; fall. * /After walking a mile we plunked down on a bench to rest./ 2. To drop something noisily or firmly. * /He plunked the heavy suitcase down at the station./ 3. To pay out, primarily an excessive amount * /I had to plunk down $55 for a concert ticket./
[please] See: AS YOU PLEASE.
[pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, LINE ONE'S POCKETS.
[pocket money] See: SPENDING MONEY.
[pocket one's pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[point] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, AT THE POINT OF, BESIDE THE POINT, BOILING POINT, CASE IN POINT, COME TO THE POINT, EXTRA POINT, MAKE A POINT, ON THE POINT OF, SORE SPOT or SORE POINT, STRETCH A POINT or STRAIN A POINT, TALKING POINT.
[point-blank] <adv.> Straightforwardly; bluntly; directly. * /Sue refused point-blank to discuss marriage with Sam./
[point of view] <n.> Attitude; opinion. * /From the American point of view, Fidel Castro is a bad neighbor to have./
[point out] <v.> 1. To show by pointing with the finger; point to; make clear the location of. * /The guide pointed out the principal sights of the city./ 2. To bring to notice; call to attention; explain. * /The policeman pointed out that the law forbids public sale of firecrackers./ * /The school secretary pointed out that the closing date for making applications had passed./
[point up] <v.> To show clearly; emphasize. * /The increase in crime points up the need for greater police protection./ * /Johnny's report card points up his talent for math./
[poison-pen] <adj.> Containing threats or false accusations; written in spite or to get revenge, and usually unsigned. * /Mrs. Smith received a poison-pen letter telling her that her husband was untrue./ * /To get revenge on Mary, Alice wrote a poison-pen letter to the teacher and signed Mary's name to it./
[poke] See: PIG IN A POKE, TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A POKE AT.
[poke around] or [poke about] <v.> 1. To search about; look into and under things. * /The detective poked around in the missing man's office./ 2. To move slowly or aimlessly; do little things. * /He didn't feel well, and poked around the house./
[poke fun at] See: MAKE FUN OF.
[poles apart] <adj.> Completely different. * /The two brothers were poles apart in personality./ * / It was hard for the members to make any decisions because their ideas were poles apart./