Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[power behind the throne] <n. phr.> The person with the real power backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of public figures). * /It is rumored that the First Lady it the power behind the throne in the White House./
[practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF, OUT OF PRACTICE.
[presence of mind] <n. phr.> Effective and quick decision-making ability in times of crisis. * /When Jimmy fell into the river, his father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from drowning./
[present] See: AT PRESENT.
[press box] <n.> The place or room high in a sports stadium that is for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. * /In baseball the official scorer sits in the press box./
[press conference] <n. phr.> A meeting with news reporters. * /The reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press conference./ * /The press conference with the senator was broadcast on television./
[press one's luck] or [push one's luck] <v. phr.> To depend too much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. * /When John won his first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased his bets./ * /If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck./
[press the flesh] <v.>, <slang> To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one's popularity during political elections. * /Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER.
[pressure group] <n. phr.> An organization whose goal it is to create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. * /Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aims./
[pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY.
[pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[pretty penny] <n. phr.> A large amount of money. * /Their new house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a pretty penny./
[prevail upon] or [prevail on] <v.> To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. * /He prevailed upon the musician to entertain instead of the absent speaker./ * /He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence./
[prey on] or [prey upon] <v.> 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. * /Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. * /Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. * /Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. * /Ill health had preyed on him for years./ * /Business worries preyed on his mind./
[prey on one's mind] <v. phr.> To afflict; worry. * /He couldn't sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./
[price on one's head] <n. phr.> Reward offered to anyone who catches a thief or a murderer. * /The hotel manager learned that the quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a price on his head./
[prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.
[prick up one's ears] <v. phr.>, <informal> To come to interested attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. * /The woman pricked up her ears when she heard them talking about her./
[pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and hardships one encounters while being made pretty.
– A proverb. * /"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know that pride must take a pinch?"/
[pride oneself on] <v. phr.> To be proud ot, take satisfaction in; be much pleased by. * /She prided herself on her beauty./ * /He prided himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF.
[print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT.
[private] See: IN PRIVATE.
[private eye] <n.>, <colloquial> A private investigator; a detective. * /Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/
[progress] See: IN PROGRESS.
[promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE.
[promise the moon] <v. phr.> To promise something impossible. * /A politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters' respect./ * /I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON.
[proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual experience can the value of something be tested.
– A proverb. * /He was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars. "Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."/
[prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES.
[psyched up] <adj.>, <informal> Mentally alert; ready to do something. * /The students were all psyched up for their final exams./
[psych out] <v. phr.>, <slang>, <informal> 1. To find out the real motives of (someone). * /Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go berserk; to lose one's nerve. * /Joe says he doesn't ride his motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out./ * /Jim psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and wants!/
[Public] See: JOHN Q. PUBLIC.
[public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
[public-address system] <n.> A set of devices for making a speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. * /The public-address system broke down during the senator's speech./ * /The news was announced over the public-address system./
[public enemy] <n. phr.> A famous criminal. * /Al Capone of Chicago used to be Public Enemy Number One during prohibition./
[public speaker] <n.> A person who speaks to the public. * /A public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people./
[puffed up] <adj.> Elated; proud; conceited. * /Just because Bob inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so puffed up./
[pull] See: LONG HAUL or LONG PULL.
[pull a fast one] <v. phr.> To gain the advantage over one's opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. * /When Smith was told by his boss that he might be fired, he called the company president, his father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted./