Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[squeeze out of] <v. phr.> To apply pressure to someone in order to obtain what one desires. * /The police were interrogating the suspect to squeeze information out of him./
[stab in the back(1)] <v. phr.>, <slang> To say or do something unfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). * /Owen stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him./
[stab in the back(2)] <n. phr.>, <slang> An act or a lie that hurts a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend. * /John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store./ * /My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher I was playing hooky when I was home sick./
[stab in the dark] <n. phr.> A random attempt or guess at something without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. * /"You're asking me who could have hidden grandpa's will," Fred said. "I really have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark - I think my sister Hermione has it."/
[stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE'S STACK.
[stack the cards] <v. phr.> 1. To arrange cards secretly and dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. * /The gambler had stacked the cards against Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or against a person; have things so that a person has an unfair advantage or disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things will happen. Usually used in the passive with "in one's favor" or "against one." * /A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor./ * /The cards are stacked against a poor boy who wants to go to college./
[stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME, HOLD THE STAGE, ON THE STAGE, SET THE STAGE.
[stage fright] <n. phr.> The fear one feels before appearing in front of an audience. * /Many famous actors and actresses admit that they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up./
[stagestruck] <adj.> Desirous of becoming an actor or actress; enamored of the acting profession. * /Milly is so stagestruck that she waits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to get their signatures./
[stage whisper] <n. phr.> A loud whisper intended to reach other ears than those of the person(s) addressed. * /Some jokes should be told in a stage whisper./
[stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.
[stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.
[stake a claim] <v. phr.> 1. To claim ownership of land by driving stakes to show boundaries. * /The gold hunters staked claims in the West./ 2. <informal> To claim a person or thing as your own by some sign. Usually used with "on". * /George staked a claim on Dianne by giving her his class ring./
[stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.
[stamping ground] <n.>, <informal> A place where a person spends much of his time. * /Pete's soda fountain is an afterschool stamping ground./ * /When John returned to his hometown many years later, he visited all of his old stamping grounds./
[stamp out] <v.> To destroy completely and make disappear. * /In the last few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using vaccine./ * /The police and judges are trying to stamp out crime./ Compare: WIPE OUT.
[stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL, LEG TO STAND ON.
[stand a chance] or [stand a show] <n. phr.> To have a possibility or opportunity; be likely to do or get something. * /Fred doesn't stand a chance of being elected./ * /We stand a good chance of seeing Mary at the party./
[standard time] also [slow time] <n.> Clock time that is set by law or agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in the United States: the clock time used between fall and spring, which is an hour slower than the time used in the summer.
– Abbreviation ST. * /When we go to bed Saturday night, we will set our clocks back an hour, because Sunday we will be on standard time again./ * /Next week it will get dark an hour earlier, because we will be on standard time./ Contrast: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
[stand by] <v.> 1. To be close beside or near. * /Mary could not tell Jane the secret with her little brother standing by./ * /Would you just stand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother?/ 2. To be near, waiting to do something when needed. * /The policeman in the patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, and then stood by for orders./ * /Lee stood by with a fire extinguisher while the trash was burning./ 3. To follow or keep (one's promise). * /He is a boy who always stands by his promises./ 4. To be loyal to; support; help. * /When three big boys attacked Bill, Ed stood by him./ * /Some people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joe stood by him./ Compare: BACK UP, HANG TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR.
[stand by one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[stand for] <v.> 1. To be a sign of; make you think of; mean. * /The letters "U.S.A." stand for "United States of America."/ * /The written sign "=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals."/ * /Our flag stands for our country./ * /The owl stands for wisdom./ 2. To speak in favor of something, or show that you support it. * /The new President stood for honest government./ * /John always stands for what is right./ 3. <Chiefly British> To try to be elected for. * /Three men from London are standing for parliament./ * /The governor did not stand for reelection./ 4. <informal> To allow to happen or to be done; permit.
– Usually used in the negative, * /The teacher will not stand for fooling in the classroom./ Compare: HAVE IT(4), PUT UP WITH.
[stand in awe of] <v. phr.> To look upon with wonder; feel very respectful to. * /Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent./ * /The soldier stood in awe to his officers./
[stand in for] <v. phr.> To substitute for someone. * /The famous brain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand in for him during the operation./
[stand in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.
[stand in with] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be liked by or friendly with.
– Usually used with "well". * /John stands in well with the teacher./
[stand off] <v.> 1. To stay at a distance; stay apart. * /At parties, Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones is shy and stands off./ 2. To keep (someone or something) from coming near or winning. * /The soldiers defending the fort stood off a large band of Indians./ * /The other schools wanted to beat our team and win the championship, but our boys stood them all off./ Contrast: GIVE GROUND.
[standoffish] <adj.> Stiff; aloof; reserved in manner. * /The famous chess player is hard to get to know because he is so standoffish./