Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[take after] <v.> To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). * /He takes after his father in mathematical ability./ * /She takes after her father's side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; RUN IN THE FAMILY.
[take a fancy to] <v. phr.> To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. * /Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture./
[take a flop] <v. phr.> To fall heavily. * /I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk./
[take aim] <v. phr.> To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. * /When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ * /Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./
[take a hand in] <v. phr.> To assist in the direction of; participate. * /The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees./
[take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.
[take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE.
[take a hint] <v. phr.> To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said. "Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/
[take a joke] <v. phr.> Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. * /My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./
[take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a load off one's feet] <v. phr.> To alleviate one's fatigue
by sitting down during some taxing work. * /"You've been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your feet?"/
[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.
[take amiss] or [the wrong way] <v. phr.> To become offended due to a misunderstanding. * /"I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/
[take a new turn] <v. phr.> To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. * /The company took a new turn under Jack's directorship./
[take a nose dive] <v. phr.> To plummet; fall sharply. * /The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart attack./
[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD.
[take apart] <v. phr.> To dismantle; disassemble. * /Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again./
[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.
[take a powder] <v. phr.>, <slang> To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. * /All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived./
[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] <v. phr.> To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. * /Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred./ * /Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ * /I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./
[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.
[take a shine to] <v. phr.>, <slang> To have or show a quick liking for. * /He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./ Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a shot at] <v. phr.> To try casually; attempt to do. * /"Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/
[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a spill] <v. phr.> To fall down; tip over. * /During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill./
[take at one's word] <v. phr.> To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. * /If you say you don't want this coat, I'll take you at your word and throw it away./ * /When the king said he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and murdered the councillor./
[take a stand] <v. phr.> To assert one's point. of view; declare one's position. * /It is time for American society to take a stand against crime./
[take a turn] <v. phr.> To become different; change. * /Mary's fever suddenly took a bad turn./ * /The story took an odd turn./ Often used with "for the better" or "for the worse". * /In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better./ * /Suddenly the battle took a turn for the worse./
[take a turn for the better] <v. phr.> To start improving; start to get better. * /Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better./
[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER.
[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.
[take back] <v.> To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated; admit to making a wrong statement. * /I take back my offer to buy the house now that I've had a good look at it./ * /I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./
[take by storm] <v. phr.> 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. * /The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. * /The comic took the audience by storm./ * /John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.
[take by surprise] <v. phr.> 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. * /The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ * /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. * /Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ * /When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise./