Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[tell one where to get off] or [tell one where to head in] <v. phr.>, <informal> To talk angrily to; speak to or answer with rough language; scold. * /Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted told Bob where to get off./ * /Mary laughed at Barbara's hairdo. Barbara told Mary where to head in./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO, TELL OFF.
[tell time] <v. phr.> To read a clock or watch. * /Although Johnny is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./
[tell you what] See: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
[temper] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, HOLD ONE'S TEMPER or KEEP ONE'S TEMPER, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[temperature] See: RUN A TEMPERATURE.
[tempest in a teapot] <n. phr.> Great excitement about something not important. * /Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a teapot./
[tempt fate] or [tempt the fates] <v. phr.> To take a chance; run a risk; gamble. * /You're tempting fate every time you drive that old wreck of a car./
[ten] See: DIME STORE or FIVE-AND-TEN, COUNT TO TEN.
[ten-four?] <v. phr.>, <interrog.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> Do you understand? * /Is that a ten-four?/
[ten gallon hat] <n.>, <informal> A tall felt hat with a wide, rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U.S. * /Men from the southwest usually wear ten gallon hats./
[ten roger] <v. phr.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> I acknowledge. * /That's a ten roger./
[ten to one] or [two to one] <adv.> or <adj. phr.>, <informal> Almost certainly, nearly sure to be true; very likely to happen. * /Ten to one it will rain tomorrow./ * /It is ten; to one that Bill will be late./
[term] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS, IN SO MANY WORDS(2) or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IN TERMS OF.
[terror] See: HOLY TERROR.
[test] See: ROAD TEST, SCREEN TEST.
[tether] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE or END OF ONE'S TETHER.
[than] See: LESS THAN, LESS THAN NO TIME, MORE THAN.
[thank one's lucky stars] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be thankful for good luck; think oneself lucky. * /You can thank your lucky stars you didn't fall in the hole./
[thanks to] <prep.> 1. With the help of. * /Thanks to a good teacher, John passed the examination./ * /I finally finished washing the dishes, no thanks to you./ 2. Owing to; because of. * /Thanks to a sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes./
[that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. * /John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York./ * /Susan is a good student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school./
[that is that] or [that's that] <informal> The matter is decided; there is nothing more to be said; it is done. * /Jim, you will go to school this morning, and that is that./
[that'll be the day] <informal> That will never happen. * /Joe wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That'll be the day!/ * /"Wouldn't it be nice if we had to go to school only one day a week?" "That'll be the day!"/
[That makes two of us!] Informal way to say, "I am in agreement with what you arc saying or doing." * /So you voted for Senator Aldridge? So did I - that makes two of us./
[That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, "That concludes our business." * /I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takes care of that!/
[That will do!] Informal expression of impatience meaning "stop," "no more." * /"That will do, Tommy," his mother cried. "I've had just about enough of your drumming on the table."/
[that's --- for you] That's the way (someone or something) is; (someone or something) is like that. * /John tried hard, but he lost the game. That's life for you./ * /Mary changed her mind about going. That's a girl for you./
[That's about the size of it!] Informal way to say, "What you said is true; the rumor or the news is true." * /"I am told you're leaving our firm for Japan," Fred said to Tom. "That's about the size of it," Tom replied with a grin./
[That's the story of my life...] Usually spoken when something goes wrong. * /I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher wants to accept it. That's the story of my life./
[That's the ticket!] Informal way to say, "excellent; correct." * /"First we'll go up the Sears Tower, and then we'll take a night sightseeing tour on the lake," Fran said. "That's the ticket!" Stan, an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied./
[That's the way the ball bounces] or [the cookie crumbles!] Nothing unusual about that.
– Said of unpleasant things. * /"Susan left me for a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and wrecked my car," Bob bitterly complained. "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles," Pam answered philosophically./
[theater] See: LITTLE THEATER.
[the business] <n.>, <slang> - Usually used with "give" or "get". 1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. * /Johnny gave the tryouts the business but he failed to make the team./ 2. The most harm possible; the greatest damage or hurt. * /Fred got the business when Tom caught him with his bicycle./ 3. A harsh scolding. * /The teacher gave Walter the business when he came to school late again./ * /Mike thought he was the star of the team until he got the business from the coach./ Compare: THE WORKS.
[The cat did it!] A humorous and convenient way to pass the blame. * /"My vase is broken!" Mother shrieked in horror. "Well," Dad smirked cynically, "I guess the cat did it!"/
[the creeps] <n.>, <informal> 1. An uncomfortable tightening of the skin caused by fear or shock. * /Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe the creeps./ * /The queer noises in the old house gave Mary the creeps./ 2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. * /The cold, damp, lonely swamp gave John the creeps./ * /The dog was so ugly it gave Mary the creeps./