Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[two-time] <v.>, <slang> To go out with a second boy or girlfriend and keep it a secret from the first. * /Joan was two-timing Jim with Fred./ * /Mary cried when she found that Joe was two-timing her./ Compare: DOUBLE-CROSS.
[two to one] See: TEN TO ONE.
[two ways about it] See: NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.
U
[U.F.O.] <n. phr.> Unidentified Flying Object. * /Some people think that the U.F.O.s are extraterrestrial beings of higher than human development who pay periodic visits to Earth to warn us of our self-destructive tendencies./
[ugly duckling] <n.> An ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive. * /Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grew up./
[uh-huh] or [um-hum] <adv.>, <informal> Yes.
– Used only in speech or when recording dialogue. * /Are you going to the Fair? Uh-huh./ * /We were in Alaska, um-hum, but that was long before the earthquakes./ * /When I asked for an appointment, the nurse said, "Um-hum, I have an opening at four o'clock on Friday."/ Contrast: HUH-UH.
[um-hum] See: UH-HUH.
[unbosom oneself] <v. phr.> To confess one's personal thoughts or feelings; disclose private information to a confidante. * /Once she was at home with her mother, she unbosomed herself of all her troubles./
[uncertain] See: IN SO MANY WORDS(2). or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.
[uncle] See: SAY UNCLE also CRY UNCLE.
[under] See: CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, GO UNDER, OUT FROM UNDER, SNOW UNDER.
[under a bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.
[under a cloud] <adj. phr.> 1. Under suspicion; not trusted. * /Joyce has been under a cloud since her roommate's bracelet disappeared./ * /The butcher is under a cloud because the inspectors found his scales were not honest./ 2. Depressed, sad, discouraged. * /Joe has been under a cloud since his dog died./
[under age] <adj. phr.> Too young; not old enough; below legal age. * /He could not enlist in the army because he was under age./ * /Rose was not allowed to enroll in the Life Saving Course because she was under age./ Contrast: OF AGE(1).
[under arrest] <adj. phr.> Held by the police. * /The man believed to have robbed the bank was placed under arrest./ * /The three boys were seen breaking into the school building and soon found themselves under arrest./
[under construction] <adv. phr.> In the process of being built or repaired. * /It is a good idea to take the train to work while the expressway is under construction./
[under cover] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Hidden; concealed. * /The prisoners escaped under cover of darkness./ * /He kept his invention under cover until it was patented./ Compare: UNDER WRAPS.
[under false colors] See: SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.
[under fire] <adv. phr.> Being shot at or being attacked; hit by attacks or accusations; under attack. * /The soldiers stood firm under fire of the enemy./ * /The principal was under fire for not sending the boys home who stole the car./
[under lock and key] <adv. phr.> Secured; locked up; well protected. * /Dad keeps all his valuables under lock and key./
[under one's belt] <adv. phr.>, <informal> 1. In your stomach; eaten; or absorbed. * /Once he had a good meal under his belt, the man loosened his tie and fell asleep./ * /Jones is talkative when he has a few drinks under his belt./ 2. In your experience, memory or possession; learned or gotten successfully; gained by effort and skill. * /Jim has to get a lot of algebra under his belt before the examination./ * /With three straight victories under their belts, the team went on to win the championship./
[under one's breath] <adv. phr.> In a whisper; with a low voice. * /The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud./ * /I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me./
[under one's hat] See: KEEP UNDER ONE'S HAT.
[under one's heel] <adv. phr.> In one's power or control. * /If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce./
[under one's nose] or [under the nose of] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place. * /The thief walked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose of the guards./ * /When Jim gave up trying to find a pen, he saw three right under his nose on the desk./
[under one's own steam] <adv. phr.>, <informal> By one's own efforts; without help. * /The boys got to Boston under their own steam and took a bus the rest of the way./ * /We didn't think he could do it, but Bobby finished his homework under his own steam./
[under one's skin] See: GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN.
[under one's spell] <adv. phr.> Unable to resist one's influence. * /From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy's spell./
[under one's thumb] or [under the thumb] <adj.> or <adv. phr.> Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power. * /The Jones family is under the thumb of the mother./ * /Jack is a bully. He keeps all the younger children under his thumb./ * /The mayor is so popular that he has the whole town under his thumb./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH THE HOOP.
[under one's wing] <adv. phr.> Under the care or protection of. * /Helen took the new puppy under her wing./ * /The boys stopped teasing the new student when Bill took him under his wing./ Compare: IN TOW.
[under orders] <adv. phr.> Not out of one's own desire or one's own free will; obligatorily; not freely. * /"So you were a Nazi prison guard? " the judge asked. "Yes, your Honor," the man answered, "but I was acting under orders and not because I wished to harm anyone."/