Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

Неизвестен 3 Автор

[word for word] <adv. phr.> In exactly the same words. * /Mary copied Sally's composition word for word./ * /Joan repeated the conversation word for word./ * /She learned the poem many years ago but she recited it word for word./

[word of mouth] <n. phr.> Communication by oral rather than written means. * /The merchant told us that the best customers he had were recommended to him by word of mouth./

[words of one syllable] <n. phr.> Language that makes the meaning very clear; simple, or frank language.
– Usually used after "in". * /Mary explained the job to Ann in words of one syllable so that she would be sure to understand./ * /Some people say that John is cute and mischievous, but in words of one syllable, he's just a brat./ Compare: IN SO MANY WORDS, SPELL OUT.

[word to the wise] <n. phr.> A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow.
– A proverb. * /I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough./

[work] See: ALL IN A DAY'S WORK, ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, AT WORK, BUSY WORK, IN THE WORKS, MAKE SHORT WORK OF, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, SHOOT THE WORKS, THE WORKS, IN THE WORKS.

[work cut out] See: CUT OUT(2).

[worked up] also [wrought up] <adj.>, <literary> Feeling strongly; excited; angry; worried. * /Mary was all worked up about the exam./ * /John got worked up when they blamed him for losing the game./ Compare: ON EDGE.

[work in] <v.> 1. To rub in. * /The nurse told Mary to put some cream on her skin and to work it in gently with her fingers./ 2. To slip in; mix in; put in; * /When Mary was planning the show, she worked a part in for her friend Susan./

[working girl] <n.>, <slang> 1. (<vulgar>, <avoidable>) A prostitute. * /I didn't know Roxanne was a working girl./ 2. A girl, usually single, who supports herself by working in an honest job, such as in an office, etc. * /The average working girl can't afford such a fancy car./

[work into] <v.> 1. Force into little by little. * /John worked his foot into the boot by pushing and pulling./ 2. Put into; mix into. * /Mary worked some blue into the rug she was weaving./

[work off] <v.> To make (something) go away, especially by working. * /John worked off the fat around his waist by doing exercise every morning./ * /Mr. Smith worked off his anger by chopping wood./

[work on] also [work upon] <v.> 1. Have an effect on; influence. * /Some pills work on the nerves and make people feel more relaxed./ 2. To try to influence or convince. * /Senator Smith worked on the other committee members to vote for the bill./

[work one's fingers to the bone] <v. phr.> To work very hard. * /"I have to work my fingers to the bone for a measly pittance of a salary," Fred complained./

[workout] <n.> A physical exercise session. * /My morning workout consists of sit-ups and push-ups./

[work out] <v. phr.> 1. To find an answer to. * /John worked out his math problems all by himself./ * /Mary had trouble getting along with her roommate, but they worked it out./ Compare: FIGURE OUT. 2. To plan; develop. * /Mary worked out a beautiful design for a sweater./ * /Alice worked out a new hair-do./ 3. To accomplish; arrange. * /The engineers worked out a system for getting electricity to the factory./ 4. To be efficient; get results. * /If the traffic plan works out, it will be used in other cities too./ 5. To exercise. * /John works out in the gym two hours every day./

[work over] <v. phr.>, <slang> To beat someone up very roughly in order to intimidate him or extort payment, etc. * /Matthew was worked over by the hoodlums in the park right after midnight./

[work through channels] <v. phr.> To go through the proper procedures and officials. * /At a state university everybody must work through channels to get things done./

[work up] <v.> 1. To stir up; arouse; excite. * /I can't work up any interest in this book./ * /He worked up a sweat weeding the garden./ 2. To develop; originate. * /He worked up an interesting plot for a play./

[work upon] See: WORK ON.

[world] See: COME UP IN THE WORLD or RISE IN THE WORLD, DEAD TO THE WORLD, FOR ALL THE WORLD, IN A WORLD OF ONE'S OWN or IN A WORLD BY ONESELF, IN THE WORLD, LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, NOT FOR THE WORLD, ON TOP OF THE WORLD or SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OUT OF THIS WORLD, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, THIRD WORLD.

[world is one's oyster] Everything is possible for you; the world belongs to you; you can get anything you want. * /When John won the scholarship, he felt as though the world was his oyster./ * /The rich girl acts as though the world is her oyster./

[world on one's shoulders] See: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE'S SHOULDERS.

[world on one's back] See: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE'S SHOULDERS.

[world without end] <adv. phr.>, <literary> Endlessly; forever; eternally. * /Each human being has to die, but mankind goes on world without end./

[worlds apart] <adj. phr.> Completely different; in total disagreement. * /Jack and Al never agree on anything; they are worlds apart in their thinking./

[worm] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM.

[worm in] <v. phr.> To insinuate oneself; penetrate gradually. * /By cultivating the friendship of a few of the prominent merchants, Peter hoped to worm his way into that exclusive elite of export magnates./

[worm may turn] Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated. * /Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn./

[warm out] <v. phr.> To learn through persistent questioning; draw out from. * /I finally wormed out of her the reason she broke off her engagement to Larry./

[worn to a frazzle] <adj. phr.> To be fatigued; be exhausted. * /I'm worn to a frazzle cooking for all these guests./

[worrywart] <n. phr.> A person who always worries. * /"Stop being such a worrywart," Bob said to Alice, who was constantly weighing herself on the bathroom scale./

[worse] See: BARK WORSE THAN ONE'S BITE, FOR BETTER OR WORSE or FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, FOR THE WORSE, GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

[worse for wear] <adj. phr.> Not as good as new; worn out; damaged by use.
– Used with "the". * /Her favorite tablecloth was beginning to look the worse for wear./ - Often used with "none" to mean: as good as new. * /The doll was Mary's favorite toy but it was none the worse for wear./