Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

Makkai Adam

[back-to-back]{adv.} 1. Immediately following. •/The health clinic had back-to-back appointments for the new students during the first week of school./ 2. Very close to, as if touching. •/Sardines are always packed in the can back-to-back./ •/The bus was so full that people had to stand back-to-back./

[back to the salt mines]{informal} Back to the job; back to work; back to work that is as hard or as unpleasant as working in a salt mine would be. — An overworked phrase, used humorously. •/The lunch hour is over, boys. Back to the salt mines!/ •/"Vacation is over," said Billy. "Back to the salt mines."/

[back to the wall] or [back against the wall]{adv. phr.} In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. •/The soldiers had their backs to the wall./ •/He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall./ •/The team had their backs to the wall in the second half./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, LAST DITCH, ON THE SPOT, UP AGAINST IT.

[back up]{v.} 1. To move backwards. •/The train was backing up./ 2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help; agree with and speak in support of. •/Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and his father is backing him up./ •/The principal backs up the faculty./ •/Jim told us what had happened and Bob backed him up./ Compare: BACK OF(3), STAND BY(4). 3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the ball if he misses it. •/The shortstop backed up the second baseman on the throw./

[backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.

[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards]{adv. phr.} To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. •/He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards./ •/He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards./ •/I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was./

[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.

[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE’S BAD GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON ONE’S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.

[bad actor]{n.}, {informal} A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. •/The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him./

[bad blood]{n.}, {informal} Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. •/There’s a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they’ll never talk to each other again./ Compare: BAD SHIT.

[bad egg]{n.}, {slang} A ne’er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender. •/The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./ Contrast: GOOD EGG.

[bad mouth (someone)]{v.}, {slang} To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another’s reputation. •/It’s not nice to had mouth people./

[bad news]{n.}, {slang} An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. •/What’s the new professor like? — He’s all bad news to me./

[bad paper]{n.}, {slang} 1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. •/Why are you so mad? — I was paid with some bad paper./

[bad shit]{n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. •/There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year./ Compare: BAD BLOOD.

[bad trip]{n.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general. •/Why’s John’s face so distorted? — He had a bad trip./ •/How was your math exam? — Don’t mention it; it was a bad trip./

[bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

[bag and baggage]{adv.}, {informal} With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. •/If they don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage./

[baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

[bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

[bail out(1)]{v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. •/When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out./ 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or lending money. •/He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times./