Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[bail out(2)]{v.} To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute. •/When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out./
[bail out(3)]{v.} To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. •/Both men were kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak./
[bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
[bake] See: HALF-BAKED.
[baker’s dozen]{n.}, {informal} Thirteen. •/"How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker’s dozen."/
[balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.
[ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THE BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUND BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL. ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.
[ball game]{n.}, {slang}, also {informal} The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. •/You said we can get a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That’s a whole new ball game./
[ball of fire]{n.}, {informal} A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. •/He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ •/The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.
[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.
[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.
[ball up]{v.}, {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. •/Don’t ball me up./ •/Hal balled up the business with his errors./ — Often used in the passive. •/He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going./ Compare: MIXED UP.
[baloney]{n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. •/John brags that he’s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it’s just a lot of baloney./ •/"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look./ •/Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./
[banana oil]{n.}, {slang} Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. •/Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/
[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.
[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.
[band together]{v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force. •/The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks./
[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[bandy about]{v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. •/The news of Jim and Mary’s divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office had heard it./
[bang up]{adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. •/The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./ •/John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.
[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.
[bank on]{v.}, {informal} To depend on; put one’s trust in; rely on. •/He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work./ •/The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.
[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.
[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.
[bargain for] or [bargain on]{v.} To be ready for; expect. •/When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for./ •/The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.
[barge in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To appear uninvited at someone’s house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. •/I’m sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./ •/I’m sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/
[bark up the wrong tree]{v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. •/If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ •/He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ •/The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./