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Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
Словарь американских идиом 8000 единиц - Letter 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."/
[under pain of] See: ON PAIN OF also UNDER PAIN OF.
[under protest] {adv. phr.} Against one's wish; unwillingly. *
/"I'll go with you all right," she said to the kidnapper, "but I want
it clearly understood that I do so under protest."/
[understand] See: GIVE ONE TO UNDERSTAND.
[under the circumstances] also [in the circumstances] {adv. phr.}
In the existing situation; in the present condition; as things are. *
/In the circumstances, Father couldn't risk giving up his job./ *
/Under the circumstances, the stagecoach passengers had to give the
robbers their money./
[under the collar] See: HOT UNDER THE COLLAR.
[under the counter] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly (bought or
sold). * /That book has been banned, but there is one place you can
get it under the counter./ * /The liquor dealer was arrested for
selling beer under the counter to teenagers./ - Also used like an
adjective, with hyphens. * /During World War II, some stores kept
scarce things hidden for under-the-counter-sales to good customers./
[under the hammer] {adv. phr.} Up for sale at auction. * /The
Brights auctioned off the entire contents of their home. Mrs. Bright
cried when her pewter collection went under the hammer./ * /The
picture I wanted to bid on came under the hammer soon after I
arrived./
[under the nose of] See: UNDER ONE'S NOSE.
[under the sun] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} On earth; in the world. -
Used for emphasis. * /The President's assassination shocked everyone
under the sun./ * /Where under the sun could I have put my purse?/
[under the table] See: UNDER THE COUNTER.
[under the thumb of] See: UNDER ONE'S THUMB.
[under the weather] {adv. phr.} In bad health or low spirits. *
/Mary called in today asking for a sick day as she is under the
weather./
[under the wire] {adv. phr.} With a narrow time limit; in the last
minute. * /The journalist's new lead article on Russia was due in
press at 5 P.M., and he got it in at 4:57, just under the wire./
[underway] {adv. phr.} In progress; in motion. * /The yearly
fund-raising campaign for the renovation of our university campus is
already underway./
[under wraps] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Not allowed to be seen until
the right time; not allowed to act or speak freely; in secrecy;
hidden. - Usually used with "keep". * /We have a new player, hut we
are keeping him under wraps until the game./ * /What the President is
planning will be kept under wraps until tomorrow./ * /The spy was kept
under wraps and not allowed to talk to newspapermen./ Compare: UNDER
COVER.
[unknown quantity] {n.} Someone or something whose value and
importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or
place; a new and untested person or thing. * /What we would find if we
could fly to the moon is an unknown quantity./ * /The new player is
still an unknown quantity. We'll find out how good he is in the game./
[unseen] See: SIGHT UNSEEN.
[until all hours] {adv. phr.} Until very late at night. * /He is so
anxious to pass his exams with flying colors that he stays up studying
until all hours./
[until hell freezes over] {adv. phr.}, {slang} Forever, for an
eternity. * /He can argue until hell freezes over; nobody will believe
him./ Contrast: WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER.
[until the last gun is fired] See: TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED.
[unturned] See: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.
[up against] {prep. phr.} Blocked or threatened by. * /When she
applied to medical school, the black woman wondered whether she was up
against barriers of sex and race prejudice./
[up against it] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Faced with a great
difficulty or problem; badly in need. * /The Smith family is up
against it because Mr. Smith cannot find a job./ * /You will be up
against it if you don't pass the test. You will probably fail
arithmetic./ Compare: HARD UP, END OF ONE'S ROPE, BACK TO THE WALL(2).
[up and about] or [around] {adv. phr.} Recovered and able to move
about; once again in good health after an illness. * /My sister was
ill for several weeks, but is now up and about again./
[up and at them] 1. {adv. phr.} Actively engaged in a task as if
doing combat. * /"You want to know whether he will make a diligent
worker?" Dick asked. "Well, I can tell you that most of the time he is
up and at them like no one else I know."/ 2. {v. phr.} To become
aggressively engaged in doing something; (useable as a command). *
/Come on, up and at them, you guys. We still have a lot of work to get
done./
[up-and-coming] {adj. phr.} Bound toward success; upwardly mobile;
progressive; ambitious. * /The newly elected state senator is an
up-and-coming young politician who is expected to be highly successful
in national politics in the future./
[up a stump] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Stumped; blocked; mixed up or
confused in what you are trying to do. * /Jimmy knows how to add and
subtract but fractions have him up a stump./
[up a tree] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Hunted or chased into a tree;
treed. * /The dog drove the coon up a tree so the hunter could shoot
him./ 2. {informal} in trouble; having problems; in a difficulty that
it is hard to escape or think of a way out of. * /John's father has
him up a tree in the checker game./ Compare: UP THE CREEK.
[up for grabs] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Available for anyone to try
to get; ready to be competed for; there for the taking. * /When the
captain of the football team moved out of town, his place was up for
grabs./
[up front(1)] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The managerial section of a
corporation or firm. * /Joe Catwallender finally made it (with the) up
front./
[up front(2)] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Open, sincere, hiding
nothing. * /Sue was completely up front about why she didn't want to
see him anymore./
[up in arms] {adj. phr.} 1. Equipped with guns or weapons and ready
to fight. * /All of the colonies were up in arms against the
Redcoats./ Syn.: IN ARMS. 2. Very angry and wanting to fight. *
/Robert is up in arms because John said he was stupid./ * /The
students were up in arms over the new rule against food in the
dormitory./
[up in the air] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. {informal} In great anger
or excitement. * /My father went straight up in the air when he heard
I damaged the car./ * /The Jones family are all up in the air because
they are taking a trip around the world./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING,
BLOW A FUSE. 2. also [in midair] Not settled; uncertain; undecided. *
/Plans for the next meeting have been left up in the air until Jane
gets better./ * /The result of the game was left hanging in midair
because it rained before the finish./ Compare: LEAVE HANGING.
[up one's alley] See: DOWN ONE'S ALLEY.
[up one's sleeve] or [in one's sleeve] {adv. phr.} 1. Hidden in the
sleeve of one's shirt or coat and ready for secret or wrongful use. *
/The crooked gambler hid aces up his sleeve during the card game so
that he would win./ 2. {informal} Kept secretly ready for the right
time or for a time when needed. * /Jimmy knew that his father had some
trick up his sleeve because he was smiling to himself during the
checker game./ Compare: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE. 3. See: LAUGH UP ONE'S
SLEEVE.
[upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF also TAKE UPON ONESELF.
[upon one's head] See: ON ONE'S HEAD.
[upon the spot] See: ON THE SPOT(1).
[upper] See: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, ON ONE'S UPPERS.
[upper crust] {n.}, {informal} The richest, most famous, or
important people in a certain place; the highest class. * /It is a
school that only the children of the upper crust can afford./
[upper hand] or [whip hand] {n.} Controlling power; advantage. *
/In the third round the champion got the upper hand over his opponent
and knocked him out./ * /The cowboy trained the wild horse so that he
finally got the whip hand and tamed the horse./
[upper story] {n.} 1. A floor or level of a building above the
first floor. * /The apartment house where Gene lives is five stories
high and he lives in one of the upper stories./ 2. {slang} A person's
head or brain. * /Lulu has nobody home in the upper story./ * /Bill's
sister says he is weak in the upper story./
[Upsadaisy!] or [Upsee-daisy!] or [Upsy-daisy!] {adv. phr.} - A
popular exclamation used when just about anything is lifted,
particularly a small child raised to his or her highchair or bed. *
/"Upsee-daisy!" the nurse said with a smile on her face, as she lifted
the baby from its bed./
[ups and downs] {n. phr.} Vicissitudes; alternating periods between
good and bad times; changes in fortune. * /He is now a wealthy stock
trader, but at the beginning of his career he, too, had many ups and
downs./
[upset the applecart] or [upset one's applecart] {v. phr.},
{informal} To ruin a plan or what is being done, often by surprise or
accident; change how things are or are being done, often unexpectedly;
ruin or mix up another person's success or plan for success. * /John
upset the other team's applecart by hitting a home run in the last
inning and we won the game./ * /We are planning a surprise party for
Bill, so don't let Mary upset the applecart by telling him before the
party./ * /Frank thinks he is going to be the boss, but I'll upset his
applecart the first chance I get./ Compare: ROCK THE BOAT.
[upside down] {adv. phr.} Overturned so that the bottom is up and
the top is down. * /The ladybug lay upside down in the sand and was
unable to take off./ * /The problem with this company is that
everything is upside down; we need a new C.E.O./
[upstairs] See: NOBODY HOME UPSTAIRS.
[up the creek] or [up the creek without a paddle] {adj. phr.},
{informal} In trouble or difficulty and unable to do anything about
it; stuck. * /Father said that if the car ran out of gas in the middle
of the desert, we would be up the creek without a paddle./ * /I'll be
up the creek if I don't pass this history test./ Compare: DEEP WATER,
IN THE SOUP, UP A TREE, OUT OF LUCK.
[up tight] or [uptight] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Worried,
irritated, excessively eager or anxious. * /Why are you so uptight
about getting that job? The more you worry, the less you'll succeed./
[up to] {prep.} 1. As far, as deep, or as high as. * /The water in
the pond was only up to John's knees./ * /Mary is small and just comes
up to Bill's chest./ * /The shovel sank in the soft mud all the way up
to the handle./ 2. Close to; approaching. * /The team did not play up
to its best today./ * /Because of the rain, the number of people at
the party didn't come up to the number we expected./ 3. As high as;
not more than; as much or as many as. * /Pick any number up to ten./ *
/There were up to eight fire engines at the fire./ 4. or [up till] or
[up until] - Until; till. * /Up to her fourth birthday, the baby slept
in a crib./ * /Up to now I always thought John was honest./ * /We went
swimming up till breakfast time./ * /Up until last summer we always
went to the beach for our vacation./ 5. Capable of; fit for; equal to;
strong or well enough for. * /We chose Harry to be captain because we
thought he was up to the job./ * /Mother is sick and not up to going
out to the store./ 6. Doing or planning secretly; ready for mischief.
* /What are you up to with the matches, John?/ * /Mrs. Watson was sure
that the boys were up to no good, because they ran when they saw her
coming./ 7. Facing as a duty; to be chosen or decided by; depending
on. * /It's up to you to get to school on time./ * /I don't care when
you cut the grass. When you do it is up to you./
[up-to-date] {adj.} Modern; contemporary; the latest that technology
can offer. * /"I want an up-to-date dictionary of American idioms,"
Mr. Lee said, "that has all the latest Americanisms in it."/ Contrast:
STATE-OF-THE-ART.
[up to no good] {adv. phr.} Intending to do something bad;
perpetrating an illicit act. * /We could tell from the look on Dennis
the Menace's face that he was once again up to no good./
[up to one's ears] {adv. phr.} Immersed in; covered with. *
/"Around final examination time," Professor Brown explained, "I am
always up to my ears in work."/
[up to one's neck] {adv. phr.} Overwhelmed with; submerged in. *
/"During the summer season in our cottage by the lake," the Allens
complained, "we are usually up to our necks in uninvited guests."/
Compare: UP TO ONE'S EARS.
[up to par] or {informal} [up to scratch] or {informal} [up to
snuff] 1. In good or normal health or physical condition. * /I have a
cold and don't feel up to par./ * /The boxer is training for the fight
but he isn't up to scratch yet./ 2. or [up to the mark] As good as
usual; up to the usual level or quality. * /The TV program was not up
to par tonight./ * /John will have to work hard to bring his grades up
to snuff./ Compare: MEASURE UP.
[up to scratch] See: UP TO FAR.
[up to snuff] See: UP TO PAR.
[up to the chin in] or [in --- up to the chin] {adj. phr.},
{informal} Used also with "ears", "elbows", "eyes" or "knees" instead
of "chin", and with a possessive instead of "the". 1. Having a big or
important part in; guilty of; not innocent of; deeply in. * /Was Tom
mixed up in that trouble last night? He was up to his ears in it./ *
/Mr. Johnson is up to the eyes in debt./ * /Mrs. Smith is in debt up
to her chin./ Compare: TO THE HILT. 2. Very busy with; working hard
at. * /Bob is up to his neck in homework./ * /They are up to their
elbows in business before Christmas./ 3. Having very much or many of;
flooded with. * /Mary was up to her knees in invitations to go to
parties./ Compare: KNEE-DEEP.
[up to the hilt] See: TO THE HILT.
[up to the last minute] {adv. phr.} Until the last possible moment;
until the very end. * /When I try to send in an important eyewitness
report from the scene of a major accident, I must keep working up to
the last minute./ Compare: TO THE BITTER END, UNDER THE WIRE.
[up to the mark] See: UP TO PAR(2).
[up-to-the-minute] See: UP-TO-DATE.
[urban homesteading] {n.}, {informal} Renovation and occupation
through cooperative ownership by tenants of previously abandoned city
apartment buildings. * /Urban homesteading is on the rise in many big
American cities these days./
[use] See: NO USE, PUT TO USE.
[used to(1)] {adj. phr.} In the habit of or familiar with. *
/People get used to smoking and it is hard for them to stop./ *
/Farmers are used to working outdoors in the winter./ * /After my eyes
became used to the dim light in the cave, I saw an old shovel on the
ground./ * /On the hike Bob soon got tired, but Dick did not because
he was used to walking./
[used to(2)] or [did use to] {v. phr.} Did formerly; did in the
past. - Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past.
* /Uncle Henry used to have a beard, but he shaved it off./ * /Did
your father use to work at the bank?/ * /People used to say that
tomatoes were poison./ - Sometimes used without the infinitive. * /I
don't go to that school any more, but I used to./ * /We don't visit
Helen as much as we used to./ * /I used to go to the movies often. Did
you use to?/
[used to be] or [did use to be] {v. phr.} Formerly or once was. *
/Mary used to be small; but she has grown up./ * /Dick used to be the
best pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are better
than he is./
[use every trick in the book] {v. phr.}, {informal} To avail
oneself of any means at all in order to achieve one's goal, not
exclusive of possibly immoral or illegal acts. * /Algernon used every
trick in the book to get Maxine to go out with him, but she kept
refusing./
[use one's head] or {slang} [use one's bean] or {slang} [use one's
noodle] or {slang} use [one's noggin] {v. phr.} To use your brain or
mind; think; have common sense. - Often used as a command. * /If you
used your bean you wouldn't be in trouble now./ * /Never point a gun
at anybody, John. Use your head!/
[use up] {v. phr.} 1. To use until nothing is left; spend or
consume completely. * /Don't use up all the soap. Leave me some to
wash with./ * /Jack used up his last dollar to see the movies./
Compare: GIVE OUT(5). 2. {informal} To tire completely; make very
tired; exhaust; leave no strength or force in. - Usually used in the
passive. * /After rowing the boat across the lake, Robert was used
up./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4), WEAR OUT.
[utility room] {n.} A room in a house or building for machinery and
other things important in the daily use of the building and the work
of the people in it. * /There is a utility room upstairs where Mother
does the laundry./ * /The oil burner is kept in the utility room in
the basement./
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Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
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