Неизвестен Автор - Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[on the run] or 1. In a hurry; hurrying. * /Jane called "Help!" and Tom came on the run./ * /Modern mothers are usually on the run./ 2. Going away from a fight; in retreat; retreating. * /The enemy soldiers were on the run./

[on the safe side] Provided for against a possible emergency; well prepared. * /"Please double-check these proofs, Mr. Brown," the printer said, "just to be on the safe side."/

[on the shelf] or , Laid aside; not useful anymore. * /When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on the shelf./ * /Mr. Myron's company put him on the shelf when he reached the age of 65./

[on the side] , 1. In addition to a main thing, amount or quantity; extra. * /He ordered a hamburger with onions and French fries on the side./ * /His job at the hospital did not pay much, so he found another on the side./ * /The cowboys in the rodeo competed for prize money and also made bets on the side./ 2. or [on the --- side] Tending toward; rather. * /Grandmother thought Jane's new skirt was on the short side./

[on the sly] So that other people won't know; secretly. * /The boys smoked on the sly./ * /Mary's mother did not approve of lipstick, but Mary used it on the sly./

[on the spot] or 1. or [upon the spot] At that exact time and at the same time or place; without waiting or leaving. * /The news of important events is often broadcast on the spot over television./ * /When Tom ruined an expensive machine, his boss fired him on the spot./ Compare: AT ONCE, IN ONE'S TRACKS, THEN AND THERE. 2. also [in a spot] In trouble, difficulty, or embarrassment. * /Mr. Jones is on the spot because he cannot pay back the money he borrowed./ * /Bill is on the spot; he invited George to visit him, but Bill's parents said no./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL. 3. In danger of murder; named or listed for death. * /After he talked to the police, the gangsters put him on the spot./

[on the spur of the moment] On a sudden wish or decision; suddenly; without thought or preparation. * /John had not planned to take the trip; he just left on the spur of the moment./ * /Mary saw a help-wanted advertisement and applied for the job on the spur of the moment./

[on the stage] or In or into the work of being an actor or actress. * /John's brother is on the stage./ * /Mary went on the stage./

[on the strength of] With faith or trust in; depending upon; with the support of. * /On the strength of Jim's promise to guide us, we decided to climb the mountain./ * /Bill started a restaurant on the strength of his experience as a cook in the army./

[on the string] or [on a string] , Under your influence or control; obedient to every wish. * /The baby had his mother on a string./ * /She was pretty and popular, with two or three boys on the string all the time./

[on the take] Bribable; corrupt. * /Officer O'Keefe was put on three months' probation because it was alleged that he was on the take./

[on the tip of one's tongue] About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. * /"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute."/

[on the town] or , In or into a town to celebrate; having a good time or enjoying the amusements in a town. * /When the sailors got off their ship they went out on the town./ Compare: PAINT THE TOWN RED.

[on the track of] or [on the trail of] Hunting or looking for; trying to find; following. * /The hunter is on the track of a deer./ * /The lawyer is on the trail of new proof in the case./ * /Jim collects old stamps; he is on the track of one in Midville this afternoon./

[on the trail of] See: ON THE TRACK OF.

[on the trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

[on the up and up] , Honest; trustworthy; sincere. * /We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This information is on the up and up./ Compare: ON THE LEVEL.

[on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE.

[on the wagon] Participating in an alcohol addiction program; not touching any alcoholic beverage. * /Jim's doctor and his family finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on the wagon./ Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.

[on the wane and on the wax] Decreasing and increasing. - Said of the moon. * /The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax at regular intervals lasting half a month./

[on the warpath] , 1. Very angry. * /When Mother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath./ * /Betty has been on the warpath ever since she found out she was not invited to the party./ 2. Making an attack; fighting. * /The government is on the warpath against narcotics./ * /The police are on the warpath against speeders./

[on the watch] Alert; watchful. * /The customs inspector was on the watch for diamond smugglers./ * /Mary was on the watch for bargains at the auction./ Compare: EYE OUT, LOOK OUT(2).

[on the way] or [on one's way] or Coming; going toward a place or goal; started. * /Help was on the way./ * /The train left and Bill was on his way to New York./ * /He is well on the way to becoming a fine mechanic./

[on the whole] 1. In the most important things; in most ways. * /On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year./ * /Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show./ Syn.: IN ALL(2), FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. * /On the whole, men are stronger than women./ * /On the whole, children begin walking when they are about one year old./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, IN GENERAL.

[on the wing] or 1. In the air; while flying. * /The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing./ 2. In constant motion; always very busy. * /Susan was on the wing doing things to get ready for her trip./ * /Mr. Jones had a busy schedule and his secretary had to catch him on the wing to sign the letters./ Syn.: ON THE FLY. 3. Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere. * /Mary's husband is a traveling salesman and he's always on the wing./ * /They stayed in France for a week and then they were on the wing again./ Syn.: ON THE GO, ON THE MOVE.

[on the words] See: HANG ON THE WORDS OF.

[on the wrong foot] See: GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

[on the wrong side of the bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.

[on the wrong track] Lost; pursuing the wrong lead. * /Professor MacAlister confessed that his chemical experiments were on the wrong track./ Contrast: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE.

[on time] or 1. At the time arranged; not late; promptly. * /The train left on time./ * /Mary is always on time for an appointment./ Contrast: AHEAD OF TIME, BEHIND TIME. 2. On the installment plan; on credit, paying a little at a time. * /John bought a car on time./ * /You can buy things at the department store on time./

[on top] or , In the lead; with success; with victory. * /The horse that everyone had expected would be on top actually came in third./ * /Although John had been afraid that he was not prepared for the exam, he came out on top./

[on top of] . 1. On the top of; standing or lying on; on. * /When the player on the other team dropped the ball, Bill fell on top of it./ * /That high hill has a tower on top of it./ 2. Very close to. * /The elevator was so crowded that everybody was on top of each other./ * /I couldn't find my umbrella and then I realized I was almost on top of it./ 3. In addition to; along with. * /Mrs. Lane had many expenses and on top of everything else, her baby became ill./ * /Mary worked at the store all day and on top of that she had to baby-sit with her brother./ 4. Managing very well; in control of. * /Although his new job was very complicated, John was on top of it within a few weeks./ * /No matter what goes wrong, Mary always stays on top of it./ 5. Knowing all about; not falling behind in information about; up-to-date on. * /Mary stays on top of the news by reading newspapers and magazines./ * /When he was in California, Mr. Jones kept on top of things in his office by telephoning every day./

[on top of the world] or [sitting on top of the world] also (Southern) [sitting on high cotton] , Feeling pleased and happy; feeling successful. * /John was on top of the world when he found out that he got into college./ * /When Ruth won first prize in the contest, she felt as though she was sitting on top of the world./ * /The girls were sitting on high cotton because their basketball team had won the trophy./ Compare: FLYING HIGH, WALK ON AIR.

[on trial] or 1. For testing or trying out for a time before making a decision. * /I was lucky that I had bought the machine on trial because I didn't like it and was able to return it./ * /Mother bought a new dishwasher on trial and was trying it out before deciding whether to keep it./ 2. In a court being tried for a crime before a judge or jury. * /John White was on trial for murder./ * /Mary was on trial before the Student Committee for spoiling school property./

[on words] See: PLAY ON WORDS.

[on your life] See: NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

[open] See: EYES OPEN, THROW OPEN.

[open and aboveboard] Honest. * /Jacob felt that the firm he was doing business with wasn't entirely open and aboveboard./

[open and shut] See: CUT AND DRIED.

[open arms] See: RECEIVE WITH OPEN ARMS.

[open-door policy] A policy that states that newcomers are welcome to join the company, firm, or country in question. * /During the nineteenth century the United States had an open-door policy regarding immigration./

[open fire] To begin shooting. * /The big warship turned its guns toward the enemy ship and opened fire./ * /When the policeman called to the robber to stop, he turned and suddenly opened fire./

[openhanded] Generous; liberal. * /Although not wealthy himself, Bob was always very openhanded with those who needed help./

[open heart] 1. No hiding of your feelings; frankness; freedom. * /She spoke with an open heart of her warm feelings for her pupils./ * /She told her troubles with an open heart./ Compare: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE. 2. Kindness; generosity. * /She contributed to the fund with an open heart./ * /Mr. Jones has an open heart for underprivileged children./ Compare: OPEN ONE'S HEART.

[open its doors] 1. To allow someone or something to enter or join; become open. * /That college was started for women only, but a few years ago it opened its doors to men./ 2. To begin doing business; open. * /Proffitts Department Store is having a birthday sale; it first opened its doors fifty years ago this month./ Contrast: CLOSE ITS DOORS.

[open letter] A public message in the form of a letter addressed to a particular person or to a group. * /There was an open letter to the president of the United States in today's morning paper./

[open market] Goods or securities available for purchase by all. * /The stocks of certain companies are on the open market./

[open marriage] An arrangement by mutual agreement between husband and wife whereby they are both allowed to have extramarital affairs. * /Chances are the open marriage arrangement they had didn't work out too well so they are getting a divorce./

[open-minded] Having no dogmatic or biased views on matters of theory, religion, politics, etc. * /Fred is easy to talk to about anything; he is a highly intelligent and open-minded person./

[open one's eyes] or [open up one's eyes] To make a person see or understand the truth; make a person realize; tell a person what is really happening or what really exists. * /Mary didn't believe that her cousin could be mean until the cousin opened Mary's eyes by scratching and biting her./ * /John's eyes were opened up to the world of nature when he visited his grandfather's farm./ Compare: EYES OPEN, WISE UP. - [eye opener] Something that makes you understand the truth. * /Pam's first visit to school was a real eye-opener./

[open one's heart] 1. To talk about your feelings honestly; confide in someone. * /After going around worrying, Mary opened her heart to her mother./ * /John felt much better after he opened his heart to Betty./ 2. To be sympathetic to; give love or help generously. * /Mrs. Smith opened her heart to the poor little boy./ * /After the moving speech by the UN official, the people opened their hearts to the poor people of India./ Compare: OPEN HEART, WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE.