Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[line drive] {n.} A batted baseball that is usually hit hard and travels in the air not far above the ground. •/ The batter hit a line drive to left field for a single. /

[linen]See: AIR ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

[line of fire] {n. phr.} The path that something fired or thrown takes. •/ When the bandit and the police began to shoot, John was almost in their line of fire. / Compare: CROSS FIRE.

[line of least resistance]or [path of least resistance] {n. phr.} The easiest way; the way that takes least effort. •/ In becoming a doctor like his father John had really just followed the line of least resistance. / •/ Some parents take the path of least resistance with their children and let them do as they please. /

[line of scrimmage] {n. phr.} An imaginary line on a football field parallel to the goal lines where each play except the kickoff begins. •/ The play was stopped at the line of scrimmage. /

[line one’s pockets]also [line one’s purse] {v. phr.} , {informal} To get a lot of money unfairly; get rich by being dishonest. •/ The policeman lined his pockets by taking bribes. / •/ The inspector lined his pockets by permitting contractors to use poor building materials. / Compare: FEATHER ONE’S NEST.

[lineup] {n.} 1. An alignment of objects in a straight line. •/ A lineup of Venus and the moon can be a very beautiful sight in the night sky. / 2. An arrangement of suspects through a one-way mirror so that the victim or the witness of a crime can identify the wanted person. •/ She picked out her attacker from a police lineup. /

[line up] {v. phr.} 1. To take places in a line or formation; stand side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. •/ The boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard. / •/ The football team lined up in a "T" formation. / 2. To put in line. •/ John lined up the pool balls. / 3. To adjust correctly. •/ The garage man lined up the car’s wheels. / 4a. {informal} To make ready for action; complete a plan or agreement for; arrange. •/ Henry’s friends lined up so many votes for him that he won the election. / •/ Roger lined up a summer job before school was out. / •/ The superintendent lined up all the new teachers he needed before he went on vacation. / 4b. {informal} To become ready for action; come together in preparation or agreement. •/ The football schedule is lining up well; the coach has arranged all games except one. / •/ Larry wanted to go to the seashore for the family vacation, but the rest of the family lined up against him. / Compare: GANG UP, SHAPE UP, TAKE SIDES.

[lining]See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING.

[link]See: MISSING LINK.

[lion’s share] {n. phr.} A disproportionate share; the largest part. •/ The manager always gets the lion’s share of the company’s profits. /

[lip]See: BUTTON ONE’S LIP or ZIP ONE’S LIP, HANG ON THE WORDS OF or HANG ON THE LIPS OF, KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, SLIP OF THE TONGUE also SLIP OF THE LIP.

[lip service] {n.} Support shown by words only and not by actions; a show of loyalty that is not proven in action. — Usually used with "pay". •/ Bv holding elections, communism pays lip service to democracy, but it offers only one candidate per office. / •/ Some people pay lip service to education, but don’t vote taxes for better schools. /

[liquid assets] {n. phr.} Those belongings that can be easily converted into cash. •/ Herb asked for a loan and the bank manager told him to bring in proof of all his liquid assets. /

[liquor up] {v. phr.} , {slang} To drink an excessive amount of liquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a car that needs to be filled before a journey. •/ Joe always liquors up before he takes Sue for a dance. /

[list]See: SUCKER LIST, WAITING LIST.

[listen in] {v.} 1. To listen to a radio broadcast. •/ We found them listening in to the president’s speech. / 2. To listen to the talk of others, often to talk that is not intended for your ears; eavesdrop. •/ When Mary talked to her boyfriend on the telephone, her little brother listened in. /

[listen to reason] {v. phr.} To listen to and think about advice that you are given. •/ Joe was stubborn and would not listen to reason. / •/ It will save you a lot of trouble if you will just listen to reason. /

[litterbug] {n.} , {slang} , {informal} A person who leaves garbage in a public place, such as a park or beach or a street; one who litters. •/ Don’t be a litterbug; keep the city clean! /

[little]See: A LITTLE, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, MAKE LITTLE OF, NOT A LITTLE, QUITE A LITTLE or QUITE A LITTLE BIT, THINK LITTLE OF, TWIST AROUND ONE’S LITTLE FINGER.

[little does one think] {v. phr.} To not realize; not expect; be hardly aware of. •/ Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the father of twin daughters. /

[little folk]or [little people]See: WEE FOLK.

[little frog in a big pond]or [small frog in a big pond] {n. phr.} An unimportant person in a large group or organization. •/ In a large company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a big pond. / •/ When Bill transferred to a larger high school, he found himself a small frog in a big pond. / Contrast: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.

[little pitchers have big ears]Little children often overhear things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect they would notice. — A proverb. •/ Be especially careful not to swear in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears. /

[little theater] {n.} A theater, usually with nonprofessional actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure and practice than for profit. •/ Little theater groups are active in all parts of the United States. / •/ Many famous actors began in little theaters. /

[lit up like a Christmas tree] {adj. phr.} , {informal} To be drunk. •/ On New Year’s Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree. / Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.

[live]See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.

[live and learn]You learn more new things the longer you live; you learn by experience. — A proverb. •/ "Live and learn," said Mother. "I never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is." / •/ Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it shrank and was too little. Live and learn. /

[live and let live]To live in the way you prefer and let others live as they wish without being bothered by you. •/ Father scolds Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it’s her hair and his pipe; live and let live. / Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.

[live down] {v.} To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter) by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or forgotten by not repeating it. •/ John’s business failure hurt him for a long time, but in the end he lived it down. / •/ Frank was rather a bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up. / •/ Sandra called her principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she thought she would never live it down. /

[live from hand to mouth] {v. phr.} To live on little money and spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have just enough. •/ Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand to mouth when he had no job. / •/ These Indians live from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots. /

[live high off the hog]or [eat high on the hog]See: EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.

[live in]or [room in] {v.} , {informal} To live in the school you attend or the place where you work. •/ Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college. / •/ Many women advertise for mother’s helpers to room in with families and help take care of children. /

[live in a fool’s paradise] {v. phr.} To deceive oneself; tell oneself unreal stories. •/ His information is based on a lot of misunderstanding — the poor guy is living in a fool’s paradise. /

[live in an ivory tower] {v. phr.} To be blind to real life; live an unrealistically sheltered existence. •/ Professor Nebelmacher has no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower. /

[live in the fast lane] {v. phr.} , {informal} To live a full and very active life pursuing wealth and success. •/ They have been living in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City. /

[live it up] {v. phr.} , {informal} To pursue pleasure; enjoy games or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. •/ Joe had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it up. / •/ The western cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live it up. /

[live off someone] {v. phr.} To be supported by someone. •/ Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to live off his elderly parents. /

[live off the fat of the land]See: FAT OF THE LAND.

[live on borrowed time] {v. phr.} To live or last longer than was expected. •/ Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on borrowed time. / •/ Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a year ago the doctors had told him he would only live six months. /

[live out] {v.} 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. •/ Smith lived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to the South again. / •/ After retiring, John and his wife lived out their lives in Florida. / 2. To last through; endure to the end of. •/ We lived out the winter on short ration. / •/ He lived out the earthquake, but his house was destroyed. /

[live out of a suitcase] {v. phr.} To have no permanent residence or a permanent place to hang one’s clothes. •/ When Jennifer accepted her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a suitcase for six months. /