Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[one]See: AT ONE, FOR ONE, GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER, HANG ONE ON, HOLE IN ONE, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, NUMBER ONE, SIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER, SLIP ONE OVER ON, TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE, WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

[one and the same] {adj. phr.} The same; identical. •/ Erle Stanley Gardner and A.A. Fair are one and the same person. / •/ The spider lily and the Peruvian Daffodil are one and the same. /

[one-armed bandit] {n.} , {slang} A slot machine, like those used in Las Vegas and other gambling places. •/ Joe was playing the one-armed bandit all day — and he lost everything he had. /

[on earth]See: IN THE WORLD.

[on easy street] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Having enough money to live very comfortably; rather rich. •/ After years of hard work, the Grants found themselves on easy street. / •/ Jim’s novel was a success and put him on easy street. / Compare: IN CLOVER, IN THE CHIPS, WELL-TO-DO.

[one damn thing after another]or [ODTAA](pronounced owed-tay) {n. phr.} If there is one problem, there will be more. •/ First I lost my wallet, then a kid broke the window, and, lastly, my car refused to start. It was just one damn thing after another! / Compare: IF IT’S NOT ONE THING IT’S ANOTHER.

[on edge] {adj. phr.} Excited or nervous; impatient. •/ The magician kept the children on edge all through his show. / •/ We were all on edge as we listened to the TV for news of the election results. / •/ Father was on edge after driving home through the heavy holiday traffic. / See: SET ONE’S TEETH ON EDGE. Contrast: AT EASE(2).

[one eye on] {informal} Watching or minding (a person or thing) while doing something else; part of your attention on. — Used after "have", "keep", or "with". •/ Jane had one eye on the baby as she ironed. / •/ Bill kept one eye on his books and the other on the clock. / •/ Chris tried to study with one eye on the TV set. / Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.

[one foot in the grave] {n. phr.} Near to death. •/ The dog is fourteen years old, blind, and feeble. He has one foot in the grave. / •/ Grandfather has never been sick a day in his life, but Mother cares for him as if he had one foot in the grave. /

[one for the books] {n, phr.} , {informal} Very unusual; a remarkable something. •/ The newspaper reporter fumed in a story that was one for the books. / •/ Their trip through the Rocky Mountains was one for the books. /

[one-horse] {adj. phr.} Insignificant; modest; provincial. •/ Arnold’s business is a one-horse operation; he never had a single employee. /

[one man’s meat is another man’s poison]What is good for one person is not necessarily good for another. — A proverb, •/ Even though Jeff likes to swim in ice cold water, his brother Tun hates it. This is understandable, however, because one’s man’s meat is another man’s poison. / Contrast: WHAT’S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER.

[on end] {adj. phr.} Seemingly endless. — Used with plural nouns of time. •/ Judy spent hours on end writing and rewriting her essay. / •/ During July and August there was no rain for weeks on end. /

[one-night stand] {n. phr.} 1. A single performance given by a traveling company while on a tour. •/ After they went bankrupt in the big cities, the traveling jazz quartet played one-night stands in the country. / 2. A brief affair or sexual encounter. •/ "With AIDS all around us?" said Jane. "Nobody is having one-night stands anymore." /

[one of these days]or [some of these days] {adv. phr.} Someday; sometime soon. •/ One of these days Herbert will be famous. / •/ I’m going to do that sewing some of these days. /

[one on the city] {n.} , {slang} A glass of water (which is provided free of charge, as a free gift from the city). •/ What will you have? — Oh, just give me one on the city. /

[one’s money’s worth] {n. phr.} A fair return on one’s money spent or invested. •/ I wouldn’t say that the trip was a great bargain, but I feel that we got our money’s worth. /

[one’s own row]See: HOE ONE’S OWN ROW.

[one-two] {n.} 1. A succession of two punches, the first a short left, followed by a hard right punch, usually in the jaw. •/ Ali gave Frazir the one-two. / 2. Any quick or decisive action which takes the opposition by surprise, thereby ensuring victory. •/ He gave us the old one-two and won the game. /

[one up] {adj. phr.} Having an advantage; being one step ahead, •/ John graduated from high school; he is one up on Bob, who dropped out. / •/ The Platters are one up on their neighbors. They own the only color television set in their neighborhood. /

[one-upmanship] {v.} , {informal} Always keeping ahead of others; trying to keep an advantage. •/ No matter what I do, I find that Jim has already done it better. He’s an expert at one-upmanship. / •/ Jack took the news to the principal while we were still talking about it. He’s very quick to practice one-upmanship. / Compare: ONE UP. (The word one-upmanship was made up by a British humorist, Stephen Potter, on the pattern of such words as sportsmanship and workmanship.)

[on faith] {adv. phr.} Without question or proof. •/ He said he was twenty-one years old and the employment agency took him on faith. / •/ He looked so honest that we accepted his story on faith. /

[on file] {adv. phr.} Placed in a written or electronic file; on record. •/ We are sorry we cannot hire you right now but we will keep your application on file. /

[on fire]See: SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.

[on foot] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. By walking. •/ Sally’s bicycle broke and she had to return home on foot. / 2. Being planned. •/ The reporter said that a civil rights demonstration was on foot. / •/ Plans have been set on foot for a party for Miss Jackson, because she is retiring. /

[on guard] {adj. phr.} Watchful; watching. •/ The police warned people to he on guard for pickpockets during the Christmas rush. / •/ Two men are on guard at the door. / Contrast: OFF GUARD.

[on hand] {adv. phr.} 1a. Nearby; within reach. •/ Always have your dictionary on hand when you study. / 1b. Here. •/ Soon school will end and vacation will be on hand. / 2. Present. •/ Mr. Blake’s secretary is always on hand when he appears in public. / 3. In your possession; ready. •/ The Girl Scouts have plenty of cookies on hand. / •/ Tim had no cash on hand to pay for the gas. / Compare: IN STORE.

[on high cotton]See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD also SITTING ON HIGH COTTON.

[on hold] {adv. phr.} 1. Left waiting while making a telephone call. •/ "Sorry sir," the secretary said, "I’ll have to put you on hold for a minute." / 2. Waiting; temporarily halted. •/ "Put your marriage plans on hold, son, and wait until after graduation," his father said seriously. /

[on ice] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} , {slang} 1. The same as won; sure to be won. •/ The score was 20-10 in the last inning, and our team had the game on ice. / 2. Away for safekeeping or later use; aside. •/ You will have to put your vacation plans on ice until your debts are paid. / •/ The senator was voted out of office. He is on ice until the next election. /

[on in years]See: ALONG IN YEARS.

[onion]See: KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND(2).

[only]See: HAVE EYES ONLY FOR, IF ONLY.

[on occasion] {adv. phr.} Sometimes; occasionally. •/ We go to New York on occasion. / •/ On occasion we feel like celebrating and have a party. / Compare: ONCE IN A WHILE, FROM TIME TO TIME.

[on one hand] {adv. phr.} Looking at a thing in one of two possible ways; from one point of view. — Usually used with "on the other hand". •/ John wants to be a printer or a teacher; on one hand, printing pays better; on the other hand, schools need good teachers. /

[on one’s account] {adv. phr.} For your good; because you want to help or please someone. •/ Barry studied hard on his mother’s account. / •/ I hope you didn’t bring tea to the picnic just on my account. / •/ The teacher stayed in school a little late on Tom’s account. / Compare: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD, ON ACCOUNT OF.

[on one’s back] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Making insistent demands of you; being an annoyance or bother. •/ My wife has been on my back for weeks to fix the front door screen. / •/ I can’t get any work done with the children on my back from morning until night. / •/ Jim could do a better job if his boss weren’t on his back so often. / Contrast: OFF ONE’S BACK.

[on one’s bad side]or [on the bad side of one] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Not liked by someone; not friendly with a person. •/ Sally’s boyfriend got on Father’s bad side by keeping Sally out too late after the dance. / Contrast: ON ONE’S GOOD SIDE.

[on one’s behalf]See: ON BEHALF OF.

[on one’s chest] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Hidden in your thoughts or feelings and bothering you; making you feel worried or upset; that is something you want to talk to someone about. •/ Jane looks unhappy because she has the quarrel with Susan on her chest. / •/ "Well, Dave," said the coach, "You look sad — what’s on your chest?" / Compare: ON ONE’S MIND. Contrast: OFF ONE’S CHEST,

[on one’s coattails] {adv. phr.} Because of another’s merits, success, or popularity. •/ Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails. / •/ Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode in on K.'s coattails. /

[on oneself]See: TAKE ON ONESELF.

[on one’s feet] {adv. phr.} 1. Standing or walking; not sitting or lying down; up. •/ Before the teacher finished asking the question, George was on his feet ready to answer it. / •/ In a busy gasoline station, the attendant is on his feet all day. / Compare: TO ONE’S FEET. Contrast: OFF ONE’S FEET. 2. Recovering; getting better from sickness or trouble. •/ Jack is back on his feet after a long illness. / •/ Susan was on her feet soon after the operation. / •/ The bank loaned the store money to get it back on its feet after the fire. / 3. See: LAND ON ONE’S FEET, STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET, THINK ON ONE’S FEET.