Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[bad paper] {n.} , {slang} 1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. •/ Why are you so mad? — I was paid with some bad paper. /

[bad shit] {n.} , {vulgar} , {avoidable} An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. •/ There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year. / Compare: BAD BLOOD.

[bad trip] {n.} , {slang} , {also used colloquially} A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general. •/ Why’s John’s face so distorted? — He had a bad trip. / •/ How was your math exam? — Don’t mention it; it was a bad trip. /

[bag]See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

[bag and baggage] {adv.} , {informal} With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. •/ If they don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage. /

[baggage]See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

[bail]See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

[bail out(1)] {v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. •/ When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out. / 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or lending money. •/ He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times. /

[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. /

[bark worse than one’s bite] {informal} Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. •/ The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite. / •/ The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite. / •/ She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite. /

[barn]See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

[barrel]See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

[barrelhead]See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

[bar the door]See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[base]See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.

[base on balls] {n.} First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. •/ He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls. /

[basket]See: PUT ALL ONE’S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

[basket case] {n.} , {slang} , {also informal} 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. •/ Stop drinking, or else you’ll wind up a basket case! /

[bat]See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

[bat an eye]or [bat an eyelash] {v. phr.} , {informal} To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. — Used in negative sentences. •/ When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye. / •/ Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true. / Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

[bath]See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

[bats in one’s belfry]or [bats in the belfry] {n. phr.} , {slang} Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. •/ When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry. /

[bat the breeze]See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

[batting average] {n. phr.} Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). •/ Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations. /

[battle]See: HALF THE BATTLE.

[battle of nerves] {n. phr.} A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. •/ It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university. / See: WAR OF NERVES.

[bawl out] {v.} , {informal} To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. •/ The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework. / Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[bay]See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

[be]See: LET BE, TO-BE.

[beach]See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[beach bunny] {n.} , {slang} An attractive girl seen on beaches — mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn’t get into the water and swim. •/ What kind of a girl is Susie? — She’s a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen’s Surf on Waikiki but I’ve never seen her swim. /

[bead]See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

[be a fly on the wall] {v. phr.} To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. •/ How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance’s parents are saying about me! /

[be a good hand at] {v. phr.} To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. •/ Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building. /

[beam]See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

[bean]See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’S BEAN.