Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[on one’s good behavior] {adv. phr.} Behaving right to make a good impression. •/ While his father was around the boy was on his good behavior, but when the father left the boy soon got into mischief. / •/ The minister is coming to dinner, and Mother wants us to be on our good behavior. /

[on one’s good side]or [on the good side of one] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Friendly with someone; liked by a person. •/ John thought that he would get a good grade if he got on the good side of the teacher. / •/ Successful workers stay on the good side of their bosses. / Contrast: ON ONE’S BAD SIDE.

[on one’s hands] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care or responsibility; that you must do something about. •/ Mrs. Blake left her five children with me while she shopped. I could not get anything done with the children on my hands. / •/ After everyone bought tickets to the dance, the club treasurer had over $100 on his hands. / •/ The electricity went off while Mother was cooking supper, and she had a problem on her hands. / •/ I had time on my hands before the bus came, so I bought a newspaper to read. / Contrast: OFF ONE’S HANDS. See: SIT ON ONE’S HANDS. Compare: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE’S HANDS.

[on one’s head]or [upon one’s head] {adv. phr.} On one’s self. •/ When the school board fired the superintendent of schools, they brought the anger of the parents upon their heads. / •/ Billy had been naughty all day, but he really brought his parents' anger down on his head by pushing his little sister into a mud puddle. / Compare: ABOUT ONE’S EARS.

[on one’s heel]See: TURN ON ONE’S HEEL.

[on one’s high horse] {adj. phr.} , {informal} 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. •/ Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do. / •/ Mrs. Jones asked to see a less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high horse and said the shop did not sell cheap merchandise. / 2. Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper. •/ Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn’t giving him enough attention. / Contrast: OFF ONE’S HIGH HORSE.

[on one’s honor] {adj. phr.} Bound by one’s honesty; trusted. •/ The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on their honor not to cheat. / •/ The house father put the boys on their honor not to smoke in the dormitory. /

[on one’s knees] {adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. •/ The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans. / •/ The Jacksons won’t contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees. / 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. •/ When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close. /

[on one’s last legs] {adj. phr.} Failing; near the end. •/ The blacksmith’s business is on its last legs. / •/ The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs. / Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE’S KNEES(2).

[on one’s mind] {adv. phr.} In one’s thoughts. •/ I’m glad you want to talk about this. It’s been on my mind for weeks. / •/ What’s on your mind? / Compare: IN MIND.

[on one’s nerves]See: GET ON ONE’S NERVES.

[on one’s own] {adj. phr.} With no help from others. •/ It is a happy day when you’re allowed to drive a car on your own. / •/ Being on your own may be a frightening experience. / Compare: GO IT(2).

[on one’s own account]or {informal} [on one’s own hook] {adv. phr.} 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. •/ After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account. / 2. See: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD.

[on one’s own feet]See: STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET.

[on one’s own hook]See: ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT.

[on one’s own time] {adv. phr.} During one’s free time; not during working or school hours. •/ If you want to play football, you’ll have to do it on your own time. /

[on one’s part]or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.} 1. Of or by you; of someone’s. •/ When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part. / •/ The other team blamed their defeat on unfairness on the part of the referee. / 2. See: FOR ONE’S PART.

[on one’s shoulders] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care; as your responsibility. •/ The success of the program rests on your shoulders. / •/ He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders. /

[on one’s toes] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Alert; ready to act. •/ The successful ball player is always on his toes. / Compare: HEADS-UP, ON THE BALL.

[on one’s uppers] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Very poor. •/ Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers. / Compare: DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK.

[on one’s way]See: ON THE WAY.

[on pain of]also [under pain of] {prep.} , {formal} At the risk of; under penalty of. •/ The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs. / •/ The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding. /

[on paper] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. •/ On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War. / •/ The football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper. /

[on pins and needles] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Worried; nervous. •/ Jane’s mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school. / •/ Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play. /

[on purpose] {adv. phr.} For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. •/ Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose. / •/ The clown fell down on purpose. /

[on record] {adj. phr.} 1. An official or recorded statement or fact; said for everyone to know. •/ We do not know when the famous writer was born, but the date of his death is on record. / •/ The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record. / 2. Known to have said or done a certain thing. — Usually used with "as". •/ The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise. / •/ The governor is on record as favoring the new highway. / •/ That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste in government. / Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.

[on sale] {adj. phr.} Selling for a special low price. •/ Tomato soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents. / •/ John and Mary couldn’t sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup. /

[on schedule(1)] {adv. phr.} As planned or expected; at the right time. •/ The school bus arrived at school on schedule. / •/ The four seasons arrive on schedule each year. / Compare: ON TIME.

[on schedule(2)] {adj. phr.} Punctual; as planned. •/ The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition. /

[on season]See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.

[on second thought]See: SECOND THOUGHT.

[on sight]See: AT SIGHT.

[on table]See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

[on the air] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. •/ His show is on the air at six o’clock. / •/ The ball game is on the air now. /

[on the alert] {adj. phr.} Alert; watchful; careful. •/ Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak. / •/ Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals. / Compare: ON ONE’S TOES.

[on the average]See: ON AN AVERAGE.

[on the back]See: PAT ON THE BACK.

[on the ball] {adj. phr.} , {informal} 1. Paying attention and doing things well. — Used after "is" or "get". •/ Ben is really on the ball in school. / •/ The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team. / Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE’S EYE ON THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. — Used after "have". •/ John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball. / •/ The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball. /

[on the bandwagon] {adj. phr.} , {informal} In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it. — Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". •/ When all George’s friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too. / See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[on the barrelhead]See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

[on the beam] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. •/ A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam. / 2. {slang} Doing well; just right; good or correct. •/ Kenneth’s answer was right on the beam. / Contrast: OFF THE BEAM.

[on the bench]1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. •/ Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning. / 2. Sitting among the substitute players. •/ The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle. / Compare: BENCH WARMER.

[on the blink] {adj. phr.} Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. •/ I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again. /

[on the block] {adj. phr.} To be sold; for sale. •/ The vacant house was on the block. / •/ Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placed on the block. /

[on the brain] {adj. phr.} , {slang} Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. •/ Mary Ann has boys on the brain. / •/ Joe’s hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time. /

[on the brink of] {adv. phr.} Facing a new event that’s about to happen. •/ "I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced. /