Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[step in] {v.} 1. To go inside for a quick visit. •/ It was a cold night, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for a cup of coffee. / 2. To begin to take part in a continuing action or discussion, especially without being asked. •/ When the dogs began to fight, John stepped in to stop it before they were hurt. / •/ When Bill had done as much as he was able to on his model plane, his father stepped in to help him. /

[step inside] {v.} To come or go inside. •/ Mother invited the callers to step inside. /

[step into] {v.} 1. To come or go into. •/ The taxi stopped, and we stepped into it. / •/ Mr. Jones called to his secretary to step into his office. / 2. To begin to do, undertake. •/ When the star became sick, his understudy stepped into his part. / •/ When Bill graduates from college, he will step into a job in his father’s bank. /

[step into one’s shoes] {v. phr.} To do what someone else usually does after he has stopped doing it. •/ When Bill’s father died, Bill had to step into his father’s shoes to support his mother. / •/ A coach trains the junior varsity to step into the shoes of the members of the varsity team when they graduate. / •/ When the boss retires, his son will step into his shoes. / Compare: IN ONE’S SHOES.

[step off] {v.} 1. To walk or march quickly. •/ The drum major lowered his baton and the band stepped off. / 2. or [pace off]. To measure by taking a series of steps in a line. •/ The farmer stepped off the edge of the field to see how much fencing he would need. / •/ The referee stepped off a five-yard penalty against our team. /

[step on it]or [step on the gas] {v. phr.} 1. To push down on the gas pedal to make a car go faster. •/ Be very careful when you step on the gas. Don’t go too fast. / Compare: GIVE IT THE GUN. 2. {informal} To go faster; hurry. •/ Step on it, or we’ll be late for school. / •/ John is a slow starter, but he can step on the gas when it looks as if he might lose the race. / •/ Lee was wasting time at breakfast and his father told him to step on it or they would miss the bus. /

[step on one’s toes]or [tread on one’s toes] {v. phr.} To do something that embarrasses or offends someone else. •/ If you break in when other people are talking, you may step on their toes. / •/ Mary is pretty, and she often treads on the toes of the girls by stealing their boyfriend. /

[step on the gas]See: STEP ON IT.

[step out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out, particularly socially, as on a date. •/ Paul said to Sylvia, "You look so dressed up tonight — you must be stepping out, eh?" / 2. To leave for a short period during the work day to go to the lavatory or to get a cup of coffee. (Frequently said by secretaries over the phone.) •/ "May I speak to Mr. Kotz?" Roy asked. "I’m sorry, sir. He just stepped out for a minute," the secretary answered. /

[step out on] {v. phr.} To be unfaithful to one’s marriage partner or steady lover. •/ It is rumored that he has been stepping out on his wife. That’s why she’s so upset. /

[stepped up] {adj.} Carried on at a faster or more active rate; increased. •/ To fill the increase in orders, the factory had to operate at a stepped-up rate. /

[step up] {v.} 1. To go from a lower to a higher place. •/ John stepped up onto the platform and began to speak. / 2. To come towards or near; approach. •/ The sergeant called for volunteers and Private Jones stepped up to volunteer. / •/ John waited until the teacher had finished speaking to Mary, and then he stepped up. / 3. To go or to make (something) go faster or more actively. •/ When John found he was going to be late, he stepped up his pace. / •/ After we had reached the outskirts of town, we stepped up the engine. / •/ The enemy was near, and the army stepped up its patrols to find them before they got too close. / 4. To rise to a higher or more important position; be promoted. •/ This year Mary is secretary of the club, but I am sure she will step up to president next year. / Contrast: STEP DOWN(3).

[sterling character] {n. phr.} A person of irreproachable character; one of the highest professional standards. •/ The nominee for the Supreme Court must be a sterling character in every possible way. /

[stew in one’s own juice] {v. phr.} , {informal} To suffer from something that you have caused to happen yourself. •/ John lied to Tom, but Tom found out. Now Tom is making John stew in his own juice. / •/ I warned you not to steal those apples. You got caught, and you can stew in your own juice. /

[stick]See: CARROT AND STICK, MORE THAN ONE COULD SHAKE A STICK AT.

[stick around] {v.} , {informal} To stay or wait nearby. •/ John’s father told him to stick around and they would go fishing. / •/ After work Mr. Harris stuck around to ride home with his friend. /

[stick by one] {v. phr.} To support; remain loyal to. •/ All of Peter’s friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite of what has been said about him in the press. /

[stick in one’s craw]or [stuck in one’s crop] {v. phr.} To make you angry; bother you; annoy you. •/ His parents' praise of his brother stuck in Jerry’s craw. / •/ Sue’s failure to get a better grade than Ann stuck in her crop. /

[stick in one’s throat] {v. phr.} To be something you do not want to say; be hard to say. •/ Jean wanted to ask the teacher’s pardon, but the words stuck in her throat. /

[stick-in-the-mud] {n.} , {informal} An overcareful person; someone who is old-fashioned and fights change. •/ Mabel said her mother was a real stick-in-the-mud to make a rule that she must be home by 10 o’clock on weeknights and 11:30 Saturdays. / •/ Mr. Thomas is a stick-in-the-mud who plows with mules; he won’t buy a tractor. /

[stick one’s neck out]or [stick one’s chin out] {v. phr.} , {informal} To do something dangerous or risky. •/ When I was in trouble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck out to help me. / •/ John is always sticking his chin out by saying something he shouldn’t. /

[stick one’s nose into]See: NOSE INTO.

[stick out] {v.} 1a. To stand out from a wall or other surface; project; extend. •/ The limb stuck out from the trunk of the tree. / 1b. To be seen or noticed more easily or quickly than others; be noticeable. •/ My house is the only brick one on the street. It sticks out and you can’t miss it. / •/ Mary plays basketball very well. The others on the team are good, but she really sticks out. / 1c. Often used in the informal phrase stick out like a sore thumb. •/ John is so shy and awkward that he sticks out like a sore thumb. / Syn.: STAND OUT. 2. {informal} To keep on doing something until it is done no matter how long, hard, or unpleasant. •/ Bill is not a fast runner and he doesn’t have a chance of winning the marathon, but he will stick out the race even if he finishes last. / — Often used in the phrase "stick it out". •/ Mathematics is hard, but if you stick it out you will understand it. / Compare: HANG ON(2), STICK WITH(1).

[stick out like a sore thumb] {v. phr.} To be conspicuous; be different from the rest. •/ When the foreign student was placed in an advanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no wonder that he stuck out like a sore thumb. /

[stick together] {v.} To remain close together in a situation. •/ Stick together in the cave so that no one gets lost. / •/ The gang stuck together after the game. / •/ Bill and Bob stick together in a game or in a fight. / Syn.: HANG TOGETHER(1).

[stick to one’s guns]or [stand by one’s guns] {v. phr.} To hold to an aim or an opinion even though people try to stop you or say you are wrong. •/ People laughed at Columbus when he said the world was round. He stuck to his guns and proved he was right. / •/ At first the boss would not give Jane the raise in pay she wanted, but she stood by her guns and he gave it to her. / Compare: STAND ONE’S GROUND.

[stick to one’s knitting]or [tend to one’s knitting] {v. phr.} , {informal} To do your own job and not bother other people. •/ The trouble with Henry is that he is always telling other people what to do; he can’t stick to his knitting. /

[stick to one’s ribs]or [stick to the ribs] {v. phr.} , {informal} To keep you from getting hungry again too quickly. •/ Doctors say you should eat a good breakfast that sticks to your ribs. / •/ Farmers eat food that sticks to the ribs. /

[stick to the point] {v. phr.} To stay on course during a discussion; adhere to the topic; not talk about extraneous matters. •/ Stick to the point and stop telling us your life history! / See: COME TO THE POINT.

[stick up] {v.} , {informal} To rob with a gun. •/ When the messenger left the bank, a man jumped out of an alley and stuck him up. / Syn.: HOLD UP. •/ In the old West, outlaws sometimes stuck up the stagecoaches. /

[stick-up] {n.} , {informal} A robbery by a man with a gun. •/ Mr. Smith was the victim of a stick-up last night. /

[stick up for]See: STAND UP FOR.

[stick with] {v.} , {informal} 1. or [stay with]To continue doing; not quit. •/ Fred stayed with his homework until it was done. / •/ Practicing is tiresome, but stick with it and some day you will be a good pianist. / Compare: STICK TO. 2. To stay with; not leave. •/ Stick with me until we get out of the crowd. / •/ For two months Bill’s boss could not pay his salary, but Bill stuck with him because he thought the company would soon succeed. / 3. To sell (someone) something poor or worthless; cheat. •/ Father said that the man in the store tried to stick him with a bad TV set. / 4. To leave (someone) with (something unpleasant); force to do or keep something because others cannot or will not. — Usually used in the passive. •/ When Harry and I went to the store to buy ice cream cones, Harry ran out with his cone without paying and I was stuck with paying for it. / •/ Mary didn’t wash the dishes before she left so I’m stuck with it. / •/ Mr. Jones bought a house that is too big and expensive, but now he’s stuck with it. /