Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[sweet tooth] {n. phr.} A great weakness or predilection for sweets. •/ Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything else but cake. /

[swelled head] {n.} , {informal} A feeling that you are very important or more important than you really are. •/ When John won the race, he got a swelled head. / •/ Pretty girls shouldn’t get a swelled head about it. / —  [swell-headed] {adj. phr.} •/ After he was elected captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed. / Compare: BIG HEAD.

[swell-headed]See: SWELLED HEAD.

[swim]See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM.

[swim against the current]or [swim against the stream] {v. phr.} To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. •/ The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream. /

[swine]See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE’S PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.

[swing]See: IN FULL SWING.

[swing one’s weight] {v. phr.} To use your personal power to get something done •/ The President swings his weight to get laws passed. / •/ Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company. /

[switch]See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.

[switched on] {adj.} , {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. •/ I dig Sarah, she is really switched on. / 2. Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. •/ How come you’re talking so fast? Are you switched on or something? /

[swoop]See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.

[sword]See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD.

[sword rattling]See: SABER RATTLING.

[sworn enemies] {n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have a long-standing dislike for each other. •/ The Israelis and the Arabs used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace accord. /

[syllable]See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

[system]See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.

[T]See: TO A T.

[tab]See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON.

[table]See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES, WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

[tack]See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A TACK.

[tackle]See: FLYING TACKLE

[tack on] {v. phr.} To append; add. •/ We were about to sign the contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil that was not acceptable to us. /

[tag end]or [tail end] {n.} , {informal} The end, farthest to the rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. •/ John was at the tail end of his class. / •/ Mary’s part in the play came at the tag end, and she got bored waiting. / •/ Bill waited at the crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by. /

[tail]See: COW’S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, TURN TAIL.

[tail between one’s legs] {n. phr.} State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. •/ The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs. / •/ The boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they went home with their tails between their legs. / (So called because a beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks away.)

[tail end]See: TAG END.

[taillight] {n.} The rear red light of a car. •/ My father was fined $15 for driving without a taillight. /

[tailor-made]See: MADE-TO-MEASURE.

[tailspin]See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN.

[tail wags the dog]Said of situations in which a minor part is in control of the whole. •/ He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog. /

[take]See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.

[take aback]See: TAKEN BACK.

[take a back seat] {v. phr.} , {informal} To accept a poorer or lower position; be second to something or someone else. •/ During the war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs. / •/ She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive. / Compare: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.

[take a bath] {v. phr.} , {informal} To come to financial ruin. •/ Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc. /

[take a bow] {v. phr.} To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped for or praised for success. •/ The audience shouted for the author of the play to take a bow. / •/ The basketball team should take a bow for fine work this season. /

[take a break] {v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during the course of one’s work. •/ "You’ve worked hard. It’s time to take a break," the boss said. /

[take a chance] {v. phr.} To accept the risk of failure or loss. •/ We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors. /

[take a crack at] {v. phr.} To try doing something. •/ It was a difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the resident architect decided to take a crack at it. /

[take a dig at] {v. phr.} To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. •/ If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be a short one. /

[take a dim view of] {v. phr.} 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure or anxious about. •/ Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the exam. / •/ Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of the weather. / 2. To be against; disapprove. •/ John’s father took a dim view of his wanting to borrow the car. / •/ The teacher took a dim view of the class’s behavior. /

[take a dislike to]Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a drop] {v. phr.} 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. •/ Aunt Liz doesn’t really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then. / 2. To lose value; decrease in price. •/ Stocks took a big drop yesterday due to the international crisis. /

[take advantage of] {v. phr.} 1. To make good use of. •/ The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird. / •/ Jean took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework. / 2. To treat (someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. •/ He took advantage of his friend’s kindness. / •/ The little children did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage of them. / Syn.: IMPOSE ON.

[take after] {v.} To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). •/ He takes after his father in mathematical ability. / •/ She takes after her father’s side of the family in looks. / Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; RUN IN THE FAMILY.

[take a fancy to] {v. phr.} To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. •/ Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture. /

[take a flop] {v. phr.} To fall heavily. •/ I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk. /

[take aim] {v. phr.} To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. •/ When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target. / •/ Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight. /

[take a hand in] {v. phr.} To assist in the direction of; participate. •/ The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees. /

[take a hard line with]See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.

[take a hike]See: GO FLY A KITE.

[take a hint] {v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. •/ "I don’t like people who smoke," she said. "Can’t you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?" /

[take a joke] {v. phr.} Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. •/ My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself. /

[take a liking to]See: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a load off one’s feet] {v. phr.} To alleviate one’s fatigue by sitting down during some taxing work. •/ "You’ve been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don’t you take a load off your feet?" /

[take a long breath]See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.

[take amiss]or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due to a misunderstanding. •/ "I hope you won’t take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive." /

[take a new turn] {v. phr.} To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. •/ The company took a new turn under Jack’s directorship. /

[take a nose dive] {v. phr.} To plummet; fall sharply. •/ The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President’s heart attack. /

[take a notion]See: TAKE INTO ONE’S HEAD.

[take apart] {v. phr.} To dismantle; disassemble. •/ Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again. /

[take a poke at]See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

[take a pot shot at]See: POTSHOT.

[take a powder] {v. phr.} , {slang} To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. •/ All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived. /

[take a punch at]or [take a poke at]or [take a sock at] {v. phr.} To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. •/ Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred. / •/ Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him. / •/ I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper. /

[take a risk]See: RUN A RISK.

[take a shine to] {v. phr.} , {slang} To have or show a quick liking for. •/ He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day. / Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a shot at] {v. phr.} To try casually; attempt to do. •/ "Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven’t done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it." /