Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[brain bucket] {n.} , {slang} A motorcycle helmet. •/ If you want to share a ride with me, you’ve got to wear a brain bucket. /

[brain drain] {n.} , {informal} 1. The loss of the leading intellectuals and researchers of a country due to excessive emigration to other countries where conditions are better. •/ Britain suffered a considerable brain drain to the United States after World War II. / 2. An activity requiring great mental concentration resulting in fatigue and exhaustion •/ That math exam I took was a regular brain drain. /

[brain-storm] {v.} To have a discussion among fellow researchers or co-workers on a project in order to find the best solution to a given problem. •/ Dr. Watson and his research assistants are brain-storming in the conference room. /

[brainstorm] {n.} A sudden insight; a stroke of comprehension. •/ Listen to me, I’ve just had a major brainstorm, and I think I found the solution to our problem. /

[brain trust] {n.} A group of specially trained, highly intelligent experts in a given field. •/ Albert Einstein gathered a brain trust around himself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies. /

[brake]See: RIDE THE BRAKE.

[branch off] {v.} To go from something big or important to something smaller or less important; turn aside. •/ At the bridge a little road branches off from the highway and follows the river. / •/ Martin was trying to study his lesson, but his mind kept branching off onto what girl he should ask to go with him to the dance. /

[branch out] {v.} To add new interests or activities; begin doing other things also. •/ First Jane collected stamps; then she branched out and collected coins, too. / •/ John started a television repair shop; when he did well, he branched out and began selling television sets too. /

[brand-new]also [bran-new] {adj.} As new or fresh as when just made and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. •/ He had taken a brand-new car from the dealer’s floor and wrecked it. / •/ In Uncle Tom’s trunk, we found a wedding ring, still in its little satin-lined box, still brand-new. /

[brass]See: DOUBLE IN BRASS, GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

[brass hat] {n.} , {slang} 1. A high officer in the army, navy, or air force. •/ The brass hats In Washington often discuss important secrets. / 2. Any person who has a high position in business, politics, or other work. •/ Mr. Woods, the rich oil man, is a political brass hat. /

[brass tacks]See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

[brave it out] {v. phr.} To endure something difficult or dangerous through to the end; keep on through trouble or danger. •/ It was a dangerous ocean crossing in wartime, but captain and crew braved it out. /

[brazen it out] {v. phr.} To pretend you did nothing wrong; be suspected, accused, or scolded without admitting you did wrong; act as if not guilty. •/ The teacher found a stolen pen that the girl had in her desk, but the girl brazened it out; she said someone else must have put it there. /

[bread]See: HALF A LOAF is BETTER THAN NONE, KNOW WHICH SIDE ONE’S BREAD IS BUTTERED ON, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH.

[bread and butter(1)] {n. phr.} The usual needs of life; food, shelter, and clothing. •/ Ed earned his bread and butter as a bookkeeper, but added a little jam by working with a dance band on weekends. /

[bread and butter(2)] {adj.} Thanking someone for entertainment or a nice visit; thank-you. •/ After spending the weekend as a guest in the Jones' home, Alice wrote the Joneses the usual bread-and-butter letter. / See: BREAD AND BUTTER LETTER.

[bread and butter(3)] {interj.} , {informal} Spoken to prevent bad luck that you think might result from some action. •/ We’d say "Bread and butter!" when we had passed on opposite sides of a tree. /

[bread-and-butter letter] {n.} A written acknowledgment of hospitality received. •/ Jane wrote the Browns a bread-and-butter letter when she returned home from her visit to them. /

[breadbasket] {n.} , {slang} The stomach. •/ John is stuffing his breadbasket again. /

[break]See: COFFEE BREAK.

[break away]or [break loose] {v. phr.} To liberate oneself from someone or something. •/ Jane tried to break loose from her attacker, but he was too strong. /

[break camp] {v. phr.} To take down and pack tents and camping things; take your things from a camping place. •/ The scouts broke camp at dawn. /

[break down] {v.} (stress on "down") 1. To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force. •/ The firemen broke down the door. / 2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. •/ By helpful kindness the teacher broke down the new boy’s shyness. / •/ Advertising breaks down a lot of stubbornness against change. / 3. To separate into elements or parts; decay. •/ Water is readily broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. / •/ After many years, rocks break down into dirt. / 4. To become unusable because of breakage or other failure; lose power to work or go. •/ The car broke down after half an hour’s driving. / •/ His health broke down. / •/ When the coach was sick in bed, the training rules of the team broke down. / Compare: GO BACK ON(2).

[breakdown]See: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

[breaker]See: JAW-BREAKER.

[break even] {v. phr.} , {informal} (stress on "even") To end a series of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; have expenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. •/ The storekeeper made many sales, but his expenses were so high that he just broke even. / •/ If you gamble you are lucky when you break even. /

[break-even] {n.} The point of equilibrium in a business venture when one has made as much money as one had invested, but not more — that would be "profit." •/ "We’ve reached the break-even point at long last!" — Max exclaimed with joy. /

[break ground] {v. phr.} To begin a construction project by digging for the foundation; especially, to turn the formal first spadeful of dirt. •/ City officials and industrial leaders were there as the company broke ground for its new building. / See: BREAK NEW GROUND.

[break in] {v.} (stress on "in") 1a. To break from outside. •/ The firemen broke in the door of the burning house. / 1b. To enter by force or unlawfully. •/ Thieves broke in while the family was away. / 2. To enter suddenly or interrupt. •/ A stranger broke in on the meeting without knocking. / •/ The secretary broke in to say that a telegram had arrived. / Compare: CUT IN(2). 3. To make a start in a line of work or with a company or association; begin a new job. •/ He broke in as a baseball player with a minor league. / 4. To teach the skills of a new job or activity to. •/ An assistant foreman broke in the new man as a machine operator. / 5. To lessen the stiffness or newness of by use. •/ He broke in a new pair of shoes. / •/ Breaking in a new car requires careful driving at moderate speeds. /

[break-in] {n.} (stress on "break") A robbery; a burglary. •/ We lost our jewelry during a break-in. /

[break into] {v.} 1. To force an entrance into; make a rough or unlawful entrance into. •/ Thieves broke into the store at night. / 2. {informal} To succeed in beginning (a career, business, or a social life) •/ He broke into television as an actor. / 3. To interrupt. •/ He broke into the discussion with a shout of warning. / 4. To begin suddenly. •/ He broke into a sweat. / •/ She broke into tears. / •/ The dog heard his master’s whistle and broke into a run. /

[break new ground] {v. phr.} 1. To start a new activity previously neglected by others; do pioneering work. •/ Albert Einstein broke new ground with his theory of relativity. / 2. To begin something never done before. •/ The school broke new ground with reading lessons that taught students to guess the meaning of new words. /

[break off] {v.} 1. To stop suddenly. •/ The speaker was interrupted so often that he broke off and sat down. / •/ When Bob came in, Jean broke off her talk with Linda and talked to Bob. / 2. {informal} To end a friendship or love. •/ I hear that Tom and Alice have broken off. / •/ She broke off with her best friend. /

[break one’s balls] {v. phr.} , {slang} , {vulgar} , {avoidable} To do something with maximum effort; to do something very difficult or taxing •/ I’ve been breaking my balls to buy you this new color TV set and you aren’t the least bit appreciative! / Compare: BREAK ONE’S NECK.

[break one’s heart] {v. phr.} To discourage greatly; make very sad or hopeless. •/ His son’s disgrace broke his heart. / •/ When Mr. White lost everything he had worked so hard for, it broke his heart. /

[break one’s neck] {v. phr.} , {slang} To do all you possibly can; try your hardest. — Usually used with a limiting adverb or negative. •/ John nearly broke his neck trying not to be late to school. / •/ Mother asked Mary to go to the store when she was free, but not to break her neck over it. /

[break one’s word] {v. phr.} To renege on a promise. •/ When Jake broke his word that he would marry Sarah, she became very depressed. /

[break out] {v.} 1. To begin showing a rash or other skin disorder. — Often used with "with". •/ He broke out with scarlet fever. / 2. To speak or act suddenly and violently. •/ He broke out laughing. / •/ She broke out, "That is not so!" / 3. To begin and become noticeable. •/ Fire broke out after the earthquake. / •/ War broke out in 1812. / Compare: FLARE UP. 4. {informal} To bring out; open and show. •/ When word of the victory came, people began breaking out their flags. / •/ When Mr. Carson’s first son was born, he broke out the cigars he had been saving. /

[break the ice] {v. phr.} , {informal} 1. To conquer the first difficulties in starting a conversation, getting a party going, or making an acquaintance. •/ To break the ice Ted spoke of his interest in mountain climbing, and they soon had a conversation going. / •/ Some people use an unusual thing, such as an unusual piece of jewelry, to break the ice. / 2. To be the first person or team to score in a game. •/ The Wolves broke the ice with a touchdown. /