Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[break the record] {v. phr.} To set or to establish a new mark or record. •/ Algernon broke the record in both the pentathlon and the decathlon and took home two gold medals from the Olympics. /

[break through] {v.} To be successful after overcoming a difficulty or bar to success. •/ Dr. Salk failed many times but he finally broke through to find a successful polio vaccine. / •/ Jim studied very hard this semester in college, and he finally broke through onto the Dean’s List for the first time. /

[breakthrough] {n.} A point of sudden success after a long process of experimentation, trial and error. •/ The U.S. Space Program experienced a major breakthrough when Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in June of 1969. /

[break up] {v. phr.} To end a romantic relationship, a marriage, or a business partnership. •/ Tom and Jane broke up because Tom played so much golf that he had no time for her. /

[break up] {v.} 1. To break into pieces. •/ The workmen broke up the pavement to dig up the pipes under it. / •/ River ice breaks up in the spring. / 2. {informal} To lose or destroy spirit or self-control. — Usually used in the passive. •/ Mrs. Lawrence was all broken up after her daughter’s death, and did not go out of the house for two months. / Compare: CRACK UP, GO TO PIECES. 3. To come or to put to an end, especially by separation; separate. •/ Some men kept interrupting the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting. / •/ The party broke up at midnight. / — Often used in the informal phrase "break it up". •/ The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break it up. / Compare: CUT OUT(1). 4. {informal} To stop being friends. •/ Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then they had a quarrel and broke up / Compare: BREAK OFF.

[break-up] {n.} The end of a relationship, personal or commercial. •/ The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided to sue each other for embezzlement. /

[break with] {v.} To separate yourself from; end membership in; stop friendly association with. •/ He broke with the Democratic party on the question of civil rights. / •/ He had broken with some friends who had changed in their ideas. /

[breast]See: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF.

[breath]See: CATCH ONE’S BREATH, DRAW A LONG BREATH or TAKE A LONG BREATH, HOLD ONE’S BREATH, IN THE SAME BREATH, OUT OF BREATH, SAVE ONE’S BREATH, SECOND WIND also SECOND BREATH, TAKE ONE’S BREATH AWAY, UNDER ONE’S BREATH, WASTE ONE’S BREATH.

[breathe down one’s neck] {v. phr.} , {informal} To follow closely; threaten from behind; watch every action. •/ Too many creditors were breathing down his neck. / •/ The carpenter didn’t like to work for Mr. Jones, who was always breathing down his neck. /

[breathe easily]or [breathe freely] {v.} To have relief from difficulty or worry; relax; feel that trouble is gone; stop worrying. •/ Now that the big bills were paid, he breathed more easily. / •/ His mother didn’t breathe easily until he got home that night. /

[breathe one’s last] {v. phr.} To die. •/ The wounded soldier fell back on the ground and breathed his last. /

[bred in the bone] {adj. phr.} Belonging to your nature or character, especially from early teaching or long habit; natural from belief or habit; believing deeply. •/ The Willett children’s cleanness is bred in the none. / Often used, with hyphens before the noun. •/ Joe is a bred-in-the-bone horseman; he has been riding since he was six. / Contrast: SKIN-DEEP.

[breeches]See: TOO BIG FOR ONE’S BREECHES.

[breeze]See: SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE, WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[breeze in] {v. phr.} , {slang} , {informal} To walk into a place casually (like a soft blowing wind). •/ Betsie breezed in and sat down at the bar. /

[brew]See: HOME BREW.

[brick]See: MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW.

[brick wall]See: STONE WALL.

[bridge]See: BURN ONE’S BRIDGES, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

[brief]See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD.

[bright and early] {adj. phr.} Prompt and alert; on time and ready; cheerful and on time or before time. •/ He came down bright and early to breakfast. / •/ She arrived bright and early for the appointment. /

[bring about] {v.} To cause; produce; lead to. •/ The war had brought about great changes in living. / •/ Drink brought about his downfall. /

[bring around]or [bring round] {v.} 1. {informal} To restore to health or consciousness cure. •/ He was quite ill, but good nursing brought him around. / Compare: BRING TO(1). 2. To cause a change in thinking; persuade; convince; make willing. •/ After a good deal of discussion he brought her round to his way of thinking. /

[bringdown] {n.} , {slang} , {informal} 1. (from "bring down", past "brought down"). A critical or cutting remark said sarcastically in order to deflate a braggard’s ego. •/ John always utters the right bringdown when he encounters a braggard. / 2. A person who depresses and saddens others by being a chronic complainer. •/ John is a regular bringdown. /

[bring down] {v. phr.} , {slang} , {informal} 1. To deflate (someone’s ego). •/ John brought Ted down very cleverly with his remarks. / 2. To depress (someone). •/ The funeral brought me down completely. /

[bring down about one’s ears]or [bring down around one’s ears]See: ABOUT ONE’S EARS.

[bring down the house] {v. phr.} , {informal} To start an audience laughing or clapping enthusiastically. •/ The principal’s story was funny in itself and also touched their loyalties, so it brought down the house. / •/ The President made a fine speech which brought down the house. /

[bring home] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize; make (someone) realize; demonstrate. •/ The accident caused a death in his family, and it brought home to him the evil of drinking while driving. / •/ A parent or teacher should bring home to children the value and pleasure of reading. /

[bring home the bacon] {v. phr.} , {informal} 1. To support your family; earn the family living. •/ He was a steady fellow, who always brought home the bacon. / 2. To win a game or prize. •/ The football team brought home the bacon. /

[bring in] {v.} In baseball: To enable men on base to score, score. •/ Dick’s hit brought in both base runners. / •/ A walk and a triple brought in a run in the third inning. /

[bring into line] {v. phr.} To make someone conform to the accepted standard. •/ Sam had to be brought into line when he refused to take his muddy shoes off the cocktail table. /

[bring off] {v.} To do (something difficult); perform successfully (an act of skill); accomplish (something requiring unusual ability). •/ By skillful discussion, Mr. White had brought off an agreement that had seemed impossible to get. / •/ He tried several times to break the high jump record, and finally he brought it off. / Compare: PUT OVER(2).

[bring on] {v.} To result in; cause; produce. •/ The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 brought on the First World War. / •/ Spinal meningitis brought on John’s deafness when he was six years old. / •/ Reading in a poor light may bring on a headache. /

[bring out] {v.} 1. To cause to appear; make clear. •/ His report brought out the foolishness of the plan. / •/ Brushing will bring out the beauty of your hair. / 2. To help (an ability or skill) grow or develop. •/ The teacher’s coaching brought out a wonderful singing voice of great power and warmth. / 3. To offer to the public by producing, publishing, or selling. •/ He brought out a new play. / •/ The company brought out a line of light personal airplanes. /

[bring round]See: BRING AROUND.

[bring suit against] {v. phr.} To sue someone in a court of law. •/ Fred brought suit against Tom for fraud and embezzlement. /

[bring to] {v.} (stress on "to") 1. To restore to consciousness; wake from sleep, anesthesia, hypnosis, or fainting. •/ Smelling salts will often bring a fainting person to. / Compare: BRING AROUND(1). 2. To bring a ship or boat to a stop. •/ Reaching the pier, he brought the boat smartly to. /

[bring to a close] {v. phr.} To terminate; cause to end. •/ The meeting was brought to an abrupt close when the speaker collapsed with a heart attack. /

[bring to a head] {v. phr.} To cause some activity to reach the point of culmination. •/ Time is running out, gentlemen, so let us bring this discussion to a head. /

[bring to bay] {v. phr.} To chase or force into a place where escape is impossible without a fight; trap; corner. •/ The police brought the robber to bay on the roof and he gave up. / •/ The fox was brought to bay in a hollow tree and the dogs stood around it barking. / Compare: AT BAY.

[bring to heel]See: TO HEEL.

[bring to light] {v. phr.} To discover (something hidden); find out about; expose. •/ Many things left by the ancient Egyptians in tombs have been brought to light by scientists and explorers. / •/ His enemies brought to light some foolish things he had done while young, but he was elected anyway because people trusted him. / Compare: COME TO LIGHT.

[bring to one’s knees] {v. phr.} To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. •/ The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees. /

[bring to pass] {v. phr.} , {informal} To make (something) happen; succeed in causing. •/ By much planning, the mother brought the marriage to pass. / •/ The change in the law was slow in coming, and it took a disaster to bring it to pass. / Compare: BRING ABOUT, COME TO PASS.

[bring to terms] {v. phr.} To make (someone) agree or do; make surrender. •/ The two brothers were brought to terms by their father for riding the bicycle. / •/ The war won’t end until we bring the enemy to terms. / Contrast: COME TO TERMS.